March 2, 2016
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -
The San Diego State football team has released its 2016 schedule, highlighted by Mountain West home games against UNLV, San José State, Hawai'i and Colorado State.
Game times and television arrangements, including moves to non-Saturdays will be announced at a later date.
The Aztecs are coming off a 11-3 season where they tied a school record for the most wins in a single year, finished with a 10-game winning streak (second-longest active FBS streak heading into 2016), won the MW title (20th conference title in program history) and beat Cincinnati, 42-7, in the Hawai'i Bowl.
SDSU opens its 2016 season with four non-conference games, beginning with New Hampshire at Qualcomm Stadium on Sept. 3. The Wildcats are coming off a 7-5 season before falling in the first round of the FCS playoffs to Colgate. It was their 12th straight trip to the FCS playoffs, the longest streak in NCAA. UNH was 12-2 in 2014 and entered the FCS playoffs as the top-ranked team in the country. San Diego State and New Hampshire have never met.
The Aztecs then welcome California on Sept. 10. SDSU lost to the Golden Bears, 35-7, last year in Berkeley in its second game of the season. Cal finished last year with an 8-5 record and a 55-36 win over Air Force in the Armed Forces Bowl. California leads the all-time series with San Diego State, 4-3.
The Aztecs hit the road for the first time on Sept. 17 to take on Northern Illinois. The Huskies are coming off an 8-6 season and 6-2 mark in the MAC, falling to Bowling Green in the conference championship game. SDSU and NIU are two of the three Group of 5 teams that have played in a bowl game each of the past six years. San Diego State leads the all-time series, 4-0, with the last meeting coming in 1971.
Following their lone bye week of the season, the Aztecs travel to Mobile, Ala., to play South Alabama on Oct. 1. SDSU will look to avenge a 34-27 overtime loss to the Jaguars in San Diego in the first-ever meeting between the two schools.
San Diego State kicks off its defense of the MW title on Oct. 8 at home against UNLV. The Aztecs beat the Rebels, 52-14, in Las Vegas last Nov. 21 and have won five of the past six meetings with UNLV. SDSU is 11-3 in the series since 2002 and 16-9 all-time against the Rebels. UNLV was 3-9 overall in 2015 and 2-6 in conference play.
San Diego State then plays at Fresno State on Oct. 15. The Aztecs defeated the Bulldogs, 21-7, at Qualcomm Stadium last year, which started their 10 game win streak. FS, which played in the MW championship game in 2013-14 and tied for a share of the conference title in 2012 with SDSU and Boise State (split divisions (West and Mountain) started in 2013), finished 3-9 overall last year and 2-6 in league play. San Diego State leads the all-time series with Fresno State 28-23-4.
The Aztecs return to America's Finest City on Oct. 22 to welcome San José State on Oct. 17. SDSU beat the Spartans, 30-7, in San Jose last year and have won each of the past three meetings in the series. SJSU, however, leads the all-time series, 19-18-2. San José State was 6-7 last year (4-4 MW), ending with a 27-16 win over Georgia State in the AutoNation Cure Bowl.
San Diego State begins a stretch of three road games in four weeks on Oct. 29 at Utah State. The Aztecs defeated the Aggies, 48-14, at home last year and are 11-1 all-time in the series. USU was 6-7 last year and 5-3 in league action, falling to Akron, 23-21, in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
SDSU plays host to Hawai'i on Nov. 5. San Diego State defeated the Rainbow Warriors, 28-14, last season, and has won four straight in the series and is 19-9-2 in all-time meetings. UH finished last year at 3-10 (0-8 MW).
The Aztecs begin a tough two-game road trip on Nov. 12 at Nevada. SDSU beat the Wolf Pack, 31-14, at home on Senior Day last year. Nevada logged a 7-6 campaign, including a 28-23 win over Colorado State in the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl. San Diego State has a slight 5-3 edge in the all-time series with the Wolf Pack.
The Aztecs wrap up their road campaign on Nov. 19 at Wyoming. Last year, SDSU downed the Cowboys, 38-3, at Qualcomm Stadium and now trails the all-time series, 18-17. UW was 2-10 overall last year, including a 2-6 mark in MW play.
San Diego State concludes the 2016 regular season at home on Nov. 26 vs. Colorado State. The Aztecs, which beat the Rams, 41-17, in Fort Collins, Colo., last year, lead the all-time series by a 20-13 margin. CSU was 7-6 in 2015, winning its final four regular season games (after its loss to SDSU) before falling to Nevada, 28-23, in the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl.
The fourth conference championship game will take place on Dec. 3 and will match the winner of the West Division (San Diego State, Fresno State, Hawai'i, Nevada, San José State and Nevada) and the Mountain Division (Air Force, Boise State, Colorado State, New Mexico, Utah State and Wyoming) at the highest-ranked division champion.
SDSU is accepting new account deposits on 2016 season tickets through the Aztec Ticket Office. Additionally, current season-ticket holders can renew their tickets for the 2016 season. Fans can purchase tickets through GoAztecs.com, over the phone by calling (619) 283-7378, or by visiting Qualcomm Stadium's Window E between 9 a.m. PT and 5 p.m. PT.
2016 San Diego State Football Schedule
Saturday, Sept. 3 -- New Hampshire
Saturday, Sept. 10 -- California
Saturday, Sept. 17 -- at Northern Illinois
Saturday, Sept. 24 -- OPEN
Saturday, Oct. 1 -- at South Alabama
Saturday, Oct. 8 -- UNLV*
Saturday, Oct. 15 -- at Fresno State*
Saturday, Oct. 22 -- San José State*
Saturday, Oct. 29 -- at Utah State*
Saturday, Nov. 5 -- Hawai'i*
Saturday, Nov. 12 -- at Nevada*
Saturday, Nov. 19 -- at Wyoming*
Saturday, Nov. 26 -- Colorado State*
Saturday, Dec. 3 -- MW Championship Game (home of highest-ranked two divisional champions)
*Mountain West opponent, times will be announced at a later date