What you should know before playing the Bill Walsh Legacy Game

SAN JOSE STATE VS. STANFORD

Records: San Jose State (6-5, 3-4 Mountain West); Stanford (3-8, 2-6 ACC)

Start: Saturday, 1 p.m., CEFCU Stadium, San Jose

TV: CBS

Radio: KTRB (860 AM), KNBR (1050 AM)

Series history: Stanford leads the series 52-14-1. The match was named the Bill Walsh Legacy Game after his death in 2007, as he played at San Jose State from 1952 to 1953 and was Stanford’s head coach from 1977 to 1978 and 1992 to 1994. The teams first played in 1900 but have not played each other since 2013.

SJSU storylines: The last time the schools played at CEFCU Stadium was in 2006 and it was the third largest home crowd in SJSU history (29,321). … SJSU’s Nick Nash was named a Biletnikoff Award finalist on Tuesday along with Colorado’s Travis Hunter and Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan. … The country’s sixth-best passing attack will look to bounce back after going 4 of 22 for 81 yards in last week’s loss to UNLV.

Stanford storylines: The Cardinals lost seven of eight games and gave up just 17 straight points in the second half, losing the big game 24-21. Only Florida State will finish with a worse conference record in the 17-team ACC. … Stanford is playing short rest for the first time this season. … Freshman phenom QB Elijah Brown, limited to four games so he can keep his redshirt, is available for a backup role.

Injuries: San Jose State receiver Justin Lockhart should be ready to play but may not be 100 percent. “We’re hoping he’s ready and able to play,” SJSU head coach Ken Niumatalolo said at his news conference Tuesday. Left tackle Khalil House and safety Mitch Leigber and doubts for Stanford.

Key stats: San Jose State’s 17 interceptions are the second most in the country. …Stanford’s Wildcat QB Justin Lamson set the Cardinal quarterback’s single-season rushing touchdown record (seven), surpassing the previous record of six set by Jim Plunkett and Kevin Hogan. … The Cardinal recorded a season-high six sacks last week at Cal … Nash leads the nation in receptions (96) and receiving touchdowns (14) and is second in receiving yards (1,291). … Quarterback Walker Eget had a turnover in all five games he started. … The Spartans have allowed just 10 sacks this year. … Stanford’s defense has forced a turnover in every game this season. SJSU has forced 24 turnovers, ranking fifth nationally, but has a turnover margin of minus-1.

Originally published: November 29, 2024 at 8:05 am PST