SCENE SETTER (through games of Saturday, Sept. 14)
* San Diego State, one of 35 undefeated teams in the nation and one of only two teams in the country that is unbeaten, won at least two road games and has a victory at a Power 5 conference school (also Oklahoma State), faces Utah State at SDCCU Stadium on Saturday.
* The game is a matchup between the two teams picked to finish second in their respective divisions in the official preseason media poll. The Aggies were selected second in the Mountain Division, while the Aztecs were selected to finish second in the West Division.
* This is the only home game for the Aztecs in a 41-day period from Sept. 1 through Oct. 11. During that span, the Aztecs have three road games (2-0 thus far) and a bye week (Sept. 28).
* This marks just the fourth time in the last 43 seasons that the Aztecs play a home game as an unbeaten team having played already played at least three times (three of the four occurrences have come in the Rocky Long era).
* SDSU has won 13 consecutive games played during the month of September. That is the third-longest active streak nationally, trailing only Clemson (20) and Alabama (17).
* On Saturday, the Aztecs won their second road game in as many weeks with a 31-10 victory at New Mexico State. The Aztecs had a pair of 100-yard rushing performances from Jordan Byrd (118 yards) and Chance Bell (116 yards), while the defense held the Aggies to 10 points and forced four turnovers. SDSU never trailed and led 24-0 at one point.
* Through three weeks and 120 game minutes, SDSU has trailed a total of 7:13 (all in the first quarter).
* San Diego State's defense ranks among the national leaders in nearly every statistical category. Among its highest rankings are: 3rd in rushing defense (42.3), 3rd in rushing yards allowed per carry (1.7), 4th in scoring defense (8.0), 6th in first downs allowed per game (12.7), 5th in total touchdowns allowed (3), 6th in rushing touchdowns allowed (1), 11th in total defense (248.0), 16th in passing touchdowns allowed (2), 16th in tackles for loss (8.3), 27th in passing yards per attempt (5.71) and 35th in passing efficiency rating (114.3).
* San Diego State is +5 in turnover margin in 2019 and is seventh nationally in turnover margin per game. The stat has been a great indicator of success for the Aztecs. The Aztecs are 27-1 the last 28 times they have had an advantage in turnover margin
* The last 11 times San Diego State has been an underdog, the Aztecs have won the game eight times (72.7 percent). Three of those victories have come against nationally-ranked opponents. SDSU owns the nation's top winning percentage in these games since Oct. 7, 2015 (min. 6 games played; Clemson is second 5-2, 71.4 percent).
* Head coach Rocky Long, the all-time winningest coach in Mountain West history, has guided San Diego State to a bowl game in each of his first eight seasons as head coach. He is one of just six active coaches to lead his current team to a bowl game in each of his first eight seasons.
Football Kicks off MW Play Saturday vs. Utah State
