Better know a nonconference opponent: San Diego State
9:03 PM PT
We continue to look at some of the marquee nonconference games involving Pac-12 teams in 2016. Today we'll look at San Diego State.
Opponent: California at SDSU (Saturday, Sept. 10)
Star players: RB Donnel Pumphrey, CB Damontae Kazee, LB Calvin Munson, DE Alex Barrett, WR Mikah Holder, KR Rashaad Penny, OL Nico Siragusa.
Davis Webb. But they still need to develop the receiving corps. An out-of-the-norm season opener in Australia against Hawaii won’t give the Bears much of a tune-up before traveling to San Diego (though 14 days in between games will help). With the Pac-12 North only getting tougher, the Bears will need to stockpile wins early if they hope to go bowling for two a second straight year.
Offseason storyline: Riding a 10-game winning streak -- the second-longest active FBS streak in the country -- the Aztecs are regarded by many as the team du jour to represent the Group of 5 in a New Year's Six bowl game. Pumphrey (1,653 yards, 17 touchdowns last season) is the Mountain West’s defending offensive MVP and is being touted as a Heisman dark horse. Kazee, the league’s reigning defensive MVP, hauled in eight interceptions last season, which was tied for second nationally. This is not the same SDSU team that was blown out, 35-7, by the Bears last season in Berkeley. (Neither is Cal, for that matter). Head coach Rocky Long -- once a miracle worker in New Mexico -- has taken the bones of what Brady Hoke molded prior to leaving for Michigan and built the Aztecs into a legitimate threat to most Power 5 teams.
What’s at stake for California? After posting eight wins in 2015 and returning to the postseason after a three-year drought, California is going to need every win it can get for a repeat bowl appearance. By now we all know the Bears have to replace quarterback Jared Goff, the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft. They think they have single-season duct tape in transfer Davis Webb. But they still need to develop the receiving corps. An out-of-the-norm season opener in Australia against Hawaii won’t give the Bears much of a tune-up before traveling to San Diego (though 14 days in between games will help). With the Pac-12 North only getting tougher, the Bears will need to stockpile wins early if they hope to go bowling for two a second straight year.
What’s at stake for San Diego State? If the Aztecs are what the prognosticators say they are -- a top 25 team with NY6 potential -- then 2016 could be the best year in school history. They already matched the school record for wins last season with 11. If they are going to challenge Houston and/or Boise State as the top team out of the Group of 5, they are going to need to build up their resume. Cal is the only Power 5 program SDSU sees this year and, if the Aztecs will only face Boise State if both teams reach the Mountain West title game. That could make for an interesting scenario if both teams have NY6 credentials. But to get to that point, the Aztecs will need a quality win over a Pac-12 opponent.
9:03 PM PT
We continue to look at some of the marquee nonconference games involving Pac-12 teams in 2016. Today we'll look at San Diego State.
Opponent: California at SDSU (Saturday, Sept. 10)
Star players: RB Donnel Pumphrey, CB Damontae Kazee, LB Calvin Munson, DE Alex Barrett, WR Mikah Holder, KR Rashaad Penny, OL Nico Siragusa.
Davis Webb. But they still need to develop the receiving corps. An out-of-the-norm season opener in Australia against Hawaii won’t give the Bears much of a tune-up before traveling to San Diego (though 14 days in between games will help). With the Pac-12 North only getting tougher, the Bears will need to stockpile wins early if they hope to go bowling for two a second straight year.
Offseason storyline: Riding a 10-game winning streak -- the second-longest active FBS streak in the country -- the Aztecs are regarded by many as the team du jour to represent the Group of 5 in a New Year's Six bowl game. Pumphrey (1,653 yards, 17 touchdowns last season) is the Mountain West’s defending offensive MVP and is being touted as a Heisman dark horse. Kazee, the league’s reigning defensive MVP, hauled in eight interceptions last season, which was tied for second nationally. This is not the same SDSU team that was blown out, 35-7, by the Bears last season in Berkeley. (Neither is Cal, for that matter). Head coach Rocky Long -- once a miracle worker in New Mexico -- has taken the bones of what Brady Hoke molded prior to leaving for Michigan and built the Aztecs into a legitimate threat to most Power 5 teams.
What’s at stake for California? After posting eight wins in 2015 and returning to the postseason after a three-year drought, California is going to need every win it can get for a repeat bowl appearance. By now we all know the Bears have to replace quarterback Jared Goff, the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft. They think they have single-season duct tape in transfer Davis Webb. But they still need to develop the receiving corps. An out-of-the-norm season opener in Australia against Hawaii won’t give the Bears much of a tune-up before traveling to San Diego (though 14 days in between games will help). With the Pac-12 North only getting tougher, the Bears will need to stockpile wins early if they hope to go bowling for two a second straight year.
What’s at stake for San Diego State? If the Aztecs are what the prognosticators say they are -- a top 25 team with NY6 potential -- then 2016 could be the best year in school history. They already matched the school record for wins last season with 11. If they are going to challenge Houston and/or Boise State as the top team out of the Group of 5, they are going to need to build up their resume. Cal is the only Power 5 program SDSU sees this year and, if the Aztecs will only face Boise State if both teams reach the Mountain West title game. That could make for an interesting scenario if both teams have NY6 credentials. But to get to that point, the Aztecs will need a quality win over a Pac-12 opponent.
