San Jose State, having won seven games and gone to a bowl game in each of the last three years, announced a 2025 schedule Thursday that included a national blueblood power on the road as well as a regular-season finale against a longtime rival departing the Mountain West Conference.
The Spartans, 7-6 in the first year of coach Ken Niumatalolo, face a monster challenge in Week 2 when they visit Texas in Austin on Sept. 6. The Longhorns were 13-3 in 2024 including College Football Playoff wins over Clemson (38-24) and Arizona State (39-31) before losing to eventual champion Ohio State (28-14) in the semifinals.
Texas, coached by Steve Sarkisian, finished the season ranked No. 3 in the Associated press coaches poll and are expected to start Arch Manning (nephew of Peyton and Eli) at quarterback after playing a part-time role in 2024.
San Jose State opens the season on Thursday, Aug. 28 against Central Michigan (4-8) at home at CEFCU Stadium and finishes at home as well against Fresno State (6-7) on Nov. 29.
The Bulldogs are in their final season of the Mountain West and are headed to a reconstituted Pac-12 in 2026. The Spartans and Fresno State have already agreed to continue their rivalry with a six-game non-league series beginning in 2026.
San Jose State is competing for a fourth straight bowl game appearance, which would be a first in school history. The Spartans lost the Hawaii Bowl to South Florida 41-39 in overtime last season and fell in the Hawaii Bowl and the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl under Brent Brennan the previous two seasons.
The Spartans will play six home games and have won 15 of their last 19 in San Jose.
Here’s how the Spartans’ schedule lines up in 2025:
Week 1–vs. Central Michigan (4-8, Mid-American Conference), Aug. 28
Week 2–at Texas (13-3, Southeastern Conference), Sept. 6
Week 3–bye
Week 4–vs. Idaho (10-4, Big Sky Conference), Sept. 20
Week 5–at Stanford (3-9, Atlantic Coast Conference), Sept. 27
Week 6–vs. New Mexico (5-7, Mountain West), Oct. 4
Week 7–at Wyoming (3-9, Mountain West), Oct. 11
Week 8–at Utah State (4-8, Mountain West), Oct. 18
Week 9–bye
Week 10–vs. Hawaii (5-7, Mountain West), Nov. 1
Week 11–vs. Air Force (5-7, Mountain West), Nov. 8
Week 12–at Nevada (3-10, Mountain West), Nov. 15
Week 13–at San Diego State (3-9, Mountain West), Nov. 22
Week 14--vs. Fresno State (5-7, Mountain West), Nov. 29
Week 15–Mountain West championship game, to be determined
Note: Game times to be determined at a later date and dates subject to change.