By Matthew Gonzalez — Reporter
The San Jose State Spartans played their first college football game in 1893, and since then have been able to develop a few long standing rivalries among a few teams.
While the main derivative for these rivalries is generally geographical location, we can still analyze and take into consideration the win/loss series history as well.
#3: Stanford Cardinal
Known as the “Bill Walsh Legacy” game, the rivalry between the Spartans and the Cardinal is undermined by the fact that the two teams have not played each other since 2013, in which the Cardinal handily defeated SJSU, 34-13.
This can be attributed to the fact that the two teams compete in opposite conferences, SJSU in the Mountain West, and Stanford in the PAC-12.
Another undermining detail is that of the pretty consistent dominance the Cardinal have displayed over SJSU, as the Cardinal have won the last six games over SJSU, five of which have come in double-digit Cardinal victories.
A final unfortunate fact for those who were looking for a potential rebuild of this rivalry, is that these two teams will not be seeing each other in the regular season in the foreseeable future. SJSU’s future non-conference opponents have been scheduled as far as the year 2028, and in none of the next eight upcoming out-of-conference schedules are the Cardinal included.
What does that mean for this rivalry? This would mean that the most likely meeting for the Cardinal and SJSU to rekindle any sort of rivalry would be in a bowl game. With the Las Vegas Bowl now relinquishing its tie in to the Mountain West Conference because of the move to Allegiant Stadium, the Las Vegas Bowl is out of the question.
However, the Spartans have two options to meet with the Cardinal, either in a New Year’s Six game in which all conferences in the FBS are tied in with, or a new unnamed bowl game in Los Angeles, Calif., in which the Mountain West and the PAC-12 are the only conferences tied in.
#2 San Diego State Aztecs
The Aztecs have probably been the most successful team in the western region of the Mountain West Conference, having placed in the top two positions in the western standings six out of the last seven seasons.
A common storyline in sports, especially in professional sports is that of the Bay Area vs. Southern California rivalry, such as the Giants and Dodgers in the MLB, and Sharks and Kings in the NHL.
This SJSU and SDSU rivalry benefits from that sort of bragging rights perspective that both teams undoubtedly look to hold onto each year, in which SDSU has done a much better job of doing. Unlike Stanford, whom SJSU won’t see anytime soon, SJSU will meet with SDSU for as long as both teams are in the Mountain West.
SJSU’s win on Friday will do wonders for this rather new rivalry, and spark a real rivalry, not a one-sided checkmark game for SDSU. In other words, if SJSU can perform at the level they are now for a consistent amount of time, surely this rivalry here will benefit from it on a competitive level.
#1 Fresno State Bulldogs
About 150 miles southeast of San Jose State lie the home of SJSU’s most effervescent rival: the Fresno State Bulldogs.
The rivalry between SJSU and Fresno State dates back to Nov. 21, 1921 when SJSU defeated Fresno State by a score of 14-2. From there on, quite unlike other SJSU rivalries, this rivalry has remained consistently competitive, as Fresno State holds the lead in all-time meetings by a tight lead of 42-38, including three ties.
In the past 10 meetings between SJSU and Fresno State, the rivalry is at a stalemate, with Fresno State taking five victories, and SJSU taking the other five, making this rivalry all the more nail-biting and fun to watch. Obviously, geography plays as a huge catalyst in this rivalry, as it’s only a two and a half hour bus ride from San Jose to Fresno, making Fresno State SJSU’s closest opponent in the Mountain West.
Not only are these teams competitive and close in proximity, but these two teams have also been in the same conference for a majority of their existence, having only missed one meeting with each other since 1996.
Known as the “Battle of the Valley,” the ‘Dogs and Spartans have duked it out for 11 decades for the Valley Trophy, and their meeting this year will be very indicative of the future of this rivalry, a future both squads will look to tip in their favor.
The SJSU vs. Fresno State rivalry has all the makings of a great college football rivalry; close proximity, meaningful and competitive games, and a fierce desire for bragging rights in the valley. This is what makes Fresno State SJSU’s biggest rival.
Follow Matthew on Twitter @matthewmgonz01