By Bert Leeson

HONOLULU – San José State (7-5, 6-2 MW) has accepted an invitation to compete in the 2023 EasyPost Hawai‘i Bowl against Coastal Carolina (7-5, 5-3 Sun Belt) on Saturday, Dec. 23 at 7:30 p.m. (PT) from the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex on the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa campus, announced by ESPN on Thursday.

The game will be nationally-televised on ESPN, heard nationally on ESPN Radio, locally on KTRB 860 AM, simulcasted on ESPN+ and shown on ESPN Deportes for the first ever meeting between the schools. This will also be the first-ever trip to the EasyPost Hawai‘I Bowl for the Spartans, and 13th overall bowl game appearance, tallying a record of 7-5.

“It is great to see our football team get rewarded for finishing the Mountain West regular-season tied for first by getting an invitation to the EasyPost Hawai’l Bowl,” said Director of Athletics Jeff Konya. “Our program has a lot of connections to the islands, and I know our team, coaching staff, alumni and fans are excited about going to Hawai‘i. We have a compelling story with a six-game winning streak and are thrilled to be competing against Coastal Carolina on ESPN on December 23.”

It’s SJSU head coach Brent Brennan’s third bowl game as head coach, and he is the first head coach to lead the Spartans to three bowl games overall. It’s also the third bowl game for the Spartans in the last four years for the first time in program history. It’s also the first time since 1992 that the Spartans have had back-to-back over .500 seasons and the first time since 1987 with back-to-back seven wins or better seasons.

“I’m so excited for our team to play at the EasyPost Hawai‘i Bowl,” Brennan said. “I’m so excited for Chevan. This is a real special opportunity for us and we’re going to play a big-time opponent in Coastal Carolina. The coolest thing about this is that we get to bring Chevan Cordeiro home for his final college football game. I can’t think of a better ending for a tremendous player and a great human being.”

SJSU quarterback Chevan Cordeiro, a First-Team All-Mountain West quarterback, is a Honolulu native and played at Hawai‘i for three seasons before transferring to San José State for the last two years. Four other Spartans prepped at Hawai‘I high schools including kicker Kyler Halvorsen who also transferred from Hawai’I, plus Brennan was an assistant coach at Hawai‘i and worked under legendary coach Dick Tomey at SJSU. Brennan’s cousin is Hawai‘i legend the late Colt Brennan and defensive line coach Joe Seumalo also grew up in the 50^th state.

“Congratulations to both San José State University and Coastal Carolina University on successful seasons and welcome to the EasyPost Hawai‘i Bowl,” Executive Director Daryl Garvin said. “As first-time participants in the EasyPost Hawai‘i Bowl, we can’t wait to showcase our state and everything bowl week has to offer. We look forward to welcoming the players, coaches, and fans of both universities to experience the beauty of Hawai‘i.”

This will be the second trip to Hawai‘i for the Spartans this season after defeating the Rainbow Warriors 35-0 in late October in the same stadium.

The EasyPost Hawai‘i Bowl is known for its high scoring, thrilling offenses, and close games with two overtime contests and seven games decided by one touchdown or less. In addition to promoting the island way of life by sponsoring events intrinsic to Hawai‘i, the bowl supports many non-profit organizations through the Hawai‘i Bowl Foundation. More than $1.7 million has been awarded to local charities since the inception of the Hawai‘i Bowl Foundation. Additionally, through the Extra Yard for Teachers program, the EasyPost Hawai‘i Bowl has partnered with Teach for America Hawai’i to support teachers, schools and students.

SJSU Bowl History (7-5)

• 2022: Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Boise, Idaho, Eastern Michigan 41, San José State 27
• 2020: Arizona Bowl, Tucson, Ariz., Ball State 34, San José State 13 (Played without 30+ players due to Covid protocols)
• 2015: Cure Bowl, Orlando, Fla., San José State 27, Georgia State 16
• 2012: Military Bowl, Washington, D.C., San José State 29, Bowling Green 20
• 2006: New Mexico Bowl, Albuquerque, N.M., San José State 20, New Mexico 12
• 1990: California Raisin Bowl, Fresno, Calif., San José State 48, Central Michigan 24
• 1987: California Bowl, Fresno, Calif., Eastern Michigan 30, San José State 27
• 1986: California Bowl, Fresno, Calif., San José State 37, Miami (Ohio) 7
• 1981: California Bowl, Fresno, Calif., Toledo 27, San José State 25
• 1971: Pasadena Bowl, Pasadena, Calif., Memphis State 28, San José State 9
• 1949: Raisin Bowl, Fresno, Calif., San José State 20, Texas Tech 13
• 1947: Raisin Bowl, Fresno, Calif., San José State 20, Utah State 0

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GAME NOTES

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MORE GAME PREVIEW FROM SPARTAN ATHLETICS

SAN JOSE, Calif. – San José State football (7-5, 6-2 Mountain West) is Hawai‘i Bound Presented by Habbas Law to the EasyPost Hawai‘i Bowl and will take on Coastal Carolina (7-5, 5-3 Sun Belt) Saturday at 7:30 p.m. (PT) from the Clarence T.C. Ching Complex in Manoa, Hawai‘i as the Spartans look for their seventh straight win on ESPN, ESPN Radio, ESPN+, ESPN Deportes and KTRB 860 AM.

• The co-regular season Mountain West Champions head to their third bowl game in four years for the first time in SJSU history and it’s the first time since 1986-87 the Spartans have been to back-to-back bowl games as they look for their seventh consecutive win for the first time since 2020.
• This will be the first time the Spartans have been in Hawai’i in December since 1941 when SJSU was in Honolulu on December 7 when Pearl Harbor was attacked preparing for December 13 and December 16 games against Willamette College and Hawai’i.
• It is the first time in SJSU history they have become bowl eligible after starting a season 1-5.
• The Spartans worst loss this season was at 7-5 USC (.583).
• With the Spartans going to a bowl game,  Head Coach Brent Brennan is the first head coach in SJSU history to lead the Spartans to three bowl games. Brennan has led the Spartans to back-to-back over .500 seasons for the first time since 1991-92 and the 14-10 record the last two seasons is the best two-year span for the Spartans since going 17-8 in 2012-13.
• It’s also the first time the Spartans have had seven or more wins in back-to-back seasons since 1987 and in three of four seasons since 1982.
• Since 2020, the Spartans have gone 26-18 (20-10 in conference) and are looking for their first eight win season since 2012. This is also the best four year span for the Spartans since winning 26 games from 2012-15.
• When the Spartans beat No. 25 Fresno State (11/11), it was the first Spartan win over a nationally-ranked opponent since November 29, 2013 when they defeated No. 16 Fresno State 62-52 and the win was the largest margin of victory over Fresno State since 1990 when the Spartans defeated the Bulldogs 42-7.
• Against Hawai’i (10/28), it was the first shutout win for the Spartans since Aug. 29, 2013 when they defeated Sacramento State 24-0 in their season opener. It was also the first FBS shutout and road shutout since the Spartans defeated Navy 12-0 on Sept. 29, 2012 and this was the first time Hawai’i had been shut out since 2017 and the first time they’ve been shut out at home since 1998.
• The Spartans have outscored their opponents 232-107 over the six game win streak including 125-46 in the second half.
• The Spartans have lost only eight turnovers this season which is good for seventh in the nation and tops in the Mountain West. Their +13 turnover margin is good for third in the country and first in the MW.
• The Spartans have two or more takeaways in seven games this season and have at least one takeaway in seven straight games. Only twice this season the Spartans have been on the wrong end of the turnover margin in their games. Their 21 takeaways rank 20th nationally and third in the Mountain West.
• The Spartans special teams have two blocked punts including one for a touchdown, have a punt return touchdown and have recovered three onside kicks this season, plus have three fumble recoveries on kickoffs this season. According to ESPN, the Spartans have the number two special teams unit in the country at 70.9 efficiency.
• The first five FBS teams the Spartans played this season prior to bowl games finished a combined 42-20 (USC 7-5, OSU 8-4, Toledo 11-2, Air Force 8-4, Boise State 8-5).
• The Spartans also played a very competitive MW schedule by playing the teams who finished 1st, 3rd, 4th, 6th, 7th & 8th in the conference. The Spartans finished 2nd.
• SJSU had rushed for 200 plus yards in four straight games for the first time since 2000 prior to SDSU (11/18) and have run for 200 or more games six times this season which is the most since 2000 as well.
• The Spartans have run for 150 or more yards in every game during the win streak and eight times overall this season which is also the most since 2000.
• The Spartans have hit at least 100 yards rushing in 10 games this season which is the most since they also did it 10 times in 2017.
• It is the first time since 2006 where the Spartans have beaten Fresno State and San Diego State in the same season.
• SJSU ran for 313 yards against No. 25 Fresno St. (11/11) which was the most against an FBS opponent since Oct. 24, 2015 when they rushed for 317 yards against New Mexico.
• The Spartans rushed for 259 yards at UNM (10/14) and 251 yards against Utah State (10/21) and it’s the first time since 2006 the Spartans had back-to-back 250 plus rushing yard games.
• Senior Kairee Robinson ran for a career-high 200 yards against No. 25 Fresno St. (11/11) plus added two touchdowns on the way to his second Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week award this season (10/16, 11/13).
• Robinson is averaging 7.13 yards per carry this season which is tops in the MW and fourth in the country. Robinson has a career 2,646 rushing yards which is fourth all-time in SJSU history and had a streak of four straight 100 plus yard games plus has six total this season.
• Robinson is third in the country and first in the Mountain West with 18 rushing touchdowns.
• Robinson has a rushing touchdown in every game he’s played in this season (11, second longest streak in the country) and his 18 rushing touchdowns are an SJSU single-season record. Robinson also broke the SJSU record for most games with a rushing touchdown in a season with 11.
• Robinson has 36 career touchdowns (31 rushing, five receiving) which is tied with Deoncé Whitaker (1998-2001)  (33 rushing, two receiving, one kick return) for the SJSU record.
• Robinson has 20 total touchdowns this season which is the SJSU single-season record.
• Robinson has 3,353 career yards from scrimmage which is good for third in SJSU history. Whitaker owns the SJSU record with 3,740 yards and Robinson has 31 career rushing touchdowns which is also behind Whitaker’s 33 career rushing touchdowns.
• Robinson also has rushed for a touchdown in 21 career games which ties Whitaker.
• Senior Chevan Cordeiro has thrown 19 touchdowns this season and is fourth on the all-time Mountain West Conference list with 87 career touchdown passes. BYU’s Max Hall owns the MW record after throwing for 94 touchdowns from 2007-09.
• Cordeiro’s 19 touchdown passes are good for fifth in the Mountain West.
• Cordeiro is the all-time Mountain West leader for touchdowns responsible for with 112 and the all-time MW leader for most plays.
• Cordeiro has 13,537 career yards gained which is the most in Mountain West history.
• Cordeiro has 955 career completions which is good for second in Mountain West history and is behind Ryan Lindley for second who had 961 career completions.
• Cordeiro has only thrown four interceptions this season which is good for fifth in the nation and first in the Mountain West.
• Cordeiro went 117 passing attempts without throwing an interception this season. Cordeiro made 170 passing attempts last season before throwing his first pick.
• Cordeiro has thrown for 11,976 career yards which is good for third all-time in Mountain West history and is seventh in players currently playing. He is behind SDSU’s Ryan Lindley for second place who threw for 12,690 yards.
• The Spartans have the 14th best pass defense in the nation and second best pass defense in the MW averaging just 181.7 yards per game.
• This season was the first time the Spartans have ever hosted two ranked teams in the same season and the first since 2018 they have played three ranked teams in the same season.
• Brennan is the first head coach to lead the Spartans to three above .500 since Claude Gilbert did it four times from 1984-89.
• Brennan is in his seventh season at SJSU and is tied for second all-time with Bob Bronzan (1950-56). Dudley S. DeGroot (1932-39) and Robert Titchenal (1957-64) both coached at SJSU for eight seasons.
• Brennan has 34 career wins at SJSU which is good for sixth all-time at SJSU and is one win behind Jack Elway for fifth all-time.

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