HONOLULU -- San Diego State linebacker Tano Letuli has been named to the 2025 watch list for the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award, the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame announced Thursday. There are 81 players on the initial list, which is presented annually to the most outstanding college football player of Polynesian ancestry that epitomizes great ability and integrity.
A San Diego native who played at Cathedral Catholic High School, Letuli was named a preseason first-team all-Mountain West selection at last month’s MW Media Days in Las Vegas after leading the Aztecs with 70 tackles, despite missing two games with a broken hand. Letuli, an honorable mention pick in 2024, was a team captain last year, along with Trey White the first underclassmen captains at San Diego State since Kevon O’Connell in 2005.
Letuli has also been named a preseason first-team all-MW pick by Phil Steele Magazine, Athlon Sports, Lindy’s Sports, College Football Network and Sports Info Solutions.
Oregon’s Marcus Mariota was selected as the inaugural recipient of the award in 2014, while other winners include Notre Dame’s Ronnie Stanley (2015), Colorado’s Sefo Liufau (2016), Washington State’s Hercules Mata`afa (2017), Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa (2018 and 2019), Oregon’s Penei Sewell (shared award with Tagovailoa in 2019), USC’s Talanoa Hufanga and Brigham Young’s Zach Wilson in 2020, Ohio State’s Haskell Garrett in 2021, USC’s Tuli Tuipulotu in 2022, UCLA’s Laiatu Latu and Maryland’s Taulia Tagovailoa in 2023, and most recently Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan in 2024.
The five finalists for the award will be unveiled on Dec. 9 with the winner announced on Dec. 16. The award presentation will be held Jan. 17, 2026, during the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Enshrinement Week Celebration Dinner and will be recognized at halftime of the Polynesian Bowl on Jan. 16.
The 2025 Watch List was compiled based on past performance and potential for the upcoming season. Additional players will be added to the Watch List as the year unfolds. The finalists and winner will be selected by the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee, comprised of Jack "The Throwin' Samoan" Thompson (Chairman, former NFL player and Inaugural Inductee), Coaches Ron McBride and Dick Vermeil, former NFL player and Inaugural Inductee Olin Kreutz, Inaugural Inductee and past NFLPA president Kevin Mawae, former NFL player and Class of 2015 Inductee Ray Schoenke, sportscaster Neil Everett, NFL Network Chief National Reporter Steve Wyche, and former NFL Player and Class of 2023 Inductee Manti Te`o.
San Diego State begins its season on Thursday, Aug. 28 against Stony Brook at 7 p.m. PT at Snapdragon Stadium. The Aztecs also have home games vs. California (Sept. 20 at 7:30 p.m. PT), Colorado State (Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m. PT), Wyoming (Nov. 1 at 4 p.m. PT), Boise State (Nov. 15 at 7:30 p.m. PT) and San Jose State (Nov. 22, time TBA).
Fan Fest Information
The San Diego State football team will host its annual Fan Fest on Thursday, Aug. 14 at Snapdragon Stadium.
Admission to the Aug. 14 Fan Fest is free, but all fans will need to claim their ticket in advance at https://am.ticketmaster.com/sdsu/buy/AztecFanFest. Fans may claim up to four tickets. If you need additional tickets, please call the Aztec Ticket Office at (619) 283-SDSU (7378). Parking is $10 and can also be purchased at the same link.
The parking lot opens at 5 p.m. PT with the gates opening at 6 p.m. Kickoff is set for 7:05 p.m. PT.
The team store and select concessions will also be open.
Ticket Information
Season Tickets
Season tickets for the 2025 campaign start at just $200 ($175 plus $25 Aztec Club Membership), only $33.33 per game. Fans are encouraged to purchase season tickets with benefits featuring interest-free payment plans, pre-sale access for most third-party events, and discounts on merchandise at the team store, additional single-game tickets and food/beverage. Additionally, season-ticket members will have the ability to purchase discounted season parking, access to a personal account representative and the ability to transfer and resell tickets digitally.
To purchase, or renew, your season tickets, visit goaztecs.com/sports/football-tickets.
Mini Plans
For the first time, fans can now build their own three-game mini-plan completely online. Fans can choose from any of SDSU’s six home games and save on single-game fees. Fans can also leverage their three-game mini-plans into becoming a season-ticket member. For example, purchasing an Orange Mini-Plan puts you just $39 away from becoming a season-ticket member. Contact the SDSU Athletics Ticket Sales Office at (619) 594-9834 to discuss other ways to save money while enjoying San Diego State football.
Single-Game Tickets
Single-game tickets can be also purchased Monday for as low as $23, which includes all fees.
Tano Letuli Named to Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Watch List
Award goes out to most outstanding player of Polynesian ancestry that epitomizes great ability and integrity.
