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Scouting San Jose State: Cowboys Face Spartans' Evolving Offense, Tough Defense
LARAMIE, Wyo. - Wyoming will face a San Jose State team Friday night that has become more committed to running the ball while keeping the passing attack that has made the Spartans dangerous.
The Cowboys are 2-3 overall, 1-1 in Mountain West conference play as they travel to CEFCU Stadium looking to recover from a 28-0 loss at North Dakota State, while San Jose State is 3-2 overall and 1-0 in MW conference play as the Spartans return home following a 20-16 victory at Hawai‘i.
Both teams are coming off short weeks, but they had different results last Saturday. Wyoming needs to find offensive consistency after being shut out for the first time this season. San Jose State is trying to build on a conference-opening victory while improving an offense that has occasionally struggled with turnovers and execution.
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Wyoming head coach Jay Sawvel said San Jose State presents a different offensive challenge than in previous seasons.
"They've changed their mode a little bit offensively," Sawvel said during his Monday press conference. "They're still down the field, heavily in the pass game. Luke Weaver is a very good quarterback for them, but they're also leaning on a run game with Jabari Bates a whole lot more than what they've ever done before."
Bates has rushed for 487 yards on 104 carries, averaging 4.7 yards per attempt, with two 100-yard performances. Against Hawai‘i, he managed just 74 yards on 27 carries, but the Spartans continued feeding him the ball.
"We recognized that coming into the season to go where we want to go and to do what we want to do, we’ve got to be able to run the football," Spartans head coach Ken Niumatalolo said Monday. "We got to be physical in the run game. Jabari's been awesome."
Stopping Bates will be important for Wyoming, which surrendered 339 rushing yards to Central Michigan and also struggled against North Dakota State's ground attack.
Weaver has completed 106 of 171 passes for 1,278 yards, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. Four interceptions came against Fresno State, which also sacked him five times in a 26-10 loss.
That game film offers Wyoming a possible blueprint: pressure Weaver without sacrificing coverage.
Freshman Carson Clark leads San Jose State with 29 receptions for 314 yards and four touchdowns.
"He's been probably one of the more consistent guys on offense and on our team," Niumatalolo said.
Cooper Hoch has added 285 receiving yards and three touchdowns, while Anthony Ivey recorded 150 yards against Fresno State. Jerry McClure also gives Weaver another option.
Sawvel identified two concerns for Wyoming's secondary.
"You're going to have to make sure that you are good on downfield shots, because there's going to be several of them," Sawvel said.
The Cowboys must also limit yards after the catch and remain disciplined against San Jose State's run-pass options.
Forcing obvious passing situations could help. The Spartans have converted just 23 of 71 third-down opportunities, or 32.4 percent.
Offensively, Wyoming faces a defense capable of creating turnovers. San Jose State intercepted Hawai‘i twice last week and prevented touchdowns on both Rainbow Warriors red-zone possessions despite allowing 438 total yards.
Linebacker Dylan Lee leads the Spartans with 44 tackles.
That presents another challenge for Wyoming, which averages just 14.2 points per game.
"It's very, very troubling," Sawvel said of the scoring average. "It's an issue, and there's a lot of different things that we've got to address with it."
The Cowboys have been shut out in the first half of their last two road games. Against North Dakota State, Tyler Hughes threw an interception on Wyoming's first offensive play, and the Cowboys later failed to score after reaching the Bison one-yard line.
Wyoming's running game also struggled, with Samuel Harris and Markell Holman combining for 60 yards on 18 carries.
Establishing the run and using quick passes to the backs and tight ends Jake Wilson and Kyle Frendt could help Hughes avoid pressure.
San Jose State's secondary has shown vulnerability, allowing Hawai‘i to throw for 341 yards. However, Wyoming must avoid the interceptions that hurt the Rainbow Warriors.
Niumatalolo expects the Cowboys to present challenges with their offensive scheme.
"They got a really good scheme to do a lot of different things," Niumatalolo said. "Outside zone schemes with triple option stuff, different drop back principles with some different things."
The Spartans already know to look for the run.
"First and foremost, we've got to be able to stop the run," Niumatalolo said. "Everything starts there."
San Jose State has won four straight home games against Wyoming, while the Cowboys have lost eight consecutive road games since defeating Akron on Aug. 28, 2025.
To end that streak, Wyoming must protect the football, establish its running game, prevent explosive plays and finish scoring opportunities.
Easier said than done.
"We've got to go 1-0 this week," Sawvel said. "We've got to play good football. We've got to play football to the best of our ability. We've got to block out all distractions. We've got to focus on us."
Wyoming and San Jose State kick off Friday at 7 p.m. Mountain Time on CBS Sports Network.
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