SAN JOSE STATE FOOTBALL
Spartans looking forward to six home games in 2012

Travis Johnson (43) is a returning first-team All-Western Athletic Conference player for San Jose State in 2012.

Six home games, the return of two nonconference opponents to Spartan Stadium for the first time in years, a new look to competing for a conference championship and a rare cross-country trip make up the 2012 San Jose State University football schedule.

The Spartans' six-game home schedule is evenly distributed through the traditional college football regular-season months of September, October and November. All home games in Spartan Stadium have 1 p.m. kickoff times, subject to change based on broadcast commitments.

"We're really excited to have six home football games this year. We open up with Stanford, which is a great game for the Bay Area," said San Jose State coach Mike MacIntyre. "UC Davis and Colorado State will be two great home games for us.

"After starting a new series with San Diego State and going to Navy, we have an open date and start conference play. Our first home conference game is against Utah State. The Aggies and Louisiana Tech, I think, will be the frontrunners [for the WAC championship], among the teams coming back.

"We have four of our last seven games at home. The great thing about our schedule is we play eight games in the state of California," concluded the Spartans head coach.

UC Davis is San Jose State's home opener on Sept. 8. Colorado State the following weekend and Brigham Young return to Spartan Stadium for the first time since 1997 and 1968, respectively. The BYU home game is Nov. 17 and precedes the season finale at home Nov. 24 against 2011 WAC champion Louisiana Tech.

Utah State on Oct. 13 and Texas State, one of two new Western Athletic Conference football members, complete the home schedule on Oct. 27. The Utah State contest will be the Spartans' annual Homecoming game and conference opener following a bye week ending Oct. 6.

In all, San Jose State has five opponents that played in a 2011 bowl game and two that were ranked either in the final Associated Press or ESPN/USA Today coaches' poll. The Spartans open a season for the second year in a row against Stanford, seventh in both final polls, and take on BYU, 25th in the ESPN/USA Today poll, in November.

Also, San Jose State will be one of the Football Bowl Subdivision schools that will play a game in every time zone this season. The Spartans will make their first trip to Navy for a Sept. 29 game and to new WAC opponent UTSA in San Antonio Oct. 20 for a conference contest.

For ticket information, visit www.sjsuspartans.com or call the San Jose State Athletics ticket office at 408-924-SJTX.