These 2025 Aztecs sure are something special. From the cellar of the conference last season, this group of SDSU football players have fought and stuck together all season long. Even before the opening snap vs Stony Brook, a group of dedicated seniors banded together to return for unfinished business.
Whether win or lose at this point they have achieved something no one outside of the athletics offices believed was doable.
And now, in two weeks San Diego State can possibly host a Mountain West Championship game in San Diego for the first time since 2015. Standing at 8-2 with two final games remaining in the season, an incredible turnaround is mere steps away from ascending to a championship reward.
Wednesday morning the national media took notice once again when Sean Lewis was named semifinalist to the George Munger coach of the year award. Out of the 20 teams that won three or fewer games last year, only San Diego State and Southern Miss are bowl eligible this year.
But awards are given at the end of the season and this team’s journey is not yet complete. The climb to the top of the mountain just got a whole lot trickier this past week when leading WR Jordan Napier was declared out for the remainder of the season.
The 6’2″ sophomore leads the Aztecs with 48 receptions for 629 yards (13.1 ypr) and two touchdowns. He also ran back as 75-yard kickoff for touchdown against Nevada earlier this season. Napier suffered a leg injury in last week’s victory over Boise State and will require surgery.
Proceeding that, just about a month ago the 2nd leading WR at the time, Jacob Bostick also suffered a season ending injury. QB1 Jayden Denegal has been battling upper body injury issues—showing great leadership in his toughness. But let’s admit it, the passing game has still held major inconsistencies all season long.
For an offense that has been deficient in the passing game (currently ranked 10th out of 12 teams) Lewis’ AztecFast brand of football just can’t catch a break. But this season’s turnaround has been primarily defensive driven to say the least. A top-5 ranked scoring defense in the nation at times has saved this Aztecs team.
The offense has been powered by a giant line and a smash-mouthed rushing attack that is dynamic in it’s own right. It will be fascinating to see how Coach Lewis steers the play-calling against the final two opponents San Jose State and conference contender New Mexico, knowing a championship game is almost a for sure thing.
Could Lewis select more plays in the T-Formation moving forward? Could QB2 Bert Emmanuel Jr. get some major reps as a runner to help Denegal get some rest and heal up?
Could the backup WR’s play big in Napier & Bostick’s absence, stepping up with more available reps? Will highly rated UCLA transfer WR Jerry McClure actually get opportunities? And will anyone dare ask Lewis the question where he has been this whole season?
We will find out beginning tonight vs San Jose State. Lewis’ offense will face the Spartans brand new interim Defensive Coordinator Bojay Filimoeatu who last served at SDSU under Coach Lewis’ staff a year ago.
Will this help or hurt the Aztecs chances of beating their in-state rival for the last time as co-members of the Mountain West? Not sure. But with all things considered, if these Aztecs achieve their Mountain West Championship game over all these challenges, Lewis would surely get my vote for the prestigious Coach of the Year Award.
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