SCENE SETTER (as of Sunday, Oct. 31)
* Having matched its best eight-game record of the last 46 seasons, San Diego State (7-1; 3-1 Mountain West) plays the second of four consecutive games against the West Division of the Mountain West when it faces Hawai'i (4-5; 1-3 MW) in the final college football game on Saturday night in Honolulu.
* San Diego State has responded from its last five conference losses with a double-digit victory in its next conference game (total score in those five games: San Diego State 138, Opponents 50. The Aztecs have not dropped consecutive league tilts in the same season since 2018.
* San Diego State is a perfect 3-0 on the road this season. The Aztecs modest road win streak is tied for the 10th-longest active streak nationally (national leader: Ohio State, 12).
* Since Oct. 10, 2015, San Diego State's road record of 25-9 (73.5 percent) is the seventh best record in the nation.
* San Diego State and Hawai'i are meeting for the 36th time, with the Aztecs owning a 22-11-2 advantage. SDSU, which won 34-10 last season in Carson, California, has won seven of the last nine games played between the teams.
* San Diego State is one of only 18 schools nationally with one loss or less (six undefeated teams and 12 1-loss teams).
* The Aztecs suffered its first loss in 322 days on Saturday as Fresno State defeated SDSU, 30-20 at Dignity Health Sports Park. The Bulldogs jumped out to a 20-0 lead in the first 26 minutes of the game. The Aztecs chipped away at the deficit and climbed within 10 points on two occasions.
* San Diego State's four-week run in the AP Top 25 Poll was snapped this week. Nonetheless, the Aztecs, who have appeared in the poll in four of the last six seasons (2016, 2017, 2019 and 2021) continue to receive support, coming in at No. 32 with 50 points. SDSU is 28th in the coaches poll with 65 points.
* San Diego State features one of the nation's top defenses. The Aztecs are 6th in rushing defense (92.0), 7th in team passing efficiency (105.65), 12th in scoring defense (17.5), 12th in third down conversion percentage (29.4), 13th in total defense (304.9), 19th in sacks (2.88) and 21st in passes intercepted (9).
* Offensively, the Aztecs average 200.8 yards per game on the ground (31st nationally) and own a 52-2 record the last 54 times they have rushed for at least 200 yards. Since 2014, San Diego State is 55-13 and has won seven consecutive games when it commits one turnover or less.
* San Diego State has one of the best special teams units in the nation. The unit ranks 6th nationally according to ESPN efficiency ratings, is 2nd in blocked punts (3), 18th in kickoff returns (26.79) and sports the nation's No. 1 punter in junior Matt Araiza. * The AP midseason All-American and the leading candidate for the Ray Guy Award, Araiza is ahead of the NCAA FBS single-season record pace, averaging 52.2 yards per punt and has already tied the NCAA record for most 60-yard punts in a season (14).
Aztec Football Travels to Hawai'i for Saturday Game
