From top to bottom, the state of California loves college football, including the San Jose Spartans, which are one of the oldest college football programs in the country. The Spartans have been around since 1893, and at times it’s been possible to find cheap San Jose State football tickets. But despite some valleys, there have also been plenty of peaks and sustained periods of success for San Jose State football. Today, the Spartans are a top-notch mid-major program that has once again become accustomed to competing for conference championships in the Mountain West, making last-minute San Jose State football tickets more in demand than ever before.

The Early Years

San Jose State first fielded a football team in 1893 and played its first full season on the gridiron in 1898. It took a little time for the Spartans to get going and for college football to catch on. However, by 1932, San Jose State won its first-ever conference title as a member of the Far West Conference. By the late 1930s and 40s, the Spartans had become a preeminent force in the California Collegiate Athletic Association, winning six conference titles between 1939 and 1949.

Golden Era

If there’s a golden era for San Jose State football, it took place in the 1970s and 80s. In 1971, the Spartans scored their first win in program history over a ranked opponent. That kicked off a period between 1971 and 1992 in which San Jose State had 15 winning seasons while notching eight wins over California rival Stanford. In those days, the Spartans sent dozens of players to the NFL and claimed eight conference titles, including five Big West Conference titles between 1981 and 1991.

Modern Spartans

Despite some down years, San Jose State got going again in the 2020s, re-emerging as a power in the Mountain West after joining the league in 2013. During the shortened 2020 season, the Spartans completed a perfect 7-0 regular season, winning their first conference championship in nearly three decades under coach Brent Brennan. Considering Brennan was just 3-22 over his first two seasons, the 2020 season was a huge step forward for the Spartans, laying the foundation for what promises to be a bright future for San Jose State football.