SAN JOSE — San Jose State opens the season Saturday against one of the biggest challenges on its schedule: a USC team coming off a nine-win season and expected to do even more in 2026.
The Spartans face the No. 14 Trojans at noon at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in a game that will be broadcast nationally on NBC.
The history between the programs favors USC heavily. The Trojans are 6-0 all-time against San Jose State, with every meeting coming at the Coliseum. USC won the most recent matchup 56-28 to open the 2023 season. The closest game in the series came in 2000, when the Spartans led the ninth-ranked Trojans 24-12 entering the fourth quarter before Carson Palmer rallied USC with three touchdowns in the final 8:07 for a 34-24 victory.
USC is a 38.5-point favorite over San Jose State, according to Yahoo Sports, underscoring the challenge facing the Spartans in their season opener.
San Jose State running back Kairee Robinson (32) is grabbed by Southern California linebacker Mason Cobb (13) after he jumped over USC safety Calen Bullock (7) during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Los Angeles, Saturday, Aug. 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
USC quarterback Jayden Maiava enters the season as a Heisman Trophy candidate, while former TCU head coach Gary Patterson takes over as defensive coordinator.
San Jose State went 3-9 last season, snapping a program-record streak of three consecutive bowl appearances. Coach Ken Niumatalolo knows the challenge awaiting his team.
“They got really good players, smart coaches,” Niumatalolo said. “That’s a bad combination for us as an opponent.”
But Niumatalolo doesn’t want his players intimidated by USC’s talent.
“We’re fighters. We’re San Jose State, we’re fighters,” he said.
The Spartans will also enter the game with a new starting quarterback. Redshirt senior Luke Weaver won a three-way competition with Daniel Rolovich and Robert McDaniel.
Weaver transferred to SJSU from Hawaii, where he came off the bench in last season’s bowl game against Cal and threw the game-winning touchdown for the Rainbow Warriors.
Niumatalolo said Weaver’s leadership stood out even before he arrived in San Jose.
“Since we made the announcement, Luke hasn’t stepped backwards,” Niumatalolo said. “In fact, he might have stepped forward.”
San Jose State Offensive coordinator Craig Stutzmann has been impressed with Weaver’s poise throughout camp.
San Jose State Spartans head coach Ken Niumatalolo looks on during the San Jose State Spartans spring football showcase at CEFCU Stadium in San Jose, Calif., Saturday, April 18, 2026. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
“He’s cool-hand Luke,” Stutzmann said. “He doesn’t get too high. He doesn’t get too low.”
Weaver knows the environment will be different Saturday, with the 77,500-seat Coliseum crowd and a national television audience adding another challenge.
“We’re practicing on noise, so just keep working on being effective communicators,” Weaver said.
Weaver will lead a Spartans offense with plenty of new faces, including a deep receiver group that Stutzmann expects to rotate throughout the game. The Spartans believe that depth can help them maintain their tempo against USC’s athletic defense.
Stutzmann described the receiver group as “tough and smart,” a departure from previous seasons when the unit had more distinct differences in size and speed between its top players.
USC, which is entering its third season in the Big Ten since leaving the Pac-12, brought in transfers such as cornerback Jontez Williams from Iowa State and edge rusher Zuriah Fisher. The Trojans also return players San Jose State will need to keep an eye on, including safety Christian Pierce and linebacker Desman Stephens II.
That depth will be tested against a USC defense led by Patterson, who brings his 4-2-5 scheme to the Trojans. Patterson had 11 10-win seasons during his 21-year tenure at TCU.
“He’s a pioneer in his defense,” Stutzmann said. “It’s a really good defense.”
The Spartans also made changes to their defensive coaching staff, including cornerbacks coach Brian Norwood, who will work with a new group of players, including safety Brian Dukes Jr., as well as returners such as Naseri Danielson, who will look to make a bigger impact this season.
San Jose State’s Malachi Riley (11) makes a catch at SJSU’s first training camp football practice on the practice field at San Jose State University in San Jose, Calif., on Wednesday, July 29, 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
San Jose State’s defense will have its own challenge against Maiava and an offense that Niumatalolo considers one of the best the Spartans will face all season.
Defensive coordinator Bojay Filimoeatu said his unit’s focus is on playing physically and executing its assignments.
“I want to see them fly around. They play for each other,” Filimoeatu said.
Creating extra possessions could also be critical against USC.
“If you can get the ball back for our offense, we know that they can score points,” Filimoeatu said.
Both teams will also have to deal with the heat. The forecast calls for temperatures in the upper 90s in Los Angeles, adding another element to an already difficult season opener.
USC coach Lincoln Riley said the matchup also provides an unusual opportunity for his team.
“I’m excited to see how we compete together,” Riley said. “It’s kind of a weird sport. You spend 90% of your year competing against each other.”
For San Jose State to pull off the upset, Niumatalolo knows his team will have to play its best while taking advantage of whatever breaks come its way.
“If we play our best and they play their best, they probably will win,” Niumatalolo said. “But football’s just hard. There’s just one game.”