The Aztecs look to bounce back from a 3-9 season with high hopes of achieving a Mountain West Conference title.
SAN DIEGO — San Diego State football returns to Snapdragon Stadium on Thursday when the Aztecs take on Stony Brook.
In head coach Sean Lewis’ first season, the program went 3-9 as they slid in the back half of the season, losing six straight games. This season, there are high hopes to achieve a Mountain West Conference championship.
Their first opponent is a preseason top 25 FCS team. Lewis said his team is not underestimating his opponent, with them not being a Division I team. He said this team will take no opportunity for granted.
“Every single day we have been back since January 20, 2025, up until this Thursday, have mattered truly,” he said in a press conference on Monday. “But there are only 12 days that count. If you can’t get excited about that, I’m getting goosebumps right now, and I don’t even get to play. If I stepped in between the white lines, it would be a 15-yard penalty, and nobody in the program is worth that. Regardless of who it happens to be, this week it is Stony Brook, and they are a great program, but it’s about the Aztecs. And the Aztecs [are] taking care of the Aztecs and doing things the right way to our standard every single play.”
With the team coming off a 3-9 record, the question was brought up whether Lewis thinks the team could make a bowl game. He firmly believes they can and will achieve more. He is looking at himself and how he does things to help improve this team in his second season as head coach.
“If I’m not different, if I’m not better, and I’m not improving, then I’m a fraud,” Lewis said.
The Aztecs named Jayden Denegal their starting quarterback heading into the season. Denegal has not started a game at the collegiate football level and comes in as a transfer from Michigan, where he was the backup. On Aug. 13, the team made the official announcement that he would lead the Aztecs this season.
“He has done a really good job in dialing in to the details of the call,” Lewis said. “I equate it to a new father pilot, or so where they are trying to get their wings and get up there and figure out their own airplane, and you know their own mechanisms in the cockpit. As you progress and you learn, the height of what you can achieve is to be so dialed into the details that the Blue Angels call you, and you can operate with precision with them. Not saying JD [Jayden Denegal] is there yet, but he is closer to getting that call than learning how to turn the engines on.”
Aztec FAST remains a motto for this offense this season as they look to play quickly and have fun doing it. Lewis was asked how he instills that into this team, so that it creates success.
“We’ve positioned ourselves and acquired the talent and acquired the depth of talent we need to play and operate that level,” Lewis said. “I’m excited when you turn on the tape this year and see us on Thursday night, you say, ‘Oh, that’s what I saw, that looks like what I was excited about.’ I’m looking forward for our fanbase to see that as well, that those who miss out on Thursday night because they chose not to come, go, ‘You know what, damn, I tell you what, when they’re back in town against Cal, we need to be there.’ That needs to be the spot to be.”
The Aztecs take on Stony Brook on Thursday, Aug. 28, inside Snapdragon Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.