Aztecs Game Preview: SDSU vs. Utah State
GAME INFORMATION
Date: Saturday, November 23
Location: Logan, Utah, Maverik Stadium
Kickoff: 12:30 PM PT
TV: CBS Sports Network
Aztecs Radio Network: San Diego Sports 760
SDSU head coach Sean Lewis and his team hit the road again. This time to Logan, Utah, where they will face the Aggies. With two games remaining in the season, this will be the team’s final road trip as they return home the following week to face Air Force in the season finale.
The Aztec Fast offense has stalled this season. They have failed to score the points necessary to win games and have come up short in the final quarter when they have had the opportunity.
The defense started the season strong but has been vulnerable in recent weeks. Opponents have found success in the air and on the ground.
“Still lots of pride to play for as we continue to go forward here, continue to grow, and continue to get better as we move forward with it,” Lewis said in his Monday press conference. “The guys showed up with a good attitude and good mindset and attacked the film and what we put down on tape this past weekend the right way. I felt like they were open and receptive to learning, and we’ll continue the process of getting better day in and day out as we go forward.”
The last time Sean Lewis faced the Aggies as a head coach was on December 20, 2019. His Kent State squad won their first bowl game in the team’s history. Lewis’ offense put up 550 yards and scored 51 points. They defeated future Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love.
Utah State is 3-7 this year with a record of 2-3 in the Mountain West. Their quarterback, Spencer Petras, is accurate and throws with precision. Senior running back Rahsul Faison is a tough runner who is only nine yards away from having a 1,000-yard season.
On top of the offense, the Aggie’s defense is fast off the edge and can get to the quarterback quickly.
With last week’s loss, the Aztecs missed their chance to remain bowl-eligible. This year’s seniors now have two more games in their college football careers. Despite not having a bowl game opportunity, the team is still fighting hard.
“I don’t think so,” Lewis quickly stated to shoot down the intrigue if there is a lack of motivation now that they aren’t bowl-eligible. “I think there’s the external motivation that’s always going to be there for various factors in all areas of their life. But if you commit to something, you decide to do something early in the year, and you say that you’re going to be something, and that’s a testament to our process and being the best that we can be day in and day out and improving and competing day in and day out. That’s who you’re going to be. You’re committed to doing that. And so regardless of the external factors that are out there, we said that we’re going to be that early in the year when things were fine. There was no good or bad to it. If we said that, then let’s be committed to that as we continue to go forward.”
Key to the game: Slow down the Aggies offense
Utah State does a good job of spreading the ball around between its skill players on offense, and that game plan has enabled them to move the ball well.
Seven different players have receiving touchdowns for for the Aggies, with five having three or more. The numbers are similar in their rushing attack. Five players have rushing touchdowns. Four of them have at least two.
USU is coming off a 55-10 win over Hawai’i. Their defense produced five interceptions. The offense was rolling as Petras threw for 255 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions, and Faison rushed for 191 yards and two touchdowns.
“They did a great job competing, fighting, and being opportunistic, generating the turnovers,” Lewis said about the Aggies’ most recent performance. “Anytime that you score 55 points, you’re doing some things right. We’ve seen a ton of them throughout the course of the season on crossover tape.”
“Their quarterback, Spencer Petras, has unbelievable arm talent and does a really good job spreading the football around. They got dynamic playmakers in all three phases. They’ve won two of their last three. They’re a very, very dangerous opponent and a worthy competitor, and we’re looking forward to going up there and competing.”
Petras is the offense’s leader, and stopping USU’s attack starts with getting to the quarterback.
SDSU has recorded at least two sacks in eight out of ten games this season. Their ability to get to the quarterback has been key, and they will need to continue to do so this week.
SDSU’s defense will have to be on top of it with this offense and play well all around to hold Utah State to as few points as possible. This task will be very important to allow the Aztec offense to put up enough points to win the game.
The Red and Black defense has surrendered an average of 28.3 points per game compared to their offense which has scored 21.6 points per game. Not only does the defense have to do its job, but the Aztec offense must score consistently throughout for SDSU to have a chance.
Player to watch: Rahsul Faison
Faison will be the player to keep an eye on this game. He can get the tough yards but also bust free and take it the distance. He did that in the team’s last win against Hawai’i, where he had two 37-yard touchdown runs.
He is a tough runner and dominates the number of carries for his team with 177. He has amassed 991 yards and eight touchdowns. His tough running style earns him an average of 5.6 yards per carry.
“Just his consistency, week in and week out,” Lewis described of what makes Faison good. “Anytime that you can eclipse that 1,000-yard mark, you’re doing things the right way. He’s got good natural vision. He’s got good balance. He uses his offhand really, really well and creates good yards after contact.”
The offense relies on his success rushing, which opens up the passing game. The Aztecs have continued to struggle against the run this season, giving up an average of 188.9 rushing yards per game.
If Faison can find the tiniest holes, he can make the defense pay. Stopping him will start with the front of the SDSU defense, as they will have to win the battle at the line of scrimmages to disrupt the running lanes for Faison. The linebackers must then plug holes and tackle on first contact to prevent big plays. If he can break free in the open field, the secondary will have to be quick to make contact, as he can get up to full speed in the blink of an eye.
Faison is third in the conference in most rushing categories behind two great backs, Ashton Jeanty and Marquez Cooper.
Although Utah State ranks seventh in rushing in the Mountain West, the run game sets up the rest of the offense. Each time number three is in the backfield, the Aztecs will have eyes on him as well as the fans in the stands.
Fun Facts:
– Marquez Cooper is 82 rushing yards away from 5,000. If he passes that mark this week, he would jump into the top 25 for all-time rushing yards in NCAA history.
– SDSU is 5-0 all-time when playing at Utah State.
– Both San Diego State and Utah State will play in the PAC-12 conference beginning in 2026.
– This is only the third meeting between the two schools in Logan since 1975.
Johnny is born and raised in San Diego and a diehard fan of all his hometown teams. He is an avid collector of sports memorabilia that help paint a picture of the history of sports in San Diego. He spends a lot of his time attending sports games across San Diego county and enjoys studying the history and spreading knowledge of San Diego’s diverse sports.