SAN JOSE — San Jose State is looking to bounce back from its most lopsided loss in nearly a decade with a new defensive coordinator and against a San Diego State team that is chasing a spot in the College Football Playoff.
It’s been a reflective week for the Spartans (3-7, 2-4 Mountain West) in the wake of their dismal 55-10 loss at last-place Nevada. San Jose State not only had its hopes of becoming bowl eligible for a fourth straight season obliterated by a team that had not won a Mountain West Conference game since 2023, but on Monday it cost long-time defensive coordinator Derrick Odum and special teams coordinator Joe Palcic their jobs.
Now the team looks to regroup Saturday night in San Diego against the Aztecs (8-2, 5-1 Mountain West), who have one of the staunchest defenses in the nation and need to win out to remain in the CFP chase.
The Spartans are not expected to look much different schematically on defense, but it will be their first game without Odum calling the plays since 2017. Head coach Ken Niumatalolo this week explained the decision to make the staff shakeup with two games remaining, saying it began when he received a message from athletic director Jeff Konya on Monday.
Niumatalolo knew tough decisions would follow.
“Our team can’t look like the product we put on the field against Nevada,” said Niumatalolo, who is in his second season at San Jose State. “That can’t happen again.”
After what Niumatalolo described as a sleepless weekend, his meeting with Konya ended with the decision to fire the two assistants.
“A lot of (players) came up to me and said ‘coach I’m sorry, I feel like it was my fault,’” Niumatalolo said. “I look at the opposite, I wish we could have done better for them.”
Inside linebackers coach Bojay Filimoeatu took over this week as the Spartans’ interim defensive coordinator. Niumatalolo said Filimoeatu’s knowledge of the defense was the main factor in promoting him to the role.
Filimoeatu, 35, re-joined the staff last season on the recommendation of Odum. He also was the Spartans linebackers coach from 2017-18, arriving along with Odum and then-head coach Brent Brennan from Oregon State. He coached at Utah State, Weber State and UNLV between his stints with the Spartans.
“It’s kind of interesting because I never had any backup plans,” Niumatalolo said. “He’s a phenomenal football coach and the inside linebacker coach probably has the best feel for the defense besides the coordinator because you work with the front seven.”
Filimoeatu called his promotion bittersweet because of his close relationship with Odum.
“You find out the news of a dear friend, a brother and it hurts deeply,” Filimoeatu said. “But it’s a part of this profession you have to flip the script and get your mind right. I’m grateful for the opportunity that coach Ken gave me and this defensive staff. ”
The Spartans face a significant challenge Saturday night.
San Jose State has lost four of its past five games, and the past two weeks was outscored 81-28. The Spartans have yet to win a road game this season (0-5), while the Aztecs are 5-0 at home, outscoring opponents 162-38. The last time the Spartans finished the season without a road win was in 2018 when the team went 1-11.
San Diego State boasts the toughest defense in the Mountain West, ranking No. 1 in scoring defense (12.5 point allowed per game) and total defense (262.4 yards allowed per game). SDSU has three shutouts, including a 34-0 rout over Cal in the third week of the season.
The Aztecs defense is led by cornerback Chris Johnson, who was named a Mid-Season First Team All-American by the Associated Press, Sports Illustrated and Athlon Sports. Johnson has three interceptions and eight pass break-ups.
“He’s fast, athletic and experienced. That’s three things you check off that means a really good player,” offensive coordinator Craig Stutzmann said. “We have to be smart, but not afraid.”
San Diego State’s offense primarily runs through Lucky Sutton, who leads the Mountain West with 1,048 rushing yards. The Aztecs’ passing game ranks near the bottom of the Mountain West(160.10 yards per game) and twice as many of their touchdowns have been scored on the ground (16 to 8) than through the air.
But a week ago, the Spartans faced the worst passing offense (statistically) in the conference and Nevada’s Carter Jones completed 16 of 19 attempts for 195 yards and two touchdowns in the blowout.
The Spartans’ high-flying offense also has sputtered in recent weeks.
Wide receiver Danny Scudero, who this week was named a 2025 Biletnikoff semifinalist, was held to nine receptions for 70 yards the past two weeks. His hold as the FBS leader in receiving yards has been reduced to two catches over Connecticut’s Skyler Bell.
Quarterback Walker Eget, the nation’s leading passer most of the season, is still second in passing yards (3,015), but against Nevada was 11 for 23 passing for 74 yards and threw three interceptions. Eget has thrown five interceptions and no touchdowns the past two weeks after not throwing an interception in six straight games.
Stutzmann’s goal is to get Eget back on track.
“I think maybe some things got into his psyche a little bit, about it being his senior year, I want to make a bowl game, there’s only a couple games left,” Stutzmann said. “My job is to clear all the things not to do with football and center his mind to football. When he does that he’s a really good player.”