By Matt Weiner (@mattweiner20) – Spear Reporter // Photo via Titus Wilkinson
There’s a quote on the wall in San Jose State’s press conference room:
“The duration of our season is my responsibility”
A wide-lens, forward thinking perspective is paramount for the now 0-2 Spartans following their 42-17 loss to No. 18 Oregon State in its first regular season game on CBS since 1982. Sure, there’s 10 games left, but SJSU’s loss to OSU in front of its largest crowd since 2013 was a massive missed opportunity.
“Each man individually, we need to be better,” said SJSU wide receiver Nick Nash, who finished with seven catches for 31 yards.
Heavy scrutinization of SJSU isn’t warranted. The talent disparity between the Spartans and Beavers is too big.
There was little chance SJSU’s young, unproven defense was going to shut down DJ Uiagalelei in his OSU debut following a much hyped, but underwhelming stint with Clemson.
“I can’t stress enough how good of a player he is,” SJSU safety Tre Jenkins said of Uiagalelei, the former five-star.
Uiagalelei finished 20-for-25 with 279 passing yards and finished with three passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns for the first time in his career. In a calm, cool, ‘been here done that’ manner he breezed through reads en route to throwing three touchdowns to three different wide receivers.
“He sees the blitz, the pressure coming and doesn’t freak out. You can tell a lot of QB’s how well their IQ is if they immediately run out the pocket,” Jenkins said.
Uiagalelei’s free-flowing pocket presence and OSU’s 42 points were a testament to the Beavers’ offensive line. He was only sacked once and OSU rushed for 197 total yards with 145 coming from running back Damien Martinez. The Beavers finished with 473 yards. Taliese Fuega, a 2022 All-American and Joshua Grey, a 2023 preseason PAC-12-All Conference lineman handled SJSU’s front seven with ease.
Early on, SJSU flirted with spoiling Uiagalelei’s debut. At the top of the second quarter, the Spartans were down 7-0 and just outside the red zone. Quarterback Chevan Cordeiro just scrambled for 11 yards. Then, in a crucial third and eight, SJSU’s left tackle Fernando Carmona Jr. committed a false start. SJSU left with just three points.
“We just got to execute the small things, that’s what it comes down to. And I mean, we were driving the whole game,” said Cordeiro who finished 18-32 with 143 passing yards and zero touchdowns and interceptions.
Following SJSU’s field goal, the Beavers outscored SJSU 35-14. Although, the last SJSU touchdown came via back-up Quarterback Jay Butterfield with 13 seconds left.
Running back Quali Conley, who rushed for over 100 yards against No. 6 USC, finished with 34 on Sunday. He took a majority of the load with running back Kairee Robinson being unable to play. SJSU didn’t have any three-and-outs but found itself in long third down scenarios which led to a 4-for-13 conversion rate.
“Third downs, they showed up,” Cordeiro said.
On Sunday OSU’s resurgence was back in full throttle. A year ago, the Beavers won 10 games and drubbed Florida in its bowl game. As of right now, the Beavers could wind up as the PAC-12 Champion. Uiagalelei becomes the legend in Corvallis, Oregon he couldn’t be in Clemson, South Carolina. And Martinez transcends from 2022 Freshman All-American to finding a spot on the 2023 All-Pac-12 team.
SJSU can dig itself out of a justifiable 0-2 hole and make a bowl game. The trophy from the 2020 Mountain West Championship was on full display in the entrance of the newly unveiled $60 million Spartan Athletic Center. But SJSU’s lack of donor funding could prevent the likelihood another one comes through the doors.
Not far from CEFCU Stadium was SJSU’s browning practice field flanked by a broken goal post. And on the filed was a roster that, “isn’t believed to eclipse $100,000 in total NIL earnings” according to a recent SF Chronicle.
Sunday was an opportunity to show skeptical donors — SJSU has the most alums working in the Silicon Valley — their money’s going to a worthwhile cause and fix these issues. Which then helps solve the talent disparity that led to Sunday’s drubbing.
“They play a unique brand of football and they’re incredibly physical,” said SJSU head coach Brent Brennan, who coached at OSU from 2010-16.
It’s not all said and done. SJSU has plenty time left to convince donors and the 23,337 fans — SJSU’s most since it reconfigured the stadium 2019 — this can be a high-accomplishing team.
Nonetheless, opportunity was knocking at the door and the Spartans couldn’t answer it.
SJSU’s back at home next Saturday to face FCS’s Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. It’s SJSU’s third straight game against a former five star quarterback, Sam Huard. Brennan and defensive line coach Joe Seumalo coached there together from 2001-04. It’ll be the first of 15 SJSU Athletics’ games featured on NBC Sports Bay Area this school year.