“AZTECS FOOTBALL–LOOKING FOR NEW RIVALS-HERE’S ONE”

by | Sep 17, 2026 |

Things I saw, things you should see, what we should think:

AZTECS..The unsocial media part of social media won’t stop criticizing the SDSU performance in the lopsided loss to UCLA.  Hey dummy it was (0-0) at halftime.  State slugged with the bigger-deeper-more athletic Bruins for nearly 35-minutes of that game.  Credit for tenacity, toughness, spirit.  If the Aztecs produce that style of playing moving into the Pac 12-schedule, they will be upper echelon in the standings.

SEAN LEWIS..Fascinating sales pitch for SDSU fans (what few there are) to wear ‘Red’ for the great matchup game with James Madison, and then listen to Lewis lecture the media on the different shades of Red, Cardinal Red, Nebraska Red, Rose, Fire Engine Red, Fuscia Red, and Pink.  They unveil the new ‘Jaguar’ all red jerseys, black helmets, and the Jaguar logo this weekend.  I actually like the look of the ‘Icy Whites’ they’ve worn this year.

JADEN DENEGAL..Let’s hope the (6-for-17) passing outing was a one-off vs UCLA, but his overthrows when his WRs had beaten single coverage were real gut punches to the offense.  But then again, it was UCLA and a blitz happy defense that got more and more hits on him the longer the game went.

RIVALRY GAME…Remember the Aztecs vs Brigham Young, back in the day, that was a fierce rivalry.  All things LaVelle Edwards and the cadre of great quarterbacks that showed up here in the Marshall Faulk era especially.  Remember the raucous games with Fresno State in the era of Trent Dilfer and David Carr?  Pretty good football.  That’s the kind of non conference game SDSU needs.  Don’t think we will ever see UCLA-USC play here in the future.

WHO ARE THESE GUYS…Tell you what, once upon a time in the state of Virginia they referred to the school as ‘Dolly Madison University’ because James Madison started as a women’s school.  They are a big boy now.  Since becoming true Division 1, they are (42-11).  Before that they were a high powered 1AA program.  They are good.  They get transfers.  They have financial backing.  Maybe JMU can be a home and home series.

 like the Aztecs had non conference with other schools. Saturday night will be a real litmus test for both of these teams.

PAC 12…Early returns, there are a bunch of throwing QBs and explosive offenses in this new look league, starting with Oregon State, the bounceback season of Boise State, the power run game at Fresno State, the transfer throwing game Jim Mora brought into Colorado State and the hired gun QB-at Texas State.  The quality of these offenses should be fun to watch as conference play kicks off, even if this is more MWC 2.0-than-the history laden Pac 12 we all used to follow.

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