Dec. 17, 2015
SAN DIEGO -
SDSU NOTES vs. CINCINNATI | BOWL CENTRAL
Aztecs Carry Nine-Game Win Streak to Hawaii for Meeting with Cincinnati
- San Diego State, one of 25 teams nationally to play in a bowl game each of the last six seasons (2010-15) and one of just three from the "Group of 5" conferences (also Boise State and Northern Illinois), meets Cincinnati in the Hawai'i Bowl on Dec. 24 in Honolulu.
- The Aztecs have won nine consecutive games, their longest win streak since a 10-game stretch in 1976-77 and the third-longest active streak in FBS (Clemson 16 and Alabama 10).
- On game day, it will be 89 days since SDSU last lost a game (88 days without a defeat, not counting Dec. 24).
- San Diego State claimed its 20th football conference title, posting a perfect 8-0 regular-season league mark and defeating Air Force, 27-24 in the title game.
- The Aztecs are one of just six schools in the last 20 seasons (since 1996) to complete an undefeated league season with each victory coming by double-digits (also Miami (Fla.) in 2000, Boise State in 2002, Oklahoma in 2003, Utah in 2004 and Florida State in 2013).
- Rocky Long is one of 13 active coaches nationally to guide their current school to a bowl game in each of their first five seasons.
- By Dec. 24, Long will be the only active coach from a current Group of 5 league to lead his current school to a bowl game in each of his first five seasons (Brigham Young coach Bronco Mendenhall has also done it, but will be coaching Virginia next season).
- Long earned his league-record third MW Coach-of-the-Year honor this season and now has more conference coach-of-the-year awards than the rest of the league's active coaches combined (2).
- SDSU became just the second school (TCU) to sweep the three major MW league awards when junior running back Donnel Pumphrey (offensive), junior cornerback Damontae Kazee (defensive) and sophomore kick returner Rashaad Penny (special teams) were named Mountain West players of the year.
- San Diego State was the only FBS school in the country to claim all three of the conference awards above.
- The Aztecs lead the nation in turnover margin (+1.46). SDSU is 24-4 over the last 28 times it has been even or had an advantage in turnover margin.
- SDSU placed seven student-athletes (including six non-seniors) on the official all-MW first team, which trails only Oklahoma (9) for the most first-team all-league selections in the country.
- San Diego State ranks among the FBS top 15 in 13 major statistical categories, including first in turnover margin (+1.46), second in turnovers forced (31) and passes intercepted (3), fifth in total defense (287.9), rushing defense (111.2) and passes intercepted (20), sixth in red zone offense (93.6), seventh in kickoff returns (26.91), ninth in turnovers lost (12), 10th in scoring defense (17.2), 13th in passing yards allowed (176.8), 15th in rushing offense (235.3) and pass efficiency defense (109.78).
- The Aztecs have nine straight games with at least 200 yards rushing for the first time in its Division I history (since 1969). Prior to this streak SDSU had never put together five straight games with at least 200 yards rushing. San Diego State has won 22 straight games when rushing for at least 200 yards and is 30-2 in the Long era when reaching 200-plus yards.
- Pumphrey, who was named a Sports Illustrated honorable mention All-American, is one of four players in the nation to lead his team in rushing yards and receptions, and is one of three players with 1,000-plus rushing yards and at least 375 receiving yards.
- Kazee, who was named a second-team All-American by USA Today, is third in the nation with seven interceptions this season.
- Penny ranks third nationally in kickoff return average (30.6) and has returned two for touchdowns this season.
- The Aztecs' offense have not turned the ball over in their last 221 plays from scrimmage (dates back to the third quarter of the Nov. 14 game against Wyoming).