Aztecs picked for second place in West Division of Mountain West
San Diego State was picked for second place behind Fresno State in the West Division of the Mountain West for the season straight season.
(Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune)
By Kirk Kenney
LAS VEGAS —
For the second straight year, the San Diego State football team was picked to finish second in the West Division of the Mountain West in a preseason poll announced Tuesday at the conference's annual media days.
Two-time defending West Division champion Fresno State was picked to win the West, getting 17 of 21 first-place votes. The Aztecs received three first-place votes and the other one went to Hawaii.
Boise State was picked for first place in the Mountain Division for the sixth straight year, receiving 15 first-place votes. Utah State received the other six first-place votes and was picked for second place.
SDSU is looking to rebound from a disappointing 2018 season in which it lost five of its last six games to finish 7-6 overall and 4-4 in conference. Three losses in the Aztecs' last four conference games dropped them to fourth place in the West. It was SDSU's lowest finish in the division since 2011, Rocky Long's first season as head coach.
The Aztecs open the season Aug. 31 at home against Weber State and begin conference play Sept. 21 at home against Utah State. SDSU returns seven starters on offense, including senior quarterback Ryan Agnew and senior running back Juwan Washington, and four starters on defense, led by senior linebacker Kyahva Tezino. Redshirt freshman Matt Araiza replaces place-kicker John Baron II, who graduated following one of the most successful careers in the program history.
"Those are just predictions and predictions can go either way," said Tezino, who joined Washington and SDSU head coach Rocky Long at the event. "We just try to stay true to ourselves, play our game, play tough and go out there each game and play our best."
Added Washington: "We weren't expecting anything more than that, especially with the way we ended last year. Even to be picked second is an honor. It's the preseason, so we've got room to improve. Championships aren't going to be won in August. So we're focused on getting better throughout the season and being the best team we can be."
Fresno State won the West last season with a 7-1 record that included a 23-14 home win over the Aztecs. The Bulldogs, who return 12 starters, went on to beat Boise State in the Mountain West championship game. Boise State also went 7-1 in conference last season to win the Mountain. SDSU handed Boise State its only conference loss, beating the Broncos 19-13 in Boise. Boise State returns 14 starters, although it will have to replace quarterback Brett Rypien, the conference's Offensive Player of the Year last season.
The winners of the Mountain and West divisions meet for the 2019 Mountain West championship on Dec. 7.
Hear from Aztecs head football coach Rocky Long as San Diego State prepares to start the 2019 season.
2018 Mountain West preseason poll
1. Fresno State (17 first-place votes) — 122
2. San Diego State (3) — 106
3. Nevada — 74
4. Hawaii (1) — 67
5. UNLV — 51
6. San Jose State — 21
MOUNTAIN DIVISION
1. Boise State (15) — 120
2. Utah State (6) — 108
3. Air Force — 73
4. Wyoming — 66
5. Colorado State — 52
6. New Mexico — 22
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