By Jonathan Canas (@jonathancanas_) – Spear Reporter
SJSU football team watching the action at CEFCU Stadium | Photo by Titus Wilkinson – The Spear
San Jose State (4-5, 3-2 MW) will look to bring the Valley Trophy back to Silicon Valley after four years. Bay Area native and head coach Brent Brennan feels the rivalry brewing up.
“Both of our rosters are filled with a lot of California players,” said Brennan, “So many of them played with or against each other in high school or junior college, so there’s a lot of carry over that way.”
The Spartans are 38-44-3 overall against the Bulldogs( 8-1, 4-1 MW) losing four of their last five matchups. As one sided as the last five years have been, this season has the makings for this classic rivalry to be rebooted.
Implications
For one, the Spartans’ bowl eligibility hinges on the outcome of their last three games. Following the Bulldogs, they take on the underperforming Aztecs ( 3-6, 1-4 MW) in their last home game. The Aztecs’ only win in the conference came against the last place Rainbow Warriors.
To finish off the season, the Spartans travel to Sin City to face the third place Rebels (7-2, 4-1 MW) of the Mountain West, who have a rising freshman quarterback in Jayden Maiava.
A win against the rival across the valley could make the bowl game a lock unless the Aztecs decide to play spoiler.
On the other side, a third straight Valley Trophy win would put the Bulldogs in a prime position to continue their Mountain West championship reign. Fresno State arguably has the easiest schedule remaining in the Mountain West conference.
The Bulldogs host their last home game next week against the Lobos (3-6, 1-4 MW) who have lost three of their last four games and finish off their season against the aforementioned Aztecs in San Diego.
Attendance on both sides
This is the first time Fresno State will be playing in the new and improved CEFCU stadium.
“I’ve seen some pictures of it” said Fresno State head coach Jeff Tedford, “typically we go walk other stadiums, but we’re not able to do that this week. From what I understand it’s different.”
“Different” would be an understatement, seeing as the last time Fresno State came to town, the right side was a pile of dirt under construction. The new look Spartans will be out to avenge the 2021 team that was drilled 40-9 at home.
And the Fresno State players won’t be coming alone either. Expect the “red wave” to come in bunches. The Bulldogs average the highest amount of fans attended in the conference at just above 39,000 and they travel well.
Brennan was confident in the Spartan fanbase showing out to support the blue and gold.
“I think CEFCU Stadium will be rocking on Saturday night,” said Brennan “I’m hopeful that they come out and create that home field advantage for the Spartans.”
History adds to the fire
On Saturday the Spartans will be honoring the 1990 team that wound up being the last Spartan team to beat the Bulldogs for another 15 years.
This year’s Spartan team will hope to bring new meaning to the word “rivalry” on Saturday’s crucial matchup.
It’s only fitting that this conference rivalry is taking place in November. As former Bulldog head coach Jim Sweeney used to say, “The games in November are the ones to remember.”
