Aztecs shut out Fresno St., become bowl-eligible

What a difference a year can make.

After going 3-9 in their first season under head coach Sean Lewis, San Diego State has become a legitimate Mountain West Conference championship contender after Saturday’s 23-0 whipping of Fresno State, moving the Aztecs to 6-1. That all-important sixth win also means they’re already bowl-eligible for the first time since 2022.

Just about all the big plays belonged to the Aztecs. Running back Byron Cardwell had a 54-yard catch to set up a touchdown. Fellow back Lucky Sutton had a 46-yard burst, part of a career-high 131 yards on the ground while the longest offensive play of the day for the Bulldogs was just 14 yards because the story of the day was the SDSU defense.

The Aztecs picked off FSU quarterback Carson Conklin twice. Linebacker Tano Letuli sealed the deal in the 4th quarter when he took a pick back 31 yards for a touchdown. San Diego State is the only team in the country with three shutouts this year.

It really was an “all three phases” win, too. Kicker Gabe Plascencia hit three field goals, including a 50-yarder, running his streak to 25 straight made field goal tries. That’s the longest active streak in the nation and a program and conference record.

The Aztecs are back at Snapdragon Stadium next Saturday for a 4:00 p.m. kickoff against Wyoming.

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