The Texas Longhorns are poised to face off against the San Jose State Spartans on Saturday, September 6, at 11 a.m. in Austin, Texas, at the Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. This early-season clash will mark just the second time these two programs have ever competed against one another. The last—and only—meeting between the teams came on September 9, 2017, when the Longhorns completely dominated the Spartans in a 56-0 shutout.
Fast forward to 2025, and the storyline appears to be shaping up in a similar way, at least on paper. With the college football season now just under three months away, Texas is the clear favorite once again. When analyzing the outlook based on preseason rankings, individual talent, and performances from the previous season, all indicators point toward another convincing Texas victory.
The Longhorns are coming off a highly successful season that saw them reach the College Football Playoff semifinal. They wrapped up the year with a strong 13-3 overall record and averaged a robust 34.5 points per game. In that semifinal appearance, they faced the Ohio State Buckeyes and came up short, but the experience solidified Texas as a top-tier national contender. One standout from that game was linebacker David Gbenda, who managed to snag an interception against Ohio State in the third quarter of the Cotton Bowl Classic, helping to keep Texas in the fight against the eventual national champions.
In contrast, the San Jose State Spartans had a far more modest season. They ended their 2024 campaign with a 7-6 record and were not ranked in the final top 25. The Spartans’ offense was competent, putting up 28.2 points per game and scoring 47 total touchdowns throughout the year. While respectable, these numbers pale in comparison to what Texas was able to achieve over the course of the season.
San Jose State will be led by redshirt senior quarterback Walker Eget in 2025. Last season, Eget split playing time with Emmett Brown, but with Brown now having transferred to Coastal Carolina via the transfer portal, the path is clear for Eget to take full control of the offense. Eget threw for 2,504 yards last season and will likely benefit from not having to share snaps, giving him more consistency and opportunities to find rhythm and confidence.
However, Eget will face a major challenge in replacing the production of his top receiver from last year, Nick Nash. Nash was a standout playmaker and was selected in the fourth round of the NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. He accounted for a significant 1,382 of San Jose State’s 4,183 total receiving yards, meaning the team must now fill a major void in its passing attack. Eget will need to develop new chemistry with his remaining and emerging receivers, which could prove difficult, especially against a powerhouse like Texas.
Playing on the road in Austin adds yet another layer of difficulty for the Spartans. Texas boasts one of the toughest home-field environments in college football. The Longhorns were nearly unbeatable at home last season, finishing with a 7-1 record at DKR Stadium. Their only home defeat came at the hands of the Georgia Bulldogs, who outperformed them 30-15 on October 19. That Georgia team went on to become one of the most formidable squads in the country, so the loss was hardly a mark of weakness.
As of ESPN’s most recent Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings for 2025, the Longhorns sit comfortably at the No. 3 spot. Interestingly, they are ranked one position ahead of Georgia—the very team responsible for two of their three total losses last season. Meanwhile, San Jose State is nowhere to be found in that top 25 list, which further underscores the wide gap in national standing between the two programs heading into the new season.
In a somewhat surprising twist, San Jose State could enter their matchup against Texas with a better record. Their Week 1 game is against Central Michigan, a team that struggled last year and posted a 4-8 record. The Spartans are expected to come out on top in that game, which would give them a confidence boost and a 1-0 record before making the trip to Austin.
On the flip side, Texas opens its season with a far more difficult opponent: Ohio State. This rematch of last season’s playoff semifinal gives the Longhorns an opportunity to make a statement, but it will undoubtedly be a grueling test. Ohio State defeated Texas in the previous encounter and ultimately captured the national championship. Facing such a formidable team in Week 1 means the Longhorns could potentially begin the San Jose State game with an 0-1 record. However, even with a possible early loss, Texas remains the overwhelming favorite in this specific matchup due to their depth, talent, and recent track record of success.
Statistical comparisons heavily favor Texas in almost every category. From offensive output to defensive stops, the Longhorns have shown they can compete with the nation’s elite. Their combination of veteran leadership, coaching continuity, and postseason experience gives them a considerable edge over a Spartans team that is still trying to find its footing and develop consistency on both sides of the ball.
While college football is full of surprises and anything can happen on any given Saturday, the numbers paint a clear picture: Texas should win this matchup handily. San Jose State’s chances of pulling off an upset rely on a nearly perfect performance and several breaks going their way, including uncharacteristic errors from Texas. Barring that kind of unlikely scenario, the Longhorns are expected to walk away with their second victory over the Spartans in program history.
The bottom line is that while San Jose State may enter the game with some momentum and a few promising pieces, the gap in talent, experience, and national standing remains significant. For now, the statistics and history suggest that the outcome will likely mirror the last time these teams met—another lopsided victory for the Longhorns in front of their home crowd.
