- Matchup: San Jose State Spartans vs Eastern Michigan Eagles
- Date: Friday, September 4, 2026
- Venue: Rynearson Stadium, Ypsilanti, MI
- Broadcast: ESPN+
- Betting Line: Eagles (-3.5)
- Total Points Over/Under: 54.5
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The San Jose State Spartans, with a disappointing 3-9 record last season, will travel to Rynearson Stadium on Friday, September 4, 2026, to face off against the Eastern Michigan Eagles, who finished their previous campaign at 4-8. The Eagles are currently favored by 3.5 points, with the total set at 54.5.
Last season, the Spartans concluded their run with a 3-9 mark. Their final game saw them up against the USC Trojans, where they suffered a 42-26 defeat. On the rushing defense front, San Jose State allowed 164 yards on 40 carries, translating to an average of 4.1 yards allowed per rush. In passing defense, they permitted 30 completions out of 36 attempts for a total of 341 yards, marking an impressive completion percentage of 83.3%. Overall, the Spartans managed 56 plays, accumulating 336 yards. They rushed the ball 24 times for 102 yards, averaging 4.3 yards per carry.
Throughout the previous season, the Spartans registered a total of 4,828 yards. They scored 17 touchdowns through the air and added 14 rushing touchdowns. Unfortunately, they turned the ball over 28 times. As a team, San Jose State garnered 241 first downs, but also incurred 70 penalties totaling 658 yards. Offensively, they averaged just 119.7 rushing yards per game, which ranked 111th nationally. In terms of scoring, the Spartans averaged 21.4 points per game.
Defensively, the Spartans allowed 2,944 passing yards, placing them 90th nationally. Across their 12 games, they gave up an average of 245.3 passing yards per game, with a completion rate of 65.3%. Overall, they yielded 403.2 yards per game, ranking them 99th. They allowed 18 touchdown passes and 25 rushing touchdowns. On the ground, they conceded an average of 4.0 yards per carry and 157.9 rushing yards per game, totaling 1,895 yards allowed. The Spartans unfortunately ranked 121st in points allowed, giving up an average of 32.5 points per game.
The Eastern Michigan Eagles wrapped up last season with a 4-8 record as well. In their final game, they secured a convincing 28-17 win over the Sacramento State Hornets. The Eagles totaled 348 yards of offense, executing 68 plays at an average of 5.1 yards per play. Their rushing game averaged 2.3 yards per carry, finishing with 69 yards on 30 attempts. Defensively, they allowed 17 rushing attempts for a total of 49 yards (2.9 yards per carry), while their secondary permitted a completion rate of 54.3%, surrendering 222 yards on 25 completions out of 46 attempts.
In terms of offensive performance, the Eagles ranked 92nd in scoring, averaging 24.1 points per game. Eastern Michigan compiled an average of 377.3 yards per game, which ranked them 78th nationally. Their offense incurred 586 penalty yards from 68 infractions, placing them at 98th nationally for penalties. They threw 11 interceptions, lost 4 fumbles, and earned a total of 244 first downs. Last season, the Eagles amassed 2,818 passing yards, averaging 234.8 yards per game, positioning them 61st nationally. They also averaged 142.5 rushing yards per game, totaling 1,710 rushing yards.
On defense, Eastern Michigan permitted a total of 2,785 yards on the ground, averaging 232.1 yards per game, along with conceding 29 rushing touchdowns. In the air, they gave up 16 touchdown passes and allowed an average of 184.2 passing yards per game, ranking 20th nationally. Last season, they allowed a combined score of 358 points and recorded 2 fumbles and 7 interceptions. The Eagles’ defense was on the field for 800 plays, ranking them 37th in Division 1, and they surrendered an average of 29.8 points per game, which ranked them 101st in the division.
How will the Spartans fare against the Eagles in tonight’s college football showdown?
Expert Prediction: Take the Spartans +3.5
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