No. 18 Oregon State Beavers at San Jose State Spartans football sneak peek: Players to watch, stats, early betting odds

Published Aug. 28, 2023, 11:36 a.m.
By Nick Daschel | The Oregonian/OregonLive
Oregon State kicks off the 2023 football season Sunday when the Beavers play at San Jose State at 12:30 p.m. in CEFCU Stadium.
This is the first of three consecutive non-conference games for OSU. The Beavers play for just the second time at San Jose State. Oregon State seeks its first win in a road season opener since 1999.
Here is a first look at San Jose State:
No. 18 Oregon State at San Jose State
When: 12:30 p.m. Sunday (KOIN 6)
Where: CEFCU Stadium, San Jose, Calif.
Records: Oregon State (opener), San Jose State (0-1)
Series history
Oregon State leads the series 4-2, though technically it’s 5-1, as San Jose State had to forfeit forfeit its 24-14 win in 1979. The last time the teams played was 2015, when OSU beat the Spartans 35-21 in Corvallis.
This game completes a home-and-home contract signed by the schools in 2012. OSU receives $425,000 for playing at San Jose State.
San Jose State star power
Chevan Cordeiro QB: If Cordeiro’s name looks familiar to Beaver fans, it is. He was Hawaii’s quarterback in 2021 when the Rainbow Warriors lost to OSU 45-27 in Corvallis. Cordeiro can be menacing, as he’s a run-pass threat. In the opener against USC, Cordeiro passed for three touchdowns and ran for 52 yards. The Mountain West’s second-team preseason QB, Cordeiro has 36 career starts. He led the MWC with 3,251 passing yards and 23 touchdowns last season.
Kairee Robinson RB: A second-team all-MWC preseason selection, Robinson ran for 752 yards and 10 touchdowns last season. However in the 2023 season opener, Quali Conley led the Spartans in rushing with six carries for 108 yards.
Justin Lockhart/Nick Nash WR: Lockhart was a preseason MWC second-teamer, but didn’t play in the Spartans opener against USC. Nash did play, torching the Trojans with six catches for 89 yards and three touchdowns. In 2022, Lockhart caught 36 passes for 578 yards.
Chase Williams (S): The USC transfer had 40 tackles and two interceptions last season for San Jose State.
Tre Jenkins (S): Another second-team MWC preseason pick, Jenkins had 60 tackles, including seven for losses, and two interceptions during the 2022 season.
Soane Toila (Edge): The junior is the Spartans best pass rusher, as he had 5½ tackles for loss and 2½ sacks last season.
Of note
San Jose State coaching staff is littered with former Beavers, starting at the top. Head coach Brent Brennan left OSU in 2016 for San Jose State following a six-year run coaching receivers in Corvallis. Five others at San Jose State either coached or played at Oregon State: defensive backs Derrick Odum (OSU DBs, 2015-16), offensive coordinator Kevin McGiven (OSU OC 2016-17), offensive line Josh Oglesby (OSU 2015-17 quality control asst.), defensive line Joe Seumalo (OSU DL 2006-14), offensive analyst Lyle Moevao (former OSU quarterback).
Point spread
Beavers by 17
Chance of winning (1 walkover to 5 virtually no chance): 2
There is some reason for caution here, despite OSU being a heavy favorite. First, this is the opener. Weird stuff happens in openers. Second, this is San Jose State’s second game, as the Spartans opened the season Saturday with a 56-28 loss to USC. It cuts both ways. San Jose State got the nerves of a season opener out of the way, but OSU has fresh video. It’s also a road opener, a situation that the Beavers have lost eight consecutive times. Granted, none of the opposing foes were as lightly regarded as San Jose State, but it’s still an opener on the road.
This is Oregon State’s first chance to show the offense has improved, led by Clemson transfer quarterback DJ Uiagalelei. We’ll also see the first signs as to whether the Beavers can continue to perform at a high level defensively.
Early prediction
Oregon State 37, San Jose State 17