The San José State football team will look to extend its winning streak to three when it faces the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa on Saturday.
The Spartans come into this week’s game after defeating Utah State University 42-21 last Saturday. With bowl game implications on the line, Saturday's game will be even more crucial for the surging Spartans.
“This is always an incredibly challenging football game,” SJSU head coach Brent Brennan said. “I think (Timmy Chang) is doing a really good job. Their quarterback is an outstanding player . . . This is a huge football game for us.”
Hawaiʻi is coming off an ugly 44-20 loss to the University of New Mexico — a team that SJSU beat by 28 points two weeks ago. The Rainbow Warriors are currently the worst team in the Mountain West Conference, but this game presents environmental and logistical challenges that the Spartans have to get used to.
SJSU is scheduled to leave for Hawaiʻi on Thursday, flying more than five hours to get to their destination. The game is scheduled to kick off at 6 p.m. HDT and 9 p.m. PDT.
“We’re not there long enough to do that,” Brennan said about trying to prepare for the time difference. “But you know, young people are up late at night. Instead of playing video games in your dorm, you’re just gonna be playing a football game.”
Brennan also said the different climate in Hawaiʻi also plays a factor in why the playing in the Aloha State is so different. Saturday’s forecast calls for a humid 85 degree environment at game time.
A lot has been said about SJSU’s running game throughout its winning streak, but perhaps the team’s best weapon is on special teams.
According to ESPN.com, the Spartans have the second best special teams unit in terms of overall efficiency.
Against Utah State, the Spartans kickoff unit forced a crucial fumble to start the game.
“I think it's great that our team prioritizes special teams,” SJSU safety Andrew Jenkins said. “I think a lot of teams don’t really work on special teams, but not around here.”
Saturday will also be a homecoming for SJSU quarterback Chevan Cordeiro.
Cordeiro spent the first four years of his college career at Hawaiʻi before transferring to SJSU in 2022.
Cordeiro passed for 6,167 yards and 45 touchdowns across four seasons as a Rainbow Warrior.
“It’s weird, this is going to be my first time playing in Hawaiʻi in another jersey,” Cordeiro said. “Playing for that university still has a spot in my heart. At the end of the day, I’m in San José now and all that matters is winning.”
