By Matt Weiner (@mattweiner20) – Spear Reporter | Photo via Titus Wilkinson of The Spear
When SJSU football running back Kairee Robinson settles into his plane seat Saturday, he’ll rest with pride of guiding the Spartans to their sixth-consecutive win: A 37-31 victory over UNLV.
But Robinson’s ease will be confronted by the angst of not knowing if SJSU will play in the Mountain West championship game. As of now, computers will decide the three-team round robin between SJSU (7-5, 6-2 MW), UNLV (9-3, 6-2 MW) and Boise State (7-5, 6-2 MW) for the Mountain West championship.
“You never know what could happen. I’m just super proud of my guys ,” said Robinson, who rushed for 165 yards and two touchdowns helped him break SJSU’s all-time single season record (20). “[From] 1-5 and you can see the results now.”
If it comes down to the Spartans and the Broncos, Boise State could be given the edge because it has a higher strength of schedule. Entering this weekend, SJSU (72) was one spot below Boise State (71) in Jeff Anderson & Chris Hester’s computer rankings system. Should that happen, a finger can be pointed at USC’s downfall or No. 15 Oregon State failing to become a PAC-12 Champion.
But as they say, “when you point one finger, there’s three looking right back at you.”
In this case, conceding double-digit leads against Toledo, Air Force and of course Boise State. The first two carried caveats which made them justifiable, but surrendering a 27-7 lead to Boise State was less justifiable and more costly.
This isn’t to spoil the mood, rather, a reminder of how unforgiving college football can be.
Nonetheless, Saturday afternoon illustrated how far SJSU’s climbed since then. Though things got dicey at the end, SJSU led for all four quarters and Robinson and fellow SJSU running back Quali Conley (19 carries for 64 rushing yards) pulverized the Rebels front seven for 233 total rushing yards.
Cordeiro, meanwhile, was reliably sound, completing 73% of his 26 passes for 249 yards and two touchdowns. The first was a 56-yarder to tight end Sam Olson (six catches for 81 yards) three plays into the game. And in the third quarter, Cordeiro zipped a two-yard touchdown to Isaac Jernagin (one catch for three yards) to put SJSU up 27-17. The score came a couple plays after a 51-yard heave to Nick Nash (three catches for 91 yards).
“[Nick] Nash made an amazing catch over two defenders,” said Cordeiro. “… hopefully we can have two more games.”
Unfortunately, that fateful Saturday night in Boise on Oct. 7 may hold SJSU to one just game. This, of course, would deny the Spartans a chance at winning two Mountain West titles in the span of four years. A stat that’ll make “Brent Brennan era” and “SJSU golden era” interchangeable.
Not that there’s anything wrong with a bowl game. The appearance alone could give SJSU a pretty penny to improve various facets of the program related to nutrition and training. Furthermore, the program major exposure to continue its growth.
To take an even bigger step back, SJSU went to three bowl games between 1990-2014. Now it’s gone to three since 2020.
“There was a time where I would walk around downtown [San Jose] in Spartan gear and no one would say a word,” said SJSU head coach Brent Brennan, “But now people are coming out of the woodworks to love up to the Spartans.”
Perhaps the real shame if computers bounce SJSU out is that the Spartans could beat UNLV in a rematch.
Sure, SJSU gave up two touchdowns in the fourth quarter and allowed Rebels quarterback Jayden Maiava (19-for-29 for 229 passing yards and one passing touchdown) and wide receiver Ricky White (five catches for 111 receiving yards) to heat up. But when the Rebels trailed 37-30 and started driving from their own 25-yard line with a minute left, SJSU’s defense stonewalled their lethal “Go Go” offense. The drive lasted just six plays and 15 yards.
After Maiava threw an incomplete pass to Corey Thompson Jr., SJSU’s defense happily waved UNLV off the field. “It’s the most amazing feeling in the world,” SJSU cornerback Michael Dansby said.
When asked if there’s one word to describe SJSU’s midseason turnaround — the greatest in program history — head coach Brent Brennan chewed on it for a few moments. “Gosh that’s hard,” he began before deciding on “magical, special, incredible … how about it man? What a fun ride.”
But where does that ride go to next?
“I think we absolutely deserve a chance to play, but again those things aren’t up to me,” Brennan said.