SAN JOSE STATE VS. BOISE STATE
Records: San Jose State (6-3, 3-2 Mountain West); No. 13 Boise State (8-1, 5-0 MW)
Start: 4 p.m., CEFCU Stadium, San Jose
TV: CBS Sports Network
Radio: KTRB (860 AM)
Series history: Boise State leads the series 14-1. San Jose State's only win got here within the 2020 Mountain West Championship with a rating of 34-20 at a neutral site in Whitney, Nevada, through the COVID-19 pandemic. Only 4 of the regular-season matchups were decided by 10 points or fewer – last season in Boise (35-27) and thrice in San Jose (52-42 in 2019; 23-20 in 2006 and 56-49 in 2004 ). ).
Storylines: Heisman candidate Ashton Jeanty enters this game leading the nation with 1,734 rushing yards and 23 rushing touchdowns and is on pace to interrupt Barry Sanders' NCAA single-season rushing record. … Nick Nash is 4 catches away from breaking the SJSU single-season receiving record, previously held by Noel Grigsby with 89 in 2011. … No. 13 Boise State will likely be the first-ranked opponent SJSU has played this season. … The two offenses mix for 923.1 yards per offensive play. … SJSU linebacker Jordan Pollard, who leads the team with 82 tackles, will sit out the primary half of the sport as a result of a targeting penalty on SJSU's last game. … The Mountain West's incumbent offensive linemen (Jeanty) and defensive linemen (DJ Harvey) are introduced.
Matchup to observe: Jeanty vs. Robert Rahimi. With Pollard out for the primary half, Rahimi could have to play a much bigger role. The safety ranks second on the team in tackles (59) and can likely load the box to contain the run. Jeanty was named Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week six times in a possible twelve weeks. His 1,268 yards after contact led the nation, so ending tackles will likely be essential.
Injuries: No injuries were reported.
Key stats: Jeanty averages 192.7 rushing yards per game. … Boise State ranks second nationally in sacks (40) and sacks per game (4.44). … San Jose State ranks second nationally with 16 interceptions. … SJSU quarterback Walker Eget finished last week's win over Oregon State with 395 passing yards but has thrown an interception in 4 straight games. … Boise State converted 11 straight fourth downs. … Both teams rank in the highest 20 within the nation in sacks allowed, with SJSU allowing only one per game and Boise allowing 0.78 per game.
—Andrew Hartley
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