[mm-video type=playlist id=01fb7dafw2b08817yr player_id=none image=https://mwwire.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]
San Jose State Football: First Look At The 2022 Schedule
The Spartans have a tough road back to the top of the Mountain West in 2022.
Contact/Follow @MattK_FS & @MWCwire
Are the ‘Dogs the West division favorite?
The Mountain West Conference unveiled the 2022 football schedule a couple weeks ago and, for the San Jose State Spartans, laid clear the path they’ll need to take in order to reach the top of the mountain once again.
https://twitter.com/SanJoseStateFB/status/1494038697834024960
Here’s what the week-by-week schedule looks like with Bill Connelly’s preseason SP+ rankings, where San Jose State is 96th overall, in parentheses:
September 3 – vs. Portland State (61st at end of 2021)
September 10 – at Auburn (25)
September 24 – vs. Western Michigan (97)
October 1 – at Wyoming (85)
October 8 – vs. UNLV (109)
October 15 – at Fresno State (39)
October 22 – at New Mexico State (131)
October 29 – vs. Nevada (120)
November 5 – vs. Colorado State (86)
November 12 – at San Diego State (67)
November 19 – at Utah State (91)
November 26 – vs. Hawaii (122)
What are the biggest initial takeaways?
1. Getting off to a strong start in conference play looks doable again.
Where Fresno State and San Diego State both have to tangle with Boise State early in their conference schedules, the Spartans will get to open Mountain West play on the road in Laramie against reloading Wyoming and at home against UNLV. San Jose State may not be overwhelming favorites against either of them, but you don’t have to squint too hard to picture a 2-0 start before the team heads to Fresno for the annual Valley Trophy clash.
2. Make hay when you can at home.
Given that SP+ projects the Spartans as one of four Mountain West teams to finish with about six wins (Wyoming, Colorado State, and Utah State are the others), making the most of a very friendly home schedule will be paramount. That makes the two-game homestand against Nevada and CSU, sandwiched as it is between two pairs of road games, one where it could be considered a disappointment if they don’t finish 2-0.
3. The November road trips will likely seal SJSU’s ultimate fate.
It’s hard to find a tougher two-game road trip anywhere in next fall’s conference schedule than what the Spartans will deal with in traveling first to San Diego and then to Logan in mid-November. If San Jose State can make good on beating the teams that, on paper right now, they should beat in October, it could be the difference between battling for a division crown or merely coasting to a bowl bid.
Hardest stretch: vs. Colorado State, at San Diego State, at Utah State
Easiest stretch: at New Mexico State, vs. Nevada
Guaranteed wins: vs. Portland State, at New Mexico State
Guaranteed losses: at Auburn
Worse than 50/50 games: at Fresno State, at San Diego State, at Utah State
50/50 games: vs. Western Michigan, at Wyoming, vs. UNLV, vs. Colorado State
Better than 50/50 games: vs. Nevada, vs. Hawaii
Preliminary projected record: 6-6
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1375]
