Defensive Coordinator Rob Aurich Named a Broyles Award Nominee

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- San Diego State defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Rob Aurich has been named a Broyles Award nominee, the Frank and Barbara Broyles Foundation announced Tuesday. Aurich is one of 63 nominees for the award, which goes out to the top assistant coach in the country.

Aurich is in his first year as the Aztec defensive coordinator and linebackers coach after coaching the defensive edges last season. The SDSU defense has improved dramatically since Aurich has taken over, improving from the 97th-ranked scoring defense last year to second this season through 11 games, 114th to sixth in yards allowed per game, 121st to 16th in rushing yards allowed per game and 93rd to sixth in passing yards allowed per game.

Through 11 games, the San Diego State defense leads the Mountain West in almost every category, while ranking among the top 20 in the country in rushing touchdowns allowed (3, 1st in FBS), passing yards per attempt (5.12, 2nd in FBS), touchdowns allowed (15, T-3rd in FBS), points allowed per game (11.64, 2nd in FBS), yards allowed per play (4.03, 3rd in FBS), pass efficiency rating (98.13, 3rd in FBS), red zone defensive percentage (68.18, 3rd in FBS), offensive touchdowns allowed (13, 3rd in FBS), total touchdowns allowed (15, T-3rd in FBS), defensive touchdowns (4, T-3rd in FBS), passing yards per completion (9.65, 4th in FBS), total yards allowed per game (262.91, 6th in FBS), passing yards allowed per game (159.73, 6th in FBS), first downs allowed (165, 8th in FBS), rushing yards allowed per attempt (3.03, 14th in FBS), passing touchdowns allowed (10, T-14th in FBS) and rushing yards allowed per game (103.18, 16th in FBS).

The Aztecs have allowed just 128 points (11.6 avg.) on the season, including 38 of those at Hawai’i on Nov. 8, 36 at Washington State on Sept. 6 and 24 on Oct. 3 vs. Colorado State. In the other eight games, SDSU has allowed just 30 points total (3.8 avg.). Fourteen (14) of the 38 points allowed by San Diego State at Hawai’i on Nov. 8 came on a pick-6 and a kick return touchdown. If you take away those two scores, the Aztecs have allowed 114 points over 11 games (10.4).

San Diego State has held seven of its 11 opponents to single digits and those seven to seven or fewer points. That’s the most in SDSU’s Division I history (since 1969) and the most in FBS this season (no other team has even had six such games). The other four teams to do this in the CFP Era (since 2014) all made an appearance in the College Football Playoff the same year: Alabama (2016), Clemson (2018), Georgia (2021) and Michigan (2023).

Another way to look at SDSU’s impressive numbers is that it is allowing 262.9 yards and 11.6 points per game. In SDSU’s opponents other games this season, they are averaging 357.4 yards and 23.7 points per game.

San Diego State has three shutouts in the same season for the first time in its Division I history (since 1969). Only Wisconsin (four in 2019) has had more shutouts in a season than SDSU over the last 10 years.

The Broyles Award was created in 1996 recognizing Coach Frank Broyles’ legacy of selecting and developing great assistants during his hall of fame career as head coach at Arkansas. Proceeds from the Broyles Award benefit the Frank & Barbara Broyles Foundation, which provides free education and support resources for Alzheimer’s caregivers nationwide.

Since its founding, the Broyles Award has honored 29 winners and more than 100 finalists, including some of the biggest names in college football coaching history such as Steve Sarkisian, Lane Kiffin, Kirby Smart, Lincoln Riley, Dan Lanning, and Gus Malzahn. The 2024 Broyles Award winner was Al Golden, defensive coordinator at Notre Dame.

The Broyles Award selection committee is made of former hall of fame coaches, members of the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA), and legendary broadcasters. The selection committee will vote to advance 15 semifinalists, five finalists, and one overall winner.

For the first time in the 30-year history of the Broyles Award, fans across America will have a direct voice in deciding which assistant coaches advance to the semifinalist round, finalist round, and ultimately who wins the award. Fans can cast votes for their favorite nominees throughout each stage of the competition. Each individual fan vote counts toward one collective “fan vote” in the official selection process of each round. Each vote is also an entry to win two VIP passes to the 30th Annual Broyles Award Ceremony.

The Broyles Award winner will be announced live at the 30th Annual Broyles Award Ceremony on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026, at Oaklawn in Hot Springs, Arkansas.

Sitting atop the Mountain West standings with a one-game lead on three teams, San Diego State (9-2, 6-1 MW) travels to Albuquerque to meet New Mexico (8-3, 5-2 MW) on Friday. The game is set for a 1:30 p.m. MT kick (12:30 p.m. PT), airing on CBS Sports Network and San Diego Sports 760, the flagship radio station of San Diego State athletics.