Saturday, Aug. 26 -- 7 p.m. ET
Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego, CA.
FS1
Ohio opens its 2023 campaign on the road when it takes on San Diego State Friday. The Aztecs, who are slight favorites at home, are coming off a 7-6 record in 2022. Most of those wins came in Weeks six through 11 as SDSU won five of six outings. In bowl action, Middle Tennessee State edged the Aztecs 25-23 at the Easypost Hawaii Bowl.
San Diego State Aztecs (7-6, 5-3 MWC in 2022)
>> The Aztec are members of the Mountain West Conference. They finished 2022 second in the MW - West Division. No. 24 Fresno State (7-1 MWC) was first. San Diego State and San Jose State were next at 5-3. However, the Aztecs defeated SJSU in regular season play.
>> The Aztecs were seventh among Mountain West teams in scoring (21.46 ppg) and fourth in scoring defense (20.54 ppg). They were sixth in total offense (368.25 ypg) and third in total defense (322.69 ypg).
>> SDSU was ninth in passing offense (181.5 ypg) and fifth in rushing (143.5 ypg).
>> The Aztecs are coached by former Ball State linebacker Brady Hoke, who also has extensive coaching experience with the MAC. He was a D-line coach at Western Michigan (1984-86, linebackers coach at Toledo (1997-98) and assistant at Michigan before taking over at Ball State (2003-2008). Hoke was MAC Coach of the Year in 2008.
He was with San Diego State in 2009-10 before a HC stint at Michigan (2011-14). He served in various assistant positions in stops at Oregon, Tennessee and the Carolina Panthers before returning as a D-line coach at San Diego State in 2019. He moved to head coach in 2020 and is still at the helm.
>> The Aztecs were floundering early last year, winning two of their first five. After completing just 2-of-16 pass attempts with one interception in a 35-13 loss to Boise State, SDSU ranked last in the nation in passing. Jalen Mayden was moved from safety to quarterback, and he responded by completing 24-of-36, good for 322 yards and a TD as San Diego State upset Hawaii 16-14 in Week Six. That started the Aztecs late-season surge.
>> Mayden is back after connecting on 59.5 percent of his passes last year. He produced 2,030 yards with 12 TDs and 10 interceptions. He also rushed 69 times for a total of 231 yards with three scores.
>> Collegefootballpoll.com has the Aztecs predicted to finish fourth (of 12) in the Mountain West, which is dropping the two division split this year.
https://www.collegefootballpoll.com/news/mountain-west-preseason-poll-all-conference-team-announced/
>> SDSU lost its top two receivers, but Mekhi Shaw is back after catching 29 balls for a total of 349 yards and three TDs last year. Tight end Mark RedMan also returns (21 receptions, 233 yards, 2 TDs).
>> With running back Jordan Byrd (102 carries, 390 yards, 3 TDs) gone, Jaylon Armstead (52 carries, 313 yards, 2 TDs) moves into the primary role.
>> San Diego State has been a strong rushing team in recent times, but last year was not one of those times. With significant turnover, including along the line, the Aztecs will attempt to step up the run game even as Mayden tries to mesh with some new receivers in the passing game.
>> The defense has been one of SDSU's stronger suits and brings back enough to shine again. It may need to be particularly good early while the offense finds its stride. Transfer DT Samuela Tuihalamaka adds to a large group of seniors. Dezjohn Malone and Dallas Branch are standouts in the secondary. Linebacker Cooper McDonald is a solid playmaker.
>> Kicker Jack Browning was fourth in the nation while punting last year (46.3 yards) and made 20-of-25 field goal attempts (long of 52).