Steve Kroner

Coming off a fourth straight Big Game loss to Cal, Stanford must beat San Jose State to avoid a fourth straight 3-9 season. The Spartans have lost two in a row.

Three years ago, Nick Nash was a seldom-used quarterback at San Jose State. Now thriving as a receiver in the Spartans’ new offense, he leads FBS in receptions.

Cal has a chance at earning its first winning season since 2019 in addition to putting itself into bowl consideration, but they’ll have to be No. 9 SMU.

San Jose State sent Stanford a fourth straight 3-9 season behind quarterback Walker Eget’s four touchdown passes in a 34-31 come-from-behind Spartans victory.

With Cal starting quarterback Fernando Mendoza out ill and his backup injured in the third quarter, the Bears fell to No. 9 SMU 38-6 on Saturday in Dallas.

On Tuesday, the San Jose State Spartans learned they’ll be returning to the Hawaii Bowl, this time to face South Florida, on Dec. 24.

Cal announced incoming recruits for its football program on national signing day but also saw top QB prospect Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele sign with Oregon.

Ashton Daniels, Stanford’s No. 1 quarterback for most of the past two seasons, and Justin Lamson, his main backup, will enter the transfer portal when it opens.

In the first ACC basketball game for both Cal and Stanford, Andrekj Stojakovic has the additional challenge of playing against his former teammates on Saturday.

The Stanford and Cal men’s basketball teams met in an ACC opener in Berkeley, where the Cardinal survived a push by the Bears to prevail 89-81.