At the conclusion of Shakespeare’s Richard III, the title character utters the famous line, “A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse!”

The entire play is dedicated to Richard plotting, scheming, and murdering his way to the English throne. Fallen from his steed and with his life in danger, he is willing to wager everything for a horse to vanquish Richmond, his final foe.

Conference realignment has threatened San Diego State football. In the next decade, the power schools appear poised to start a new division away from the rest of the FBS.

With poorly attended home games and following the first losing season in fourteen years, the university decided to change its course from a defense-centered team to a more offensive-forward approach under Sean Lewis.

SDSU is entering a new reality in the Pac-12. Like Richard, they are gambling the gains of the past for a new horse. Lewis’s success or failure will be consequential for the level at which the Aztecs compete in the coming years.

Chief among Lewis’ long list of virtues that earned him the job was his ability to develop quarterbacks. The quality of his tenure will likely be determined by if an elite signal caller resides on The Mesa.

A QB, A QB, Aztec Nation for a QB!

Lewis has placed his trust in freshman Danny O’Neil. Saturday in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, signs emerged that O’Neil could be the quarterback of the future.

Praised for his competitiveness all offseason, that quality shined through. In the play before his second touchdown pass, O’Neil was brought to the turf on a late tackle off a read/option.

While on the ground, a CMU defender stepped on his hurt knee. Lewis said postgame that the staff did not see anything amiss from the encounter. Intentional or not, the blow could not have been placed better. O’Neil’s response was terrific.

He found Jude Wolfe working one-on-one on the outside and lofted a pass for a touchdown. O’Neil’s toughness and intelligence with the football stood out in a fantastic first half.

“I know he’s been attacking his rehab and recovery really hard, doing everything he can to get back on the field,” Wolfe said after SDSU’s loss to CMU. “I thought he played well tonight. I think across the board, we all need to be better. But I think Danny had some really good plays out there. It was great to see him back out there on the field.”

Questions about O’Neil’s long-term viability at the position also remain. Among his 14 completions, it is difficult to find one that was not obvious. His counterpart, Joe Labas, converted a 4th and 7 through a sea of defenders to set up the game-winning field goal. That level of throw was absent from O’Neil’s portfolio.

In addition, most of his production came on four passes that were either a defensive lapse or terrific plays by his receivers. He had a pair of long completions to Louis Brown IV (for 43 and 41 yards), where the wideout beat his man to make outstanding grabs. A blown coverage gave Nate Bennett 34 yards. The touchdown mentioned above to Wolfe was a 50/50 jump ball that went for 26 yards. Those four completions amounted to 144 of his 246 passing yards. The rest were a mix of screens and first reads with one ad-libbed pass to Brown IV for 10 yards.

SDSU has a long history of signal callers missing the obvious throws, but these are worth mentioning in evaluating O’Neil. He has yet to make the passes only higher-level quarterbacks make.

Another question is if O’Neil has the physical tools to run Lewis’ offense. In the coming years, it is doubtful the Aztecs will have many running backs significantly better than Marquez Cooper. In his fifth year of college football, Cooper will likely end this season ranked in the top 50 in FBS career rushing yards.

Central Michigan proved on Saturday that a defense could make Lewis’ offense one-dimensional, even with a back as skilled as Cooper. Against SDSU’s spread formations, CMU had six defenders in the box. With only five offensive linemen, one athlete was always unblocked.

Cooper usually started his carries moving east and west, allowing the extra defender to reach him before he started going. Due to the ten larger athletes grappling in a small area around him, Cooper had little room to work.

He struggled to make the free linebacker miss. On the occasions where he broke a tackle, he had two aggressive safeties fitting into the run game.

It took a herculean effort for Cooper to eclipse the 100-yard mark. SDSU’s team captain deserves credit because his effort never waned, but the Aztecs need more from anyone with 34 touches in a contest.

“He’s a guy that we can lean on consistently,” Lewis said. “He’s a guy that everytime that you call his number, he’s going to ring the bell. He’s a workhorse.”

Thirty-three of Cooper’s carries netted 64 yards (1.94 average). One attempt, when Lewis occupied the free defender with his play design, created a 47-yard burst.

On SDSU’s fourth play of the game, Lewis split Ja’Shaun Poke into the slot on the left and motioned him inside. At the snap, as Poke slid to the right of the formation, O’Neil faked a handoff to Cooper. With the defensive end crashing on the running back, O’Neil found Poke wide open for a short completion. It went for a 10-yard gain.

Effectively, Lewis turned Poke into the option player because O’Neil’s health did not allow him to fill that role.

CMU’s defensive end stayed with O’Neil and Poke the second time they ran that play. O’Neil handed the ball off this time. The Aztecs’ front blocked the five remaining Chippewas. Cooper had no trouble racing downfield.

Between what transpired at Kent State, last season at Colorado, and the start of this year, there is ample evidence that Lewis’ offense will be one-dimensional without a dual-threat quarterback.

QB Dustin Crum ran for 1,650 yards in Lewis’ final three seasons at Kent, giving the Golden Flashes an unpredictable, balanced attack. Shedeur Sanders did not factor into the run game at CU in 2023, and the Buffalos were one-dimensional.

The Aztecs’ quarterbacks have yet to prove dangerous on the ground. The result is Cooper’s 3.6 yards per carry average against FBS competition. Teams can take away SDSU’s running attack, putting even more pressure on its passing game.

Even when healthy, it is unclear that O’Neil currently has the quickness to run the football enough to occupy one defender. That will likely develop in the coming years as he enters his athletic prime.

Through bloody intrigue, Richard III overcame a series of hurdles to nearly reach his goal. But, with an unchallenged throne within his grasp, he fell to his last challenger.

San Diego State overcame a disastrous start to this century. SDSU emerged from the ashes of the Chargers’ flight from town with Snapdragon Stadium. Now, having escaped the Mountain West Conference, one last foe remains.

Can the Aztecs win without an out-moded playing style while capturing the imagination of America’s Finest City? Their place in college football’s hierarchy likely depends on it.

A QB, A QB, Aztec Nation for a QB!

What the loss means

With Lewis’ track record and how he won the offseason, there was hope heading into the year that the Aztecs would not take a step back to take two forward. That has not happened. SDSU is experiencing growing pains as it establishes new systems in all three phases.

The Red and Black have yet to defeat an FBS opponent. However, their defeats came against three teams with a combined 9-3 record. The Aztecs were not supposed to win any of the games.

Saturday against Central Michigan was the first time SDSU beat the spread. CMU was a 2.5-point favorite.

Lewis’ game management will be questioned because he played conservatively at the end of the game. On SDSU’s final two possessions, the Aztecs had 1st and 10 on the 11 and 13-yard lines. Lewis called five rushes, playing to set up field goals, which were eventually missed.

“(I am) always mindful of all the impacts and all the factors that lead to winning,” Lewis said. “Going to be loyal to that. Going to we’re constantly putting our kids in the best position to be successful whether that’s schematic, whether that’s time management, whether that’s the guys who playing and which areas of the game so be leading and be purposeful … and to win ultimately.”

The strategy did not end with a victory, which is all that counts, but Lewis’ approach was sound. In hindsight, Lewis and special teams coordinator Zac Barton selected the wrong field goal kicker. Nick Lopez should not have been elevated over Gabe Plascencia.

Unless Lewis knew he had no one on the roster who could make short attempts, his management was what many coaches in his situation would have done.

The Aztecs’ loss to CMU greatly impacts their bowl hopes. They are favored this week against Hawaii and will likely be slight underdogs on the road against Wyoming. If they can finish the first half of their season at 3-3 while making strides in raising their level of play, the second half should be compelling.

Slip up against the Rainbow Warriors, and expectations shift to a complete rebuild in 2024.

“Games like (CMU) give the team an opportunity to come really close together, unify everybody,” Wolfe explained. “We’re all really banged up, hurt about this, but there’s a lot to play for. We have every one of our conference games still left on the table. After a loss like this, the boys rally together and put our best foot forward into conference play.”

Player of the Game: Trey White

In an effort to avoid redundancy, Trey White nearly missed being this week’s Player of the Game. Despite intending to shine a light on another Aztec, White’s play forced him into the honor.

White finished Saturday with three sacks, which were SDSU’s only recorded quarterback takedowns. The local product also flashed the ability to impact the game as only the elite can.

As the game wore on, Lewis shifted his strategy to play a defensive battle. Nearly every time the Aztecs needed a big play, White responded.

“Our defense is really tough,” White said. “We always got each other’s back. Right before we go out there, we always encourage one another, ‘Let’s go make a play, get the ball back. Get a turnover to put our offense in a great position. But we let up too many points, and it doesn’t matter. We lost so we just have to be better, more consistent.”

Despite SDSU’s team captain downplaying the performance, he is proving to be one of the bright spots on the team. White alone is a reason to watch the Aztecs play in person.

His relentless motor and fight do not come across on television. White is a true warrior who San Diegans should line up to see.

Unsung Hero: Louis Brown IV

Making plays is the best way to help a true freshman signal caller competing in his first road start. SDSU wide receiver Louis Brown IV made a pair of sensational catches that accounted for a fourth of Danny O’Neil’s production.

In the offseason, Brown IV was challenged to be the type of receiver who fights while the ball is in the air. Despite making a pair of circus catches already this year, this quality was missing from the Aztecs until Saturday. His strong play should also elevate those around him moving forward.

If Brown IV can be a consistent deep threat, it will open up space for his teammates. Safeties will be slower to support in the run or short-passing games.

Brown IV’s next step in his game will be to pair the deep gains with more consistency on intermediate and short routes. He appears to be growing into a complete wideout.

“As we continue to evolve and as we continue to build the relationships in the throw game and we get our timing down, there should be not only LB but other guys that get comfortable with consistency among all levels with the offense and with all units,” Lewis said. “So that we can open up the throw game, stretch the field vertically, create horizontal space, and create vertical puncture lanes in the run game as well.”

Quick Takes:

• SDSU’s official depth chart has not changed much since the first game. Judging by which Aztecs played Saturday, here is a more accurate two-deep. The shifting that would take place in case of an O-line injury is an educated guess.

QB: Danny O’Neil, Javance Tupou’ata-Johnson

RB: Marquez Cooper, Cam Davis

TE: Jude Wolfe, Michael Harrison

WR 1: Louis Brown IV, Jerry McClure

WR 2: Ja’Shaun Poke, Jordan Napier

WR 3: Nate Bennett, Mekhi Shaw

LT: Christian Jones, Nate Williams

LG: Ross Ulugalu-Maseuli. Dean Abdullah

C: Brayden Bryant, Dean Abdullah

RG: Tyler McMahan, Dean Abdullah

RT: Nate Williams, Tyler McMahan

Field EDGE: Marlem Louis, Ryan Henderson

NT: Sam Benjamin, Darrion Daulton

DT: Krishna Klay, Tupu Alualu

MLB: Tano Letuli, DJ Herman

WLB: Owen Chambliss, Kyle Moretti

CB: Chris Johnson, Jaleni Whitmore

CB: Bryce Phillips, Jaleni Whitmore

FS: Eric Butler, William Nimmo Jr.

SS: Dalesean Staley, JD Coffey III

Stud: Deshawn McCuin, Joshua Hunter

• Trey White ranks third in the nation with six sacks. The players above him have played in one more game.
• Only three tight ends traveled. Freshman Arthur Ban was the other. Not having a true blocking tight end might have cost the Aztecs late in the fourth with the red zone rushing attempts.
• Dominic Oliver looks to be SDSU’s second-best EDGE. On clear passing downs, he lined up as a defensive tackle. Could he be moved to field EDGE so he and White are on the field together?
• In the offseason, Chris Johnson was praised for his special teams play. He was sensational covering punts on Saturday.
• Johnson appeared responsible for not covering properly on CMU’s first score.
• The first person to warm up before the game was Sean Lewis. He stretched and did some light running. Jude Wolfe, followed by Danny O’Neil, were the first two players on the field.
• The tailgate set up at CMU could be similar to how it will be at SDSU once more of SDSU Mission Valley is built. Pockets of supporters scattered for blocks at various parking lots surrounding the stadium.
• Ross Ulugalu-Maseuli led SDSU onto the field, wielding the Aztec Warrior Shield.
• Following the game, Lewis addressed the team at CMU’s indoor practice facility. The postgame press conference was held in the corner of the building.
• Jude Wolfe and Trey White were terrific postgame. You can watch their remarks here.
• Dalesean Staley did not travel. JD Coffey III racked up tackles in his place. SDSU did not provide a reason for Staley’s absence.
• When Coffey fell with a late injury, Nimmo went in for him.
• During pregame, SDSU had three field goal kickers blasting quality kicks between the uprights: Lopez, Plascencia, and freshman Nick Clegg,

Paul Garrison

My earliest sport’s memory involve tailgating at the Murph, running down the circular exit ramps, and seeing the Padres, Chargers and Aztecs play. As a second generation Aztec, I am passionate about all things SDSU. Other interests include raising my four children, being a great husband and teaching high school.