SAN JOSE — Ken Niumatalolo says his San Jose State football team has to turn the page after the Spartans’ heartbreaking homecoming loss to Wyoming.
Last Friday, the Spartans led almost all the way at CEFCU Stadium, only to see things go from bad to worse when they were stopped on fourth and one at the Wyoming 16-yard line in overtime and then watched the Cowboys kick a field goal to escape with a 16-13 victory.
Now the Spartans (3-3, 1-1 Mountain West) look to bounce back at UTEP (1-5, 0-2), the first of consecutive – and important – conference road games for SJSU. Kickoff is at 6 p.m. at the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas.
“We just got to focus on ourselves,” said Niumatalolo, the Spartans’ third-year head coach. “We got to make sure that we can clean up what we’ve been doing well. We don’t look at records or anything. Just focus on ourselves.”
San Jose State Spartans’ Naseri Danielson (3), San Jose State Spartans’ Dylan Lee (4), San Jose State Spartans’ Malakai Hoeft (24), San Jose State Spartans’ Dejon Roney (48) and San Jose State Spartans’ Nate Lewis (99) tackle Cal Poly Mustangs’ Misa Paiau (0) during the first quarter at CEFCU Stadium in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (Shae Hammond/Bay Area News Group)
One of the biggest areas of concern is what happened to the offense. SJSU’s defense has been up to the task, holding Hawaii and Wyoming to 16 points in each of the past two games. But the Spartans have scored just 43 points in the past three games and failed to score more than 13 in two of those games.
The offense might have a new look on Saturday night. Senior quarterback Luke Weaver is banged up after taking some shots against Wyoming, Niumatalolo said Thursday on KNBR, as his status for the game is uncertain and Jabari Bates, the leading rusher in the Mountain West, was surprisingly listed as out on the injury report announced on Thursday night.
Redshirt freshman Robert McDaniel and true freshman Daniel Rolovich are next in line if Weaver is unable to play. McDaniel played in three games last season, completing 3 of 11 passes for 19 yards and an interception. Rolovich has yet to attempt a collegiate pass.
Weaver threw for 251 yards against Wyoming, but for the first time as a Spartan, he did not throw a touchdown and was intercepted once. Weaver has thrown six interceptions this season, five in the past three games.
UTEP has had struggles of its own, getting blown out in all five of its losses, although UTEP has played one of the most challenging schedules in the nation. The Miners lost 51-0 at Oklahoma, 52-17 at Michigan and 61-7 at New Mexico. It hasn’t been much better at home, where they lost 33-7 to Oregon State and last week fell 30-13 to Nevada.
Even without Bates, San Jose State will look to get its rushing attack going against a UTEP defense that has been overwhelmed this season, allowing 186.8 yards per game. Bates leads the Mountain West with 556 rushing yards and is averaging 4.6 yards per carry. The carries on Saturday figure to go to Viliami Teu and Isaiah Carlson, who have taken snaps behind Bates when the senior has gotten rest..
“The run game is always important for us to get going,” said Niumatalolo, whose team has rushed for 244 yards over the past three games after producing nearly 500 yards on the ground in the first three.
UTEP enters the game with uncertainty at quarterback. Sophomore EJ Colson Jr. is questionable after suffering a concussion against New Mexico. He has thrown seven touchdowns and three interceptions this season.
If Colson is unable to play, sophomore Raymond Moore III could make his second start. Moore is coming off a turnover-free game in which he threw for 132 yards and two touchdowns against Nevada. He also rushed for 65 yards.
The Spartans were dealing with injuries of their own against Wyoming, with offensive lineman Tyler Chen and wide receiver Cooper Hoch picking up injuries. Niumatalolo said both have a chance to play Saturday.
HONOLULU, HAWAII – OCTOBER 3: Carson Clark #1 of the San Jose State Spartans is wide open as he catches a pass in the end zone to score a touchdown during the game against the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors at Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex on October 3, 2026 in Honolulu, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
San Jose State’s defense will look to maintain the pressure it generated against Wyoming. The Spartans recorded 5.5 sacks and an interception, with junior Dylan Lee recording a sack and an interception.
“I love their energy,” Niumatalolo said of Tuesday’s practice. “I thought our guys played with great energy today.”
The Spartans’ defense has struggled at times against mobile quarterbacks. Wyoming senior quarterback Tyler Hughes rushed for 92 yards on 27 carries last week. If Moore starts, he will present another challenge with his ability to run.
San Jose State also will have its kicking game to monitor. Junior Trajan Sinatra is 11-for-15 on field goals this season and missed a 44-yard attempt against Wyoming.
The Spartans have yet to score a touchdown in the first quarter this season, making a fast start another emphasis against UTEP.
For the offense to find its rhythm, San Jose State will need to continue getting the ball to true freshman Carson Clark, who leads the Spartans with 405 receiving yards and four touchdowns.
Offensive coordinator Craig Stutzmann said the offense needs to regain the aggressive identity that has helped it in recent seasons.
“The core principle is shoot your shot and attack,” Stutzmann said. “I believe that when it’s all said and done, I haven’t done a great job at making sure that we are attacking every single play. It’s been a little bit more cautious.”
Clark echoed that mindset after the loss to Wyoming.
“I know it’s kind of devastating with the way that we lost, but we just wash it away, focus on the future,” Clark said. “We still have a lot to play for.”