Seven wins with one loss and six straight victories. And still, the San Diego State Aztecs can’t break into the Top 25.
Despite sitting alone atop the Mountain West standings, Sean Lewis' team was once again left outside the national rankings in Week 11. The polls show slow progress, just not enough for the recognition the Aztecs deserve.
In the latest Associated Press Top 25 College Football poll, San Diego State earned 30 points, more than double last week’s total, good enough for what would effectively be No. 29 in the nation. The Aztecs appeared on 13 of 66 ballots, with their highest ranking No. 15 coming from Stephen Means of Cleveland.com.
The Coaches Poll told the same story: 30 points, unchanged from a week earlier. That leaves the Aztecs as the only Mountain West team still receiving votes. Boise State, which began the year ranked No. 25, and UNLV, once a fringe presence in the polls, have both vanished after recent losses.
Lewis speaks on big victory
San Diego State’s latest victory — a 24-7 win over Wyoming — was a showcase of control
and discipline. The Aztecs forced four turnovers and leaned on Lucky Sutton, who ran for
a career-high 158 yards. The performance not only pushed SDSU to 7–1 overall and 4–0 in conference play, it also strengthened Lewis’s argument for national respect.
“How many 7–1 teams are there in the country?” Lewis asked reporters after the game. “At this point, we’re not talking about preseason expectations. The resume speaks for itself. We’re one of the best teams in the country.” He’s not wrong. Of the 16 teams nationwide with one loss or fewer, San Diego State is the only one unranked. A statistic that shows the gap between results and recognition.
The weekend’s results reshaped the Mountain West race. Defending champion Boise State
was blown out at home by Fresno State, 30-7, suffering its first conference loss and
surrendering sole control of the league lead. That left San Diego State standing alone on top and in firm control of its destiny. Boise State’s tumble only heightens the contrast: the Broncos began the year in the Top 25, but SDSU, with a better record and stronger resume, still can’t crack it.
Aztecs' future path
The Aztecs’ push for validation continues with a Saturday night trip to Hawaii (6-3, 3-2 MWC), followed by a home showdown with Boise State on Nov. 15. After that, they’ll face San Jose State and New Mexico to close out the regular season. Four games that could
define the program’s national perception.
San Diego State hasn’t been ranked since 2021, when it finished 12–2 and ended the year
No. 25 in the final AP poll. This season’s version feels eerily similar. A veteran defense, a
balanced offense, and a growing belief that something bigger is brewing.
If the Aztecs keep winning, the voters may soon have to stop overlooking them. Because
at this rate, the only numbers that matter aren't in the polls. It’s on the scoreboard.
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