POLLING DATA
* Riding a four-game winning streak, San Diego State enters the AP Top 25 Poll at number 25. This marks the Aztecs first visit to the AP poll since Oct. 8, 2017.
* This marks the 23rd week in SDSU's Division I history that the Aztecs have appeared in the AP poll. Nine of those 23 appearances have come in the Rocky Long era.
* SDSU has been nationally ranked in three of the last four seasons (2016, 2017 and 2019), after failing to appear for even one week in the poll for the 19 seasons from 1996 through 2015.
* Oddly, this marks the fifth time in the 23 weeks SDSU has been ranked and is idle. In the previous four occasions, the Aztecs have averaged a two-position jump when ranked and not having a bye in the schedule.
* The last time the Aztecs were ranked in the 25th position in the AP poll was te final poll of the 2016 season (Jan. 10, 2017).
FAR FROM HOME
* The Aztecs are one of 22 teams nationally with one loss or fewer (nine undefeated teams and 13 one-loss teams).
* San Diego State leads all of FBS with five road victories in 2019 (the Aztecs are 5-0 on the road).
* The Aztecs, who have played just one home game since Sept. 21, will be at SDCCU Stadium for three of its last four games.
* After the bye, SDSU faces Nevada (4-4, win vs. Purdue), Fresno State (3-4), at Hawai'i (5-3, wins vs. Arizona and Oregon State) and Brigham Young (3-4, wins at Tennessee, USC and Boise State).
DOUBLE DOWN
* San Diego State never trailed in picking up its fourth straight win of the campaign, a 20-17 decision at UNLV on Saturday night.
* The Aztecs formula for winning was tested as SDSU lost the turnover margin (-1) for the second time this season and time of possession (-3:58) battle for the first time. The last time SDSU won a game in which it had a total offense (-41), turnover and time of possession disadvantage was Oct. 31, 2009 against New Mexico (Brady Hole was the head coach). Entering the game, SDSU was 1-35 the last 36 times when that criteria has been in effect.
* The last time SDSU won a road game in which it trailed in the above three categories was at Brigham Young on Oct. 21, 2000.
FROM THE FILM ROOM (through games of Oct. 26)
* Sophomore WR Ethan Dedeaux hauled in his first career touchdown in the victory over UNLV. Dedeaux scored on a 49-yard post route for the longest reception of his NCAA career. Of the 49 yards, 20 of those were earned after the catch. On the season, Dedeaux has caught four of his six pass targets for 75 yards.
* Junior AZT Dwayne Johnson played a great game for the Rebels. Johnson played all 73 of his team's defensive snaps, saw three targets in his coverage, allowing just one reception for five yards with two pass deflections. Johnson had a 47.3 passer rating when targeted on Saturday. On the season, Johnson has allowed just 12 receptions on 18 targets in his coverage with just 23 yards after the catch surrendered. Johnson's overall grade of 81.8 ranks first in the conference among safeties.
* Against UNLV, DE Keshawn Banks recorded 1.5 sacks, one QB hit and one hurry on 40 pass rushes (pressure rate: 10.0%). This was the second multi-sack game of the season for Banks, who has recorded two or more pressures in every game played this year. In run defense this season, Banks has recorded an average depth of tackle that is more than two feet behind the opponents line of scrimmage. Banks' average depth of tackle of -0.83 is the tops in the MW among edge defenders with at least 100 run defense snaps this year (FBS position rank: 3).
* Junior RT Zachary Thomas was outstanding against the Rebels. Thomas allowed no QB pressure of any kind on 27 pass blocks vs UNLV in what is the highest PFF graded start of his career so far (74.7). Thomas' overall grade ranked first among all MW OTs this week. On the season, his pass block grade of 83.6 ranks second in the MW among OTs (since taking over as the starter, his 83.1 pass block grade ranks first). Thomas has allowed no sacks, no QB hits and just two hurries on 120 pass blocks this season (pressure rate: 1.6%).