SAN DIEGO – In conjunction with the Pac-12, the San Diego State men’s soccer team has released their schedule for the 2026 season. The 2026 slate is highlighted by three matches against teams that made the 2025 NCAA tournament, two against 2025 conference regular season champions and SDSU’s return to the Pac-12 after a two-year stint in the WAC as an affiliate member.
The Aztecs’ 19-match schedule features 10 home contests and nine on the road with SDSU only playing one match outside of California (at Oregon State).
SDSU will begin the season Aug. 15 with a friendly at home against Point Loma. The season officially kicks off Aug 20 when the Aztecs host Liberty. The Flames went 9-5-6 last season and advanced to the OVC Tournament Semifinals. This will be SDSU’s first ever meeting with Liberty.
The Aztecs will then host Navy Aug. 23 in the program’s first meeting since the 1993 season.
After an Aug. 27 match with Life Pacific, the Aztecs will head to Cal Poly for their first road match of the season. The Mustangs went 9-6-5 last year and won the Big West regular season championship with a 5-2-2 record. This will be the first of two meetings between SDSU and Cal Poly, who is an affiliate member in the Pac-12, this season, although only the second meeting will count towards league standings.
SDSU returns home for home matches against Cal State Bakersfield (Sept. 5) and Sacramento State (Sept. 11). The Aztecs are 8-1-0 all-time vs the Roadrunners and 5-2-3 all-time vs. the Hornets.
The Aztecs will play four of its next five matches on the road beginning with a match across town at the University of San Diego Sept. 13. The Toreros went 13-3-3 last year and have made the NCAA tournament in each of the last four seasons. SDSU is 16-9-3 all-time vs. USD.
SDSU heads up the coast to play at UC Santa Barbara Sept. 17. The Gauchos went undefeated in Big West play (4-0-5) last year and made the championship match. The Aztecs then continue north to play at Santa Clara Sept. 20.
SDSU returns home to host Cal State Fullerton Sept. 26. SDSU beat the Titans 1-0 on the road last year with Juan Zepeda scoring the game-winner.
The Aztecs then begin their Pac-12 schedule, returning to the league they played in from 2005-2023.
In March, the Pac-12 Conference and The Big West jointly announced a collaborative men’s soccer partnership designed to strengthen and sustain Division I men’s soccer opportunities across the western United States.
As part of this strategic partnership, California Baptist, Cal Poly, UC Riverside, and UC San Diego will compete as affiliate members in Pac-12 men’s soccer beginning with the 2026–27 season. In addition, the Pac-12 and Big West will implement a scheduling collaboration featuring three crossover matches between member institutions of both conferences. This joint initiative reflects a shared commitment to preserving competitive opportunities for student-athletes and ensuring long-term sustainability for men’s soccer programs across the region.
“I’m extremely grateful to the Pac-12 and Big West leadership and coaches and SDSU for creating this cutting-edge solution to continue to grow the game, especially on the West Coast,” Head coach Ryan Hopkins said about the program’s return to the Pac-12. “This collaboration will provide West Coast student-athletes with more access to the NCAA tournament and ensuring stability for programs in the future.”
The Aztecs will begin Pac-12 play Sept. 30 at Oregon State. The Beavers spent the last two seasons playing as an affiliate member in the WCC. They have made six consecutive NCAA tournament appearances and played for the national championship in 2023.
SDSU then plays a non-conference match at CSUN Oct. 3.
The Aztecs return to conference play with home matches against Cal Poly (Oct. 7) and Gonzaga (Oct. 10).
After a road match at UC Irvine, the 2025 Big West tournament champion, on Oct. 14, the Aztecs play at California Baptist Oct. 17. The Lancers won the 2025 WAC regular season championship.
SDSU closes out the season with matches against Utah Valley (Oct. 21), at UC Riverside (Oct. 24) and UC San Diego (Oct. 31).
The top four teams will make the conference tournament which will take place on the highest seed’s campus. The semifinals will be Nov. 7 and the championship match will be Nov. 13 or 14.
2026 San Diego State Men’s Soccer Schedule
Aug. 15 – Point Loma (Friendly)
Aug. 20 – Liberty
Aug. 23 – Navy
Aug. 27 – Life Pacific
Aug. 30 – at Cal Poly
Sept. 5 – Cal State Bakersfield
Sept. 11 – Sacramento State
Sept. 13 – at San Diego
Sept. 17 – at UC Santa Barbara
Sept. 20 – at Santa Clara
Sept. 26 – Cal State Fullerton
Sept. 30 – at Oregon State*
Oct. 3 – at CSUN
Oct. 7 – Cal Poly*
Oct. 10 – Gonzaga*
Oct. 14 – at UC Irvine
Oct. 17 – at California Baptist*
Oct. 21 – Utah Valley
Oct. 24 – at UC Riverside*
Oct. 31 – UC San Diego*
Nov. 7 – Pac-12 Tournament Semifinals
Nov. 13 or 14 – Pac-12 Tournament Finals
* Indicates Pac-12 match
Bolded matches at home on the SDSU Sports Deck where all matches are free to attend