Aztecs Open Mountain West Play Against Boise State
San Diego State opens its 25th season of Mountain West play Friday night at Snapdragon Stadium against Boise State.
- Friday will already be the fourth home game of the season for the Aztecs. SDSU's three home games so far are tied for the most in the country (with 16 other teams).
- This is the second straight seven-game home schedule for San Diego State at Bashor Field at Snapdragon Stadium in Mission Valley following a stretch of two-plus seasons (23 games) of games being played out of San Diego County.
- The Aztecs (2-2) and Broncos (1-2) are meeting for the ninth time with each team winning four games apiece.
- SDSU is one of only three active FBS teams with a .500 or better record against BS (min. 8 games), joining Oregon State (6-4) and Washington State (5-1).
- Boise State is already the fourth opponent for San Diego State this season that had at least nine wins and played in a bowl game a year ago.
- The Aztecs are playing one of the toughest schedules in the country this season with five games against 10-win teams - vs. Ohio, at Oregon State, vs. Boise State, at Air Force and vs. Fresno State - and eight vs. bowl teams from a year ago - also vs. UCLA, vs. Utah State and at San Jose State.
- The beginning of SDSU's schedule has been particularly tough as five of its first six opponents made a bowl in 2022, including games vs. Ohio (10-4) on Aug. 26 (W, 20-13), UCLA (9-4) on Sept. 9 (L, 35-10), at Oregon State (10-3) on Sept. 16 (L, 26-9), vs. Boise State (10-4) on Sept. 22 and at Air Force (10-4) on Sept. 30 before hitting its open week in the first week of October.
- Eleven players have earned their first career collegiate start this season for San Diego State and 14 players overall have made their first start at SDSU.
- The Aztecs are coming off a 26-9 loss at No. 16/17 Oregon State on Saturday. SDSU controlled the clock (33:21-26:39), won the turnover battle (+1) and dominated average field position (+10).
- San Diego State, however, reached Beaver territory in nine of its 11 drives, but only scored twice in a 52-yard field goal by Jack Browning and a 6-yard touchdown run by Jaylon Armstead.
- The Aztecs held an OSU team that averaged 48.5 points through its first two games to just 26 points. Oregon State took advantage of explosive plays against SDSU, recording seven plays with at least a 20-yard gain, including six through the air, ending with a 75-yard touchdown strike with 8:58 left in the game.
- San Diego State had numerous winning streaks snapped at Oregon State, including:
- - 17 games when winning the turnover battle (now 20-3 under Brady Hoke)
- - 16 games when having an advantage in turnovers AND average field position (now 18-2 under Brady Hoke)
- - 13 games when its opponents start inside the 25-yard line (now 18-2 under Brady Hoke)
- - 7 games when starting on at least the 30-yard line (now 30-6 under Brady Hoke)
- - 6 games when committing one or less turnovers (now 29-8 under Brady Hoke)
- The Aztecs did force two more turnovers and have 10 through four games, tied for the most in the country with California, Colorado, Fresno State and Liberty.
- SDSU also ranks second in FBS with eight interceptions, one behind Liberty's nine.
- Five different players have San Diego State's eight interceptions, including three by safety Cedarious Barfield, tied for the most in the nation.
- Only 14 schools have more wins than SDSU's 21 over the last two-plus seasons (since 2021), including Georgia (32), Michigan (28), Alabama (26), Ohio State (25), Cincinnati (24), Notre Dame (24), UTSA (24), Air Force (23), Clemson (23), Fresno State (23), Oregon (23), Utah (23), Coastal Carolina (22) and Wake Forest (22).
