Team Information
Ground | Snapdragon Stadium |
City | San Diego, California |
Conference | Mountain West, |
Nickname | Aztecs |
About San Diego State Aztecs Football
The 2023 San Diego State Aztecs football team, representing San Diego State University, competed in the NCAA Division I FBS football season as part of the Mountain West Conference. Coached by Brady Hoke for his sixth season, they played home games at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego. Hoke announced his retirement on November 13, 2023.
Name of Team | San Diego State Aztecs Football Team |
First season | 1921 |
Athletic director | John David Wicker |
Head coach | Sean Lewis1st season, 0–0 (–) |
Stadium | Snapdragon Stadium(capacity: 35,000) |
Location | San Diego, California |
Conference | Mountain West |
Division | West (2013–2019, 2021–present) |
Field surface | Grass |
Conference titles | 21 |
Division titles | 6 (MW, West) |
Fight song | “Fight On” |
Mascot | Montezuma (The Aztec Warrior) |
Rivals | Fresno State Bulldogs, the UNLV Rebels, and the BYU Cougars |
Consensus All-Americans | 11 |
San Diego State Aztecs Football Team Introduction
The San Diego State Aztecs football team represents San Diego State University in NCAA Division I (FBS) as part of the Mountain West Conference. They play home games at Snapdragon Stadium. Since their inception in 1921, they've won 21 conference championships and boast a 10–10 record in postseason bowl games. Notable alumni include Pro Football Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk, Joe Gibbs, and John Madden.
San Diego State Aztecs Football Team History
San Diego State University's football history traces back to 1921 when San Diego Normal School and San Diego Junior College merged to form San Diego State College. Led by athletic figure Charles E. Peterson, the teams initially struggled to settle on a nickname and colors. In 1925, they adopted "Aztecs" as their moniker. After some color confusion, they settled on Scarlet and Black as their official colors in 1928. Since then, the Aztecs football team has become a prominent fixture in college football, boasting notable achievements and a strong legacy.
San Diego State Aztecs Football Team Coaches
Head Coach Profile
Sean Lewis, born April 11, 1986, is an American football coach currently leading San Diego State University's team. Before this role, he served as the offensive coordinator at the University of Colorado Boulder and previously coached at Kent State University. Lewis initially played college football as a quarterback at the University of Wisconsin before transitioning to tight end.
No. | Coach | Tenure |
1 | Charles E. Peterson | 1921–1929 |
2 | Walter Herreid | 1930–1934 |
3 | Leo Calland | 1935–1941 |
4 | John Eubank | 1942 |
5 | Bob Breitbard | 1945 |
6 | Gander Terry | 1946 |
7 | Bill Schutte | 1947–1955 |
8 | Paul Governali | 1956–1960 |
9 | Don Coryell | 1961–1972 |
10 | Claude Gilbert | 1973–1980 |
11 | Doug Scovil | 1981–1985 |
12 | Denny Stolz | 1986–1988 |
13 | Al Luginbill | 1989–1993 |
14 | Ted Tollner | 1994–2001 |
15 | Tom Craft | 2002–2005 |
16 | Chuck Long | 2006–2008 |
17/19 | Brady Hoke | 2009–2010, 2020–Present |
18 | Rocky Long | 2011–2019 |
San Diego State Aztecs Football Team Stadium
Snapdragon Stadium, located in San Diego, California, is the home of the San Diego State Aztecs football team, competing in NCAA Division I (FBS). It also hosts San Diego Wave FC of the National Women's Soccer League and the San Diego Legion of Major League Rugby. A new Major League Soccer expansion team, San Diego FC, will join in 2025. The stadium on the SDSU Mission Valley campus is the cornerstone of an entertainment and education district. It replaced the old San Diego Stadium and serves as a vibrant hub for sports and community events in the region.
San Diego State Aztecs Football Team Rivals
Fresno State - The Battle for the Oil Can
The rivalry between Fresno State and San Diego State is called the Battle for the Oil Can. It began in 1923, with memorable games like "The Fog Bowl" in 1962. The schools started competing for the Oil Can trophy in 2011, which symbolizes the challenging travel conditions fans faced in the past. As of February 2023, San Diego State leads the all-time series 30–27–4.
San Jose State - El Camino Real Rivalry
The rivalry between San Jose State and San Diego State is known as the El Camino Real Rivalry. This series dates back to 1935, named after the historic road connecting Spanish missions in California. The rivalry taps into the broader Northern vs. Southern California sports competition. San Diego State leads the series 24–21–2 as of 2023. There were talks in 2014 about creating a trophy for this matchup, but it never materialized.
BYU
San Diego State views BYU as a major rival, though the feeling is not equally reciprocated. BYU leads the series 28–9–1 and has never lost consecutive games to the Aztecs. Notable games include "replay-gate" in 2010 and the 2012 Poinsettia Bowl. Despite this rivalry, BYU's primary rivals are in-state teams Utah and Utah State. Former SDSU coach Rocky Long noted the historical intensity of this rivalry, especially among older fans.
San Diego State Aztecs Football Team Record and Stats
Here are the San Diego State Aztecs Football Team records and stats for trophies they have won:
National championships
Season | Conference | Coach | Overall Record | Conference Record |
1966 | California Collegiate Athletic Association | Don Coryell | 11–0 | 5–0 |
1967 | California Collegiate Athletic Association | Don Coryell | 10–1 | 5–0 |
1968 | Independent | Don Coryell | 9–0–1 | N/A |
Conference Championships
The Aztecs have won 21 conference championships throughout history, which signifies their dominance within their conference.
Season | Conference | Coach | Overall Record | Conference Record |
1922 | Southern California Junior College Conference | C. E. Peterson | 6–4 | 4–0 |
1923 | C. E. Peterson | 8–2 | 2–0 | |
1924 | C. E. Peterson | 7–1–2 | 3–0 | |
1936 | Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference | Leo B. Calland | 6–1–1 | 5–0 |
1937 | Leo B. Calland | 7–1 | 4–1 | |
1950 | California Collegiate Athletic Association | Bill Schutte | 5–3–1 | 3–0–1 |
1951 | Bill Schutte | 10–0–1 | 4–0 | |
1962 | Don Coryell | 8–2 | 6–0 | |
1963 | Don Coryell | 7-2 | 4-1 | |
1966 | Don Coryell | 11–0 | 5–0 | |
1967 | Don Coryell | 10–1 | 5–0 | |
1969 | Pacific Coast Athletic Conference | Don Coryell | 11–0 | 6–0 |
1970 | Don Coryell | 9–2 | 5–1 | |
1972 | Don Coryell | 10–1 | 4–0 | |
1973 | Claude Gilbert | 9–1–1 | 3–0–1 | |
1974 | Claude Gilbert | 8–2–1 | 4–0 | |
1986 | Western Athletic Conference | Denny Stolz | 8–4 | 7–1 |
2012 | Mountain West Conference | Rocky Long | 9–4 | 7–1 |
2015 | Rocky Long | 11–3 | 8–0 | |
2016 | Rocky Long | 11–3 | 6–2 |
Division Championships
Since joining the Mountain West, San Diego State has won their division six times and appeared in three conference championship games.
Season | Division | Coach | Opponent | CG result |
1998 | WAC - Pacific Division | Ted Tollner | DNQ - Lost tiebreaker to BYU | |
2014 | MW - West Division | Rocky Long | DNQ - Lost tiebreaker to Fresno State | |
2015 | Air Force | W 27–24 | ||
2016 | Wyoming | W 27–24 | ||
2019 | DNQ - Lost tiebreaker to Hawaii | |||
2021 | Brady Hoke | Utah State | L 13–46 |
Trophy Games:
Old Oil Can Trophy: This trophy is contested between San Diego State University and Fresno State University. The Aztecs and the Bulldogs compete for this vintage oil can trophy, adding an extra layer of rivalry to their matchups.
Overall, these records and achievements highlight the success and competitiveness of the San Diego State Aztecs Football Team.
San Diego State Aztecs Football Team Roster
Here are the current players, captains, and leaders for the San Diego State Aztecs football team:
Current Players:
Jalen Mayden (QB)
Martin Blake (RB)
Tobin O'Dell (QB)
Zechariah Ramirez (PK)
Mark Redman (TE)
Mekhi Shaw (WR)
Brionne Penny (WR)
Baylin Brooks (WR)
Kenan Christon (RB)
Phillippe Wesley II (WR)
Jaylon Armstead (RB)
Leo Kemp (RB)
Jordan Napier (S)
Jack Browning (PK)
DJ Herman (LB)
Sheldon Canley II (RB)
DJ Bryant (S)
Mikey Welsh (WR)
Darius De Los Reyes (WR)
Captains:
Jalen Mayden (QB)
Zyrus Fiaseu (LB)
Cedarious Barfield (S)
Jack Browning (PK)
Team Leaders:
Passing Yards: Jalen Mayden (2,031 yards)
Rushing Yards: Jalen Mayden (528 yards)
Receiving Yards: Mark Redman (408 yards)
Tackles: Zyrus Fiaseu (65 tackles)
Interceptions: Cedarious Barfield (4 interceptions)
San Diego State Aztecs Football Team Schedule
Here's the San Diego State Aztecs Football Team's regular season schedule:
Sat, Aug 31: vs Texas A&M-Commerce
Sat, Sep 7: vs Oregon State
Sat, Sep 14: @ California
Sat, Sep 28: @ Central Michigan
Sat, Oct 5: vs Hawai'i
Sat, Oct 12: @ Wyoming
Sat, Oct 26: vs Washington State
Sat, Nov 2: @ Boise State
Sat, Nov 9: vs New Mexico
Sat, Nov 16: @ UNLV
Sat, Nov 23: @ Utah State
Sat, Nov 30: vs Air Force
Game times are yet to be determined, and tickets are available at various prices for each game.
FAQ's On San Diego State Aztecs Football
A. The football season typically starts in late August or early September.
A. Tickets can be purchased online through the official San Diego State University Athletics website or at the stadium on game day.
A. Fresno State Bulldogs, UNLV Rebels, and BYU Cougars are among the Aztecs' biggest rivals.
A. The Aztecs play their home games at Snapdragon Stadium on the campus of San Diego State University.
A. The Old Oil Can Trophy is contested between San Diego State University and Fresno State University, adding extra intensity to their matchups.