The Texas Longhorns will hold its 2025 home opener against the San José State Spartans of the Mountain West Conference. Both teams will be in search of their first win of the season after San José State fell to Central Michigan 16-14 and the Longhorns suffered a bitter road defeat to Ohio State.
Texas and San José State have only faced each other once, with the Longhorns taking a dominant 56-0 rout back in 2017. In their second meeting eight years later, the Longhorns are once again the heavy favorite as the No. 7 team in the AP Poll.
Still, the Spartans have players who, with standout performances, could counter Texas’ prowess.
Danny Scudero
After spending two years at Football Championship Subdivision school Sacramento State, redshirt sophomore Danny Scudero is one of three transfer wide receivers who top the depth chart for the Spartans this season.
Scudero accumulated 189 receiving yards and a touchdown on nine receptions in his debut for San José State. Scudero’s 45-yard touchdown came on a simple slant route that he turned into a big play through yards after the catch. At 5-foot-9 and 174 pounds, he has a sneaky ability to speed pass defenders and make them miss.
With the exit of former Spartan and now-NFL player Nick Nash — who finished top three nationally in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns last season — Scudero has made his case to take over the lead pass-catching role in the offense. Generating over 60% of San José State’s receiving yards in the season opener, he will look to repeat as an impactful performer, but on a much larger stage, in Austin.
Jordan Pollard
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian shouted out the linebacker in his week two preview press conference on Sept. 1, lauding Pollard as a “downhill player (who can) run and hit guys.”
To start his senior season as a Spartan, Pollard logged 15 tackles against Central Michigan, seven more than anyone else on his team. He is coming off a junior year in which he recorded 115 total tackles. That’s two more than junior Texas linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. had last season.
Against the Longhorns, Pollard is a player to keep an eye on as he operates across the field from the middle linebacker position. He can be expected to test sophomore quarterback Arch Manning’s reads after a shaky first game.
Walker Eget
The Spartans run a pass-heavy offense. That was clear when redshirt senior quarterback Eget attempted 43 passes last week, converting for 24 completions, 308 yards and two touchdowns.
“They’re going to throw the ball all over the yard. It’s run-and-shoot at its finest,” Sarkisian said about the San José State offensive playstyle.
But in addition to his production, Eget also had three costly turnovers against Central Michigan — two interceptions and a fumble. Texas lost its 24-game streak of forcing a turnover against Ohio State and could very well get back on track in that department against San José State. How the Spartans fare in the turnover battle will be indicative of their competitiveness at DKR.
The Spartans will need Eget at his best this Saturday for a fighting chance against the Longhorns.
