SCENE SETTER (through games of Dec. 6)
* San Diego State, one of just 10 teams in the nation to play each of the last seven weeks and the only team in California, closes out its 2020 regular season on Saturday night in Provo, Utah against No. 14/16 Brigham Young.
* The Aztecs and Cougars, which shared conference affiliation first the Western Athletic Conference and later in the Mountain West, are meeting for the 38th time. Brigham Young owns a 28-8-1 series advantage.
* San Diego State defeated BYU, 13-3, in San Diego last season. The Aztecs have never won consecutive meetings with the Cougars.
* The Aztecs concluded their most successful Mountain West campaign in three seasons, finishing 4-2 in league play after a 29-17 victory over Colorado State in Carson, Calif.
* SDSU's special teams were outstanding against the Rams, with Jordan Byrd returning a kickoff 93 yards for a touchdown and BJ Busbee following it up with a 90-yard punt return for a score. Both occurred as part of a 16-point second quarter for the Aztecs.
* It marked just the third time in the last 25 years the Aztecs had two kicks (of any kind) returned for a score in a game and it was the first time an FBS returned a kickoff and punt for a touchdown in a single quarter since 2015.
* The San Diego State defense shined once again, limiting Colorado State to 265 yards of total offense, while forcing two turnovers and recording 11 tackles for loss. After halftime, the SDSU defense limited the Rams to zero points and 86 yards of total offense on 27 plays.
* Junior cornerback Darren Hall recorded an interception in a third consecutive game and also had six tackles in the contest. He is the only player in the nation to intercept a pass in each of the last three weeks.
* The San Diego State defense ranks first nationally in yards allowed per play (4.05), easily ahead of No. 2 Marshall (4.14).
* The Aztecs rank 30th nationally in scoring margin (+9.9). All four of San Diego State's victories have come by at least 12 points.
* The three San Diego State losses this season have come to teams with a combined record of 15-1. The Aztecs were in all three games, owning a fourth-quarter lead against San Jose State, having a first-and-goal at 4-yard line late in the fourth quarter at Nevada and missing a pair of field goals in the fourth quarter at Colorado that would have cut that deficit to one score.
* San Diego State's national rankings of note: 3rd in total defense (269.1), 4th third down conversion defense (27.3), 5th in tackles for loss (8.7), 6th passing yards allowed (168.4), 8th in scoring defense (16.3), 8th in passing efficiency rating (105.92), 9th in rushing defense (100.7) and 28th in rushing offense (203.7).
Aztecs Head to Provo to Face No. 14/16 Brigham Young
