Nevada (2-4, 1-2 MW) vs. San José State (4-3, 2-1 MW)
Saturday, Oct. 24 - 2 p.m.
Reno, Nev. - Mackay Stadium

TV/Stream: MW+ (PxP: Mike Stefansson; Analyst: Zack Madonick)
Radio: 105.7 KOZZ / The Varsity Network app (PxP: John Ramey; Analyst: Mike Edwards; Sideline: Terrence Newman)

RENO, Nev. - Nevada Football returns to Mackay Stadium for the first time in a month, and the only time in October, as the Wolf Pack hosts San José State in the 2026 Homecoming Game. The game will kick off at 2 p.m. and air on MW+ with Mike Stefansson (play-by-play) and Zack Madonick (analyst) on the call.

The radio broadcast of the game will be available on KOZZ 105.7 FM in Northern Nevada, online at www.thevarsitynetwork.com and on the Varsity Network app. John Ramey (play-by-play and Mike Edwards (analyst) will be on the call, with the 60-minute pregame show to begin at 1 p.m.

SERIES HISTORY
Nevada and San José State will meet for the 39th time in Saturday's Homecoming clash. The Wolf Pack leads the all-time series, 24-12-2, and snapped a two-game slide in the series with last year's 55-10 victory at Mackay Stadium.

In that contest, the Wolf Pack capitalized on early Spartan turnovers to race out to a 28-0 lead by early in the second quarter. Quarterback Carter Jones completed 16-of-19 passes for 195 yards and two touchdowns while Caleb Ramseur ran for 128 yards and a touchdown. Nevada intercepted four San José State passes, two by safety Murvin Kenion.

ABOUT SAN JOSÉ STATE
San José State (4-3, 2-1 MW) got back into the win column with its second Mountain West win Saturday, picking up a 24-11 road victory at UTEP.

The Spartans got two touchdown runs, the latter going for 67 yards, from Viliami Teu in the third quarter to open it up at 21-0. Teu finished the game with 156 yards on 20 carries in the absence of the Spartans leading rusher, Jabari Bates, who leads the team with 556 rushing yards. Daniel Rolovich made his first start at quarterback for San José State Saturday, going 12-for-23 for 193 yards and a touchdown. Carson Clark has been the top target of Spartan quarterbacks, hauling in 42 passes for 509 yards and five scores.

Defensively, the Spartans bring a serious rush having registered 27 sacks and 47 tackles-for-loss through seven games. Jayland McGlothen and Jeremiah Tuiileila pace the defense with 6.5 TFLs apiece as four Spartans have at least six on the season, while McGlothen leads the team with six sacks. The Spartan secondary also plays a key role, picking off seven passes with Dylan Lee (two INT, 4.0 sacks, 6.5 TFLs) also leading the team with 65 tackles.

AMONG THE NATIONAL LEADERS
Through Week 7 of the campaign Nevada holds some impressive spots in the FBS rankings.

The Wolf Pack pass defense remains one of the best in the nation, ranking seventh allowing just 156.3 yards through the air per game. Nevada is also one of the nation's most efficient teams in the red zone with its 95.2 scoring rate (20-for-21) best in the Mountain West and 14th in the country.

Individually, linebacker EJ Smith leads the country with 11.8 tackles per game and ranks second with 71 total tackles and 6.50 solo tackles per game.

After yet another outstanding performance on punt return, Gerick Robinson is second in the Mountain West and 16th in the country with an average of 14.3 yards over 13 returns. Robinson ranks eighth in the country with 186 punt-return yards while seven of his 13 returns have gone for double-digit yardage. Staying on the return game, kick returner Ky Woods leads the Mountain West and ranks 10th in the country averaging 25.1 yards per return.

SMITH NAMED ASSOCIATED PRESS MIDSEASON ALL-AMERICAN
Linebacker EJ Smith was named to the Associated Press Midseason All-America Second Team October 15.

Smith has quickly established himself as one of the top defenders in the nation in his second season with the Wolf Pack. Through Week 7 he leads the country with 11.8 tackles per game and ranks second with 71 total tackles and 6.50 solo tackles per game. He shares the Pack lead in sacks (2.5) and is second with 4.5 TFLs. He has made double-digit tackles in four of the Pack's six games this season including a career-high 21 (10 solo) against Air Force September 26.

Smith was the only Mountain West representative on either of the two AP teams and one of just three players from a Group of Six program. Only six linebackers were selected—three apiece for the first and second teams.

LABARBERA NAMED MIDSEASON LOMBARDI AWARD CANDIDATE
EDGE Dylan LaBarbera was named to the Lombardi Award Midseason Watch List Wednesday.

LaBarbera has built upon his breakout 2025 campaign this season, affecting opposing game plans and opening up opportunities for teammates through his constant disruption at the line of scrimmage. Nationally he ranks 26th with 4.83 solo tackles per game and his 8.3 tackles per game also ranks 44th in the country.

While LaBarbera ranks second on the team with 50 tackles and has produced 2.0 sacks and 4.0 tackles-for-loss in addition to a team-high 10 quarterback hurries, it is the gravity he creates from opposing defenses which has led to Nevada's defense producing across all units. Outside of LaBarbera, 13 different Wolf Pack defenders have at least shared one of the unit's 29 TFLs and eight have earned at least a share of one of the 13 sacks through five games.

STINGY SECONDARY
Nevada's defense improved to seventh in the country in passing defense, lowering its number to 156.3 passing yards per game allowed after holding North Dakota State to just 153 yards. Members of the Wolf Pack secondary have contributed 17 of the team's 23 pass breakups led by five from Larry Turner-Gooden and three apiece from Isaiah Jordan, Joshua Scott and Bryson Snelling.