San Diego State’s final night as a Mountain West Conference member was fittingly a high-scoring, back-and-forth bowl game that reflected both the resilience and frustration that defined the Aztecs’ 12-year run in the league. In a 49-47 loss to North Texas in the New Mexico Bowl, SDSU officially closed its Mountain West chapter before departing for the reconstituted Pac-12 next season.
The Aztecs fell just short of a 10-win season, something that would have marked the 10th such campaign in program history. Instead, the loss serves as the final entry in an era built on defensive toughness, consistent bowl appearances, and near-misses at the conference’s highest level.
San Diego State joined the Mountain West in 2013 and quickly became one of its most reliable programs. Over the years, the Aztecs claimed division titles, won the 2015 conference championship, produced All-Conference and Player of the Year honorees, and made bowl games a near annual expectation. While a conference crown often proved elusive, SDSU established itself as a perennial contender.
Saturday’s game mirrored much of that history.
North Texas struck early behind freshman quarterback Drew Mestemaker, scoring on its opening drive and building a 21-6 first-quarter lead. SDSU responded behind quarterback Bert Emmanuel Jr., who powered the Aztecs with his legs, including a 75-yard touchdown run that briefly shifted momentum.
However, the game and SDSU’s final Mountain West appearance took a turn late in the first half when Emmanuel Jr. Exited with a shoulder injury. With the season, game, and era suddenly hanging in the balance, third-string quarterback Kyle Crum stepped in, symbolizing the transition already underway for the program.
Crum helped keep SDSU afloat, finding tight end Jackson Ford on fourth down for a touchdown before halftime to make it 28-20. Still, North Texas widened the gap to 42-20 entering the fourth quarter.
True to the identity SDSU forged in the Mountain West, the Aztecs refused to fold.
Crum scored twice on the ground, and a 63-yard kick return touchdown by Nathan Acevedo sparked a furious comeback that cut the deficit to eight. Even after another Mean Green score, SDSU continued to fight, scoring with one second left to cap a wild finish.
While the final score didn’t favor the Aztecs, the effort felt like a final reflection of their Mountain West legacy, tough, relentless, and competitive until the very end. Now, San Diego State turns the page, carrying the standard built over 12 years into a new conference and a new era.
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