Game Preview: San Diego State Aztecs at Colorado State Rams
Credit: PJ Panebianco/EVT Sports
Game Details
Date: Saturday, October 24, 2026
Time: 3:30 pm PT
Channel: CW
Betting Line: SDSU -1.5, O/U 62.5 (FanDuel)
Location: Canvas Stadium (Fort Collins, CO)
Records: SDSU 3-4 (2-1), CSU 2-4 (0-2)
Series: SDSU 23-15
The Aztecs aim to ride the momentum from their last-minute win against Fresno State in Fort Collins this week and achieve their first road victory. The Rams are one of two winless teams in Pac-12 play (Washington State).
“Lots to improve upon as we look at the tape but there’s momentum in the building again, and we need to do a great job building off that momentum as we go,” said head coach Sean Lewis on Monday.
Colorado State has battled some turmoil in its first year under head coach Jim Mora. During a game against Oregon State on October 3rd, defensive coordinator Tyson Summers was relieved of playcalling duties during the first half and decided to leave the field. Mora announced after the game (56-26 loss) that Summers was no longer on the staff. Kenny McClendon was appointed the defensive playcalling duties.
The season started well for the Rams, winning their first two games against Wyoming and Southern Utah by a combined score of 93-42. They have not won a game since, including two blowout losses in conference play to Oregon State and Texas State in which they surrendered 122 points.
Saturday is the 39th meeting between the two schools but first as members of the Pac-12. The Aztecs beat the Rams 45-24 at Snapdragon Stadium last year and have won 11 of the last 14 meetings.
When SDSU has the ball
The Aztecs improved to 87th in rush offense after last week’s performance and bumped slightly up to 133rd (out of 138) in total offense. It is still a work in progress for Lewis and the offense heading into the eighth game of year three.
The status of starting QB Jayden Denegal, who sustained a right lower leg injury on Saturday, remains a mystery. Denegal was listed as questionable on Thursday night’s availability report. Stone Saunders replaced Denegal for the remainder of the game, completing 6 of 11 passes for 62 yards and leading the drive that led to the game-winning field goal by Cooper DiLeva.
The two men on the left side of the offensive line are also dealing with injuries and are listed as questionable. LT Joe Borjon was injured on Saturday but returned to the game, while LG Kalan Ellis has been banged up all season.
The return of RB Lucky Sutton also sparked the Aztecs. His 67-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter was the ignition for the ten points scored by the offense in the quarter after being held scoreless in the third.
The Rams defense has been one of the worst in FBS this season, contributing greatly to their four-game losing streak. They are last in rush defense (274.33 ypg) and total defense (530.33) out of 138 teams.
They have, however, forced turnovers at a high rate, intercepting seven passes and recovering five fumbles in only six games. The 12 turnovers are 14th best in the country, and their +1.33 turnover margin is sixth.
CJ Blocker (3) and Oumar Diomande (2) lead the way in picks. Diomande has also recovered one of the five fumbles and leads the team with 54 tackles. The Rams only have seven sacks as a team.
When CSU has the ball
The Rams offense has been explosive at times this season, averaging nearly 36 ppg (29th) and amassing 445.33 ypg (34th).
QB Hauss Hejny started the season’s first three games, throwing for 619 yards and ten touchdowns before an injury kept him out of the last three. His replacement, Ksaan Farrar, threw for 931 yards and five touchdowns. Mora announced Hejny is healthy and expected to start against the Aztecs.
The Rams are second in FBS with ten plays from scrimmage for at least 50 yards. Only Louisville has more such plays.
“They’re going to throw some new formations at you,” Lewis said about the Rams’ offense. “They’re going to throw some new concepts at you that you haven’t necessarily seen. We got to do a really good job again, communicating through all that.”
Mel Brown leads the team with 431 rushing yards. Durell Robinson’s 297 rushing yards are second on the team, but his six rushing touchdowns are first.
Three different receivers have four touchdowns for the Rams. Reginald Vick, Jr (24 rec, 367 yds) and Terrence Smith (19 rec, 284 yds) are two of the top pass-catchers, while Nader Chirchi has turned four of his five receptions into scores.
Lewis described Vick, Jr. as “an explosive threat” and the two backs as “dynamic guys.”
The Aztecs defense put in its best performance of the season after they had seen themselves drop to the bottom of the FBS rankings. They are still near the bottom, but hope that the performance against the Bulldogs is a sign of things to come.
“We played to our standard,” said Lewis on Monday about the defense’s performance. “We know what we’re capable of doing. Guys are doing a better job winning the pre-snap process, like we talked about last week, where that was a big part of what we’re in command of, or what we’re in control of, to be able to do that better, to get our cleats in the ground, to be tied together. …I thought the guys did a great job straining and winning at the point of attack.”
EDGE Kai Wallin recorded the first three sacks of his career against the Bulldogs and was named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week.
Two names that popped up on the availability report and are listed as questionable are LB Tano Letuli and DT Malachi Finau.
Avid sports fan and historian of basketball, baseball, football and soccer. UC San Diego and San Diego State alumni living in America’s Finest City. Diverse team following across multiple sports leagues, but Aztecs come first in college athletics.