What to know before San Jose State faces South Florida in Hawaii Bowl

SAN JOSE STATE VS. SOUTH FLORIDA

Records: San Jose State (7-5, 3-4 Mountain West); South Florida (6-6, 4-4 AAC)

Kickoff: 5 p.m., Clarence T.C. Ching Complex, Honolulu, Hawaii

TV: ESPN

Radio: KTRB (860 AM), ESPN Radio

Series history: South Florida beat SJSU 42-22 in the two universities’ only matchup in San Jose on Aug. 26, 2017.

Storylines: SJSU had seven players enter the transfer portal after it opened on Dec. 9, including starting defensive backs DJ Harvey and Michael Dansby. … 2024 Fred Biletnikoff Award finalist Nick Nash has also elected not to play in the Hawaii Bowl with the intent to prepare for the NFL draft. … The Spartans played in the Hawaii Bowl last season, losing 24-14 to Coastal Carolina. … If the Spartans win, it will be the first time they have won eight games in a season since 2012. … Ken Niumatalolo’s seven regular-season wins are the most for a first-year SJSU head coach since Ron Turner won seven in 1992.

 

Matchup to watch: USF wide receiver Sean Atkins vs. Spartans defensive backs. SJSU has yet to decide who will start at defensive back but whoever starts will line up against Atkins, who was a third-team all-American Athletic Conference player this season. Atkins was the Bulls’ leading receiver for the second straight year with 68 receptions for 677 yards and two touchdowns.

Stats that matter: SJSU is fifth in the nation in passing offense. … Safety Robert Rahimi leads the Mountain West and is third in the FBS in interceptions with five. … SJSU’s 20 interceptions are tied for first in the nation with BYU. … USF has the third most games with 300+ rushing yards this season with four.