2018 San Diego State Aztecs football team

The 2018 San Diego State Aztecs football team represented San Diego State University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Aztecs were led by eighth-year head coach Rocky Long and played their home games at SDCCU Stadium. San Diego State was a member of the Mountain West Conference in the West Division. They finished the season 7–6, 4–4 in Mountain West play to finish in fourth place in the West Division. They were invited to the Frisco Bowl where they lost to Ohio.

2018 San Diego State Aztecs football
Frisco Bowl, L 0–27 vs. Ohio
ConferenceMountain West Conference
DivisionWest Division
2018 record7–6 (4–4 MW)
Head coach
Offensive coordinatorJeff Horton (4th season)
Defensive coordinatorZach Arnett (1st as DC 8th season)
Home stadiumSDCCU Stadium
(Capacity: 70,561)
2018 Mountain West Conference football standings
Conf  Overall
Team W L    W L 
Mountain Division
No. 23 Boise State x  7 1     10 3  
No. 22 Utah State  7 1     11 2  
Wyoming  4 4     6 6  
Air Force  3 5     5 7  
Colorado State  2 6     3 9  
New Mexico  1 7     3 9  
West Division
No. 18 Fresno State x$  7 1     12 2  
Nevada  5 3     8 5  
Hawaii  5 3     8 6  
San Diego State  4 4     7 6  
UNLV  2 6     4 8  
San Jose State  1 7     1 11  
Championship: Fresno State 19, Boise State 16 (OT)
  • $ Conference champion
  • x Division champion/co-champions
  • y Championship game participant
Rankings from AP Poll

Previous Season

San Diego State started the season 6–0, where one of the wins is against No. 19 Stanford in front of 43,040 spectators at home on CBS Sports Network. The winning streak resulted the Aztecs ranked in the AP Poll for four consecutive weeks, with the No. 19 ranking as San Diego State's peak. The Aztecs then lost to Boise State and rival Fresno State, and began a new winning streak. The end result was an eighth straight bowl appearance in the 2017 Armed Forces Bowl, where the Aztecs lost to Army 35–42 then finished the season 10–3 overall, and 6–2 in conference play. In spite of a bowl loss, head coach Rocky Long agreed to a contract extension until the 2022–23 school year.[1]

NFL Draft Selections

The Aztecs had two individuals selected in the 2018 NFL Draft.[2][3]

Player Position Round Overall NFL Team
Rashaad PennyRunning back127Seattle Seahawks
Nick BawdenFullback7237Detroit Lions

Recruiting

Position key

Back B Center C Cornerback CB Defensive back DB
Defensive end DE Defensive lineman DL Defensive tackle DT End E
Fullback FB Guard G Halfback HB Kicker K
Kickoff returner KR Offensive tackle OT Offensive lineman OL Linebacker LB
Long snapper LS Punter P Punt returner PR Quarterback QB
Running back RB Safety S Tight end TE Wide receiver WR

Recruits

The Aztecs signed a total of 24 recruits.[4]

Preseason

Award watch lists

Listed in the order that they were released

Award Player Position Year
Maxwell Award[5] Juwan Washington RB JR
John Mackey Award[6] Kahale Warring TE JR
Lou Groza Award[7] John Baron II K SR
Paul Hornung Award[8] Juwan Washington RB/KR JR
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award[9] Christian Chapman QB SR

Mountain West media days

During the Mountain West media days held July 24–25 at the Cosmopolitan on the Las Vegas Strip, the Aztecs were predicted to finish in second place in the West Division.[10]

Media poll

West Division
Predicted finish Team Votes (1st place)
1Fresno State126 (16)
2San Diego State116 (6)
3UNLV78
4Nevada72
5Hawaii45
6San Jose State25

Preseason All-Mountain West Team

The Aztecs had three players selected to the preseason all-Mountain West team.[11]

Schedule

DateTimeOpponentSiteTVResultAttendance
August 316:00 p.m.at No. 13 Stanford*FS1L 10–3140,913
September 86:00 p.m.Sacramento State*W 28–1445,755
September 157:30 p.m.No. 23 Arizona State*
  • SDCCU Stadium
  • San Diego, CA
CBSSNW 28–2134,641
September 227:30 p.m.Eastern Michigan*
  • SDCCU Stadium
  • San Diego, CA
CBSSNW 23–20 OT30,898
October 612:30 p.m.at Boise StateESPNUW 19–1336,679
October 126:00 p.m.Air Force
  • SDCCU Stadium
  • San Diego, CA
CBSSNW 21–1725,326
October 207:30 p.m.San Jose State
  • SDCCU Stadium
  • San Diego, CA
CBSSNW 16–1330,451
October 277:30 p.m.at NevadaESPNUL 24–2814,545
November 37:15 p.m.at New MexicoESPNUW 31–2314,646
November 107:30 p.m.UNLV
  • SDCCU Stadium
  • San Diego, CA
ESPN2L 24–2724,986
November 177:30 p.m.at Fresno StateCBSSNL 14–2336,123
November 247:30 p.m.Hawaii
  • SDCCU Stadium
  • San Diego, CA
ESPNUL 30–31 OT28,014
December 195:00 p.m.vs. Ohio*ESPNL 0–27 11,029
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
  • All times are in Pacific time

Sources: [12][13][14][15]

Game summaries

at Stanford


San Diego State Aztecs at No. 13 Stanford Cardinal
1 2 34Total
Aztecs 7 0 3010
No. 13 Cardinal 0 9 15731

at Stanford Stadium, Stanford, California

Sacramento State


Sacramento State Hornets at San Diego State Aztecs
1 2 34Total
Hornets 0 7 7014
Aztecs 7 6 01528

at SDCCU Stadium, San Diego

Arizona State


No. 23 Arizona State Sun Devils at San Diego State Aztecs
1 2 34Total
No. 23 Sun Devils 7 7 0721
Aztecs 0 14 31128

at SDCCU Stadium, San Diego

Eastern Michigan


Eastern Michigan Eagles at San Diego State Aztecs
1 2 34OTTotal
Eagles 3 7 73020
Aztecs 3 14 03323

at SDCCU Stadium, San Diego

at Boise State


San Diego State Aztecs at Boise State Broncos
1 2 34Total
Aztecs 3 10 0619
Broncos 7 0 0613

at Albertsons Stadium, Boise, Idaho

Air Force


Air Force Falcons at San Diego State Aztecs
1 2 34Total
Falcons 2 7 0817
Aztecs 7 7 0721

at SDCCU Stadium, San Diego

San Jose State


San Jose State Spartans at San Diego State Aztecs
1 2 34Total
Spartans 6 0 7013
Aztecs 0 10 3316

at SDCCU Stadium, San Diego

at Nevada


San Diego State Aztecs at Nevada Wolf Pack
1 2 34Total
Aztecs 14 10 0024
Wolf Pack 9 6 10328

at Mackay Stadium, Reno, Nevada

at New Mexico


San Diego State Aztecs at New Mexico Lobos
1 2 34Total
Aztecs 7 0 71731
Lobos 7 3 6723

at Dreamstyle Stadium, Albuquerque, New Mexico

UNLV


UNLV Rebels at San Diego State Aztecs
1 2 34Total
Rebels 6 7 01427
Aztecs 0 14 10024

at SDCCU Stadium, San Diego

at Fresno State


Battle for the Old Oil Can: San Diego State Aztecs at Fresno State Bulldogs
1 2 34Total
Aztecs 7 7 0014
Bulldogs 7 3 7623

at Bulldog Stadium, Fresno, California

Hawaii


Hawaii Rainbow Warriors at San Diego State Aztecs
1 2 34OTTotal
Rainbow Warriors 3 21 00731
Aztecs 14 0 37630

at SDCCU Stadium, San Diego

vs. Ohio (Frisco Bowl)


Frisco Bowl: Ohio Bobcats vs. San Diego State Aztecs
1 2 34Total
Bobcats 3 14 3727
Aztecs 0 0 000

at Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas

Honors

Mountain West

Team Player Position Year
First Keith Ismael OL SO
First Kyahva Tezino LB JR
Second Ryan Pope OL SR
Second John Baron PK SR
Second Tariq Thompson DB SO
Honorable Parker Baldwin DB SR
Honorable Noble Hall DL SR
Honorable Brandon Heicklen P JR
Honorable Kahale Warring TE JR
Honorable Juwan Washington RB JR

[41]

Players drafted into the NFL

RoundPickPlayerPositionNFL Club
386Kahale WarringTEHouston Texans

References

  1. "Aztec Football's Rocky Long Signs Contract Extension". Athletics at San Diego State University. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  2. "SDSU's Rashaad Penny Picked by Seattle Seahawks in First Round of NFL Draft". Athletics at San Diego State University. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  3. "Nick Bawden Selected on Third Day of 2018 NFL Draft". Athletics at San Diego State University. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  4. "2018 San Diego State Aztecs Football Recruiting Class". ESPN. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  5. "2018 Maxwell Award Watch List". July 16, 2018. Retrieved July 17, 2018.
  6. "2018 John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List Released" (PDF). July 20, 2018. Retrieved July 20, 2018.
  7. "Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Announces 2018 Preseason Watch List". July 25, 2018. Archived from the original on August 17, 2009. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  8. "43 PLAYERS NAMED TO 2018 PAUL HORNUNG AWARD WATCH LIST". July 26, 2018. Archived from the original on July 26, 2018. Retrieved July 26, 2018.
  9. "Watch List for 2018 Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award ® Presented by A. O. Smith Announced". August 14, 2018. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  10. https://themw.com/news/2018/7/24/boise-state-fresno-state-picked-to-win-2018-mountain-west-football-divisional-titles.aspx
  11. https://themw.com/news/2018/7/24/2018-mountain-west-football-preseason-all-conference-team.aspx
  12. "San Diego State Football Announces 2018 Slate". Athletics at San Diego State University. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  13. "SDSU Football Releases Start Times, TV Details for 2018 Season". Athletics at San Diego State University. Retrieved 24 April 2018.
  14. "Football Releases Game Details for 2018 Opener at Stanford". Athletics at San Diego State University.
  15. "Aztec Football Announces 2018 KGB Skyshow Game". Athletics at San Diego State University. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  16. "No. 13 Stanford beats San Diego St. 31-10 in season opener". ESPN. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  17. "Football vs San Diego State on 08/31/2018". Athletics at Stanford University. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  18. "Juwan Washington leads San Diego State over Sacramento State". ESPN. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  19. "SDSU–Sac State Box" (PDF). Athletics at San Diego State University. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
  20. "Agnew, Washington lead SDSU to upset of No. 23 ASU, 28-21". ESPN. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  21. "Football vs Arizona State on 09/15/2018". Athletics at San Diego State University. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  22. "Baron, Agnew help San Diego St. beat E. Michigan 23-20 in OT". ESPN. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  23. "Football vs Eastern Michigan on 09/22/2018". Athletics at San Diego State University. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  24. "San Diego St. leans on D in upset against Boise State, 19-13". ESPN. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  25. "San Diego State vs Boise State (Oct 06, 2018)" (PDF). Athletics at Boise State University. Retrieved 7 October 2018.
  26. "Agnew's late TD pass lifts SDSU over Air Force, 21-17". ESPN. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  27. "Football vs Air Force on 10/12/2018". Athletics at San Diego State University. Retrieved 13 October 2018.
  28. "Baron's 3 FGs help San Diego St. beat San Jose St. 16-13". ESPN. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  29. "Football vs San Jose State on 10/20/2018". Athletics at San Diego State University. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  30. "Nevada ends drought against San Diego St. with a 28-24 win". ESPN. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  31. "Football vs San Diego State on 10/27/2018". Athletics at the University of Nevada, Reno. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
  32. "Washington's 2 TDs help San Diego St. beat New Mexico 31-23". ESPN. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  33. "Football vs San Diego State on 11/03/2018". Athletics at the University of New Mexico. Retrieved 4 November 2018.
  34. "Thomas, UNLV beat San Diego St. 27-24, end 6-game skid". ESPN. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  35. "Football vs UNLV on 11/10/2018". Athletics at San Diego State University. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
  36. "Fresno St. beats SDSU 23-14, clinches berth in MW title game". ESPN. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
  37. "Football vs San Diego State on 11/17/2018". Athletics at California State University, Fresno. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
  38. "McDonald, Hawaii hold on for 31-30 OT win over San Diego St". ESPN. Retrieved 4 December 2018.
  39. "Ohio rolls to 27-0 win over San Diego State in Frisco Bowl". ESPN. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  40. "Ohio vs. San Diego State Football on 12/19/2018". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved 20 December 2018.
  41. "Mountain West Announces 2018 Football All-Conference Teams and Individual Honors". Mountain West Conference. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
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