COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The San Diego State football team has been picked to finish third in the West Division of the Mountain West preseason vote by media representatives who cover the conference, the league announced Wednesday. The West Division leader has won four of the past six MW Championships, including the Aztecs in both 2015 and 2016.
SDSU received 96 points for third place, trailing only Nevada (141) and defending league champion San José State (121) in the West Division. It is the first time San Diego State hasn't been picked to finish first or second in the West Division in the nine years of division play (since 2013). Fresno State was selected fourth with 85 points, while Hawai'i (56) and UNLV (26) also garnered votes.
Boise State, meanwhile, was picked to win the Mountain Division for the ninth consecutive division after making the MW championship game last year for just the fourth time since 2014. The Broncos, who received 148 points, were 5-2 in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, falling to San José State, 34-20, for the MW title. Wyoming is penciled in to finish second with 116 points, followed by Air Force (104), Colorado State (72), Utah State (47) and New Mexico (39).
The Aztecs finished 4-4 last year with their four losses coming to teams that went a combined 29-6 (.829).
San Diego State will play seven of its 12 games in 2021 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif., and will have only one road contest over the first six weeks of the season. The 2021 home slate features high-profile games against Utah, Boise State, Fresno State and Nevada. Five of the six FBS opponents that the Aztecs will play host to this season finished the 2020 campaign with a .500 or better record. SDSU opens 2021 at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday, Sept. 4 against New Mexico State.
San Diego State football single-game tickets go on sale on Monday. Season tickets are also available now, starting at just $149, and fans can select their seats when ordering online at GoAztecs.com/tickets. Additionally, three-game mini plans, starting at just $65, are also currently on sale. For questions, please contact the Aztec Athletic Ticket Office, either by email at aztix@sdsu.edu, or by phone at 619-283-7378.
The preseason all-MW team is scheduled to be released on Thursday.
Notes: San Diego State, which averaged a predicted finish of 6.5 from 2005-12, has ended up at or better than its predicted finish in nine of the last 12 seasons and 12 times over the past 16 years … The Aztecs have won two of the last six Mountain West titles (2015 and 2016) and three of the past nine (also 2012) … Two of the three previous times Brady Hoke was head coach, SDSU finished above its preseason selection (finished seventh in 2009 after being picked eighth, finished tied for third in 2010 after being picked sixth).
2021 Mountain West Preseason Poll
West Division
1. Nevada (19) - 141
2. San José State (5) - 121
3. San Diego State - 96
4. Fresno State (1) - 85
5. Hawai'i - 56
6. UNLV - 26
Mountain Division
1. Boise State (23) - 148
2. Wyoming (2) - 115
3. Air Force - 104
4. Colorado State - 72
5. Utah State - 47
6. New Mexico - 39
Football Picked Third in Preseason Mountain West Poll
