SCENE SETTER (as of Sunday, Sept. 5)
* San Diego State looks for a third consecutive 2-0 start for the first time since 1975-77 when the Aztecs travel to Tucson, Ariz., for a Saturday night showdown with Arizona. This is the first of consecutive games against the Pac-12 Conference as SDSU will return home to entertain No. 21 (current AP poll) Utah on Sept. 18.
* Since the start of the 2016 campaign, San Diego State is 5-2 (71.4 percent) against the Pac-12 Conference. That is the best non-conference record in the nation against the league (minimum five games played). There are only four teams in the nation that have a winning record in games played in the above criteria - San Diego State (5-2, 71.4), Notre Dame (5-3, 62.5), Texas (3-2, 60.0) and Boise State (3-2, 60.0).
* San Diego State is 9-2 in its last 11 games played in the Mountain Time Zone. Ten of those 11 games were played on the road (one game was a neutral site).
* Since the start of the 2019 season, the Aztecs are 6-4 in road games. The six road victories are tied for the 14th most in the nation during that span (Oklahoma also has six wins during that span).
* After a lackluster first half, San Diego State rattled off 28 unanswered points after intermission to defeat New Mexico State, 28-10, in the season opener. The Aztecs dominated play in the second half, racking up a 224-128 total offensive advantage while forcing three Aggies turnovers, including an interception return for touchdown by senior linebacker Andrew Aleki.
* In the victory over the Aggies, San Diego State extended several winning streaks, including 12 straight wins in non-conference home games, nine straight over New Mexico State (SDSU's longest active win streak against current FBS foes), 12 straight victories against teams from New Mexico and seven straight wins in home season openers.
* San Diego State rushed for 263 yards on 42 carries (6.26 yards per rush) and three touchdowns. The Aztecs improved to 48-2 the last 50 times they have gained 200 or more yards on the ground.
* Junior Matt Araiza punted nine times for a school-record average of 56.8 yards (four pinned the Aggies inside their 20-yard line). Since 1996, an FBS played has punted at least nine times in a game 2,087 times. Araiza's average is the second-highest with at least nine attempts during that time (last 26 season).
* Senior running back Greg Bell rushed for a career high 161 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown. Bell now has six 100-yard rushing games, five of which have come in his eight career games as an Aztec (posted one 100-yard game at Nebraska).
* The Aztecs forced three turnovers in the game (all via interception). San Diego State has won 27 consecutive games when forcing at least three turnovers and have not dropped a game in that scenario since Dec. 23, 2014.
Football Heads to Arizona for Saturday Night Showdown
