SCENE SETTER (as of Sunday, Oct. 17)
* Enjoying just its second 6-0 start in the last 46 seasons, No. 22/21 San Diego State travels to Colorado Springs, Colorado, to face Air Force (6-1) in its second consecutive road game.
* With a combined record of 12-1, the San Diego State-Air Force game features the best FBS game in the nation this week (see list below).
* Both teams were picked to finish third in their respective division of the Mountain West prior to the season but both are in a position to challenge for division titles. The Aztecs are one of two unbeaten teams in league play in the West (also: Nevada), while the Falcons have a league-high three conference victories.
* San Diego State and Air Force are two of five teams in the nation that ranks among the top 20 nationally in both rushing offense and rushing defense (also: Army, Oregon State and UCLA). The Aztecs are 1st in rushing defense and 19th in rushing offense, while the Falcons are 1st in rushing offense and 10th in rushing defense.
* San Diego State and Air Force are meeting for the 37th time, with the Academy owning a 19-17 advantage. The Aztecs have won the last eight games in the series, including the last two by four points each (28-24 in 2017 and 21-17 in 2018).
* San Diego State is one of 11 undefeated teams in the nation (out of 130 FBS programs). Of the 11, the Aztecs are the only unbeaten team in the Mountain West and the only unbeaten program in the Pacific Time Zone.
* SDSU head coach Brady Hoke is the only active FBS head coach to lead three different programs to a 6-0 start (2008 Ball State started 12-0, 2011 Michigan started 6-0 and 2021 San Diego State has started 6-0).
* San Diego State is up to No. 22 in the AP Top 25 Poll and No. 21 in the AFCA Coaches Poll. This is SDSU's highest ranking in the AP poll since the Aztecs were No. 19 for three consecutive weeks during the 2017 campaign (final week of that run was Oct. 8).
* This is the 27th week SDSU has appeared in the AP poll in school history and the 13th appearance since the start of the '16 campaign.
* SDSU has made appearances in the AP Top 25 in four of the last six seasons (2016, 2017, 2019 and 2021) after experiencing a 341-poll drought (from Nov. 14, 1995 through Sept. 11, 2016).
* San Diego State ranks among the top 25 teams nationally in 18 NCAA statistical categories. Most impressive is that all three areas - offense, defense and special teams - are represented. Listing only the major categories, on defense the Aztecs are 1st in rushing defense (61.2), 3rd in tackles for loss (7.8), 6th in passing efficiency defense (104.20), 8th in total defense (282.8), 10th in scoring defense (16.0), 12th in sacks (3.33), 13th in interceptions (8) and 19th in red zone defense (71.4). On offense, the Aztecs are 9th in fewest interceptions (2), 19th in rushing offense (215.3), 23rd in turnovers lost (6) and 25th in time of possession (31:44). On special teams, SDSU is 2nd in blocked punts (3), 2nd in net punting (46.17), 19th in kickoff returns (27.45) and according to ESPN efficiencies, the Aztecs special teams rank third nationally as a unit.
No. 22/21 Football Travels to Air Force
