San Diego State baseball has secured at least a share of the regular season conference title this past weekend winning two of three in their final home series against visiting San Jose State. Sunday’s senior day/mother’s day 4-1 victory capped off one of the most remarkable turnarounds in recent program history.
In their final season in the Mountain West Conference before the move to the Pac-12, the Aztecs have transformed from a rebuilding roster into a championship contender.
The Aztecs under first year head coach Kevin Vance, stand currently at 32-20, 15-6 MW play. This season has marked their first conference regular season crown since 2023 and for added context just their 4th Mountain West regular season title all-time (2002, 2004, 2023).
Built on chemistry, belief, and a clubhouse identity that players themselves proudly describe as “a bunch of misfits”, they are positioned to secure the title outright during their final series on the road this week against UNLV.
At the center of the resurgence are brothers Jake Jackson and Ryan Jackson, whose performance and personalities embody the culture shift surrounding the program under first-year head coach Vance. The Aztecs’ rise has been powered by breakout performances, improved depth, and a loose but competitive environment that players say was evident almost immediately after the roster came together.
“I think it’s just the team chemistry,” Jake Jackson said. “From the first week we all met each other, we all gelled really fast, really quick. Our coaches still talk about it — they’ve never seen a team bond that fast.”
That chemistry has become visible well beyond the dugout. The Aztecs have developed one of the most energetic atmospheres in college baseball this season, complete with viral home run celebrations, constant dugout energy, and a growing fanbase at Tony Gwynn Stadium. Ryan Jackson, who has become a recognizable face through the team’s social media content, references the camaraderie extends far beyond the field.
“We always hang out together outside,” Ryan said. “I think that’s a big part of it too. We all love the same music, so that helps out a lot.”
The results followed quickly. SDSU entered the final stretch of the season atop the Mountain West standings at 13-5 in conference play while holding critical tiebreakers over multiple contenders. Along the way, the Aztecs earned statement victories against nationally ranked opponents, swept Fresno State on the road for the first time in program history during the Mountain West era, and positioned themselves for the No. 1 seed in the conference tournament.
For Jake Jackson, who returned to SDSU despite widespread roster turnover following last season, the decision now looks pivotal both personally and for the program’s future.
“There’s no place better than home,” Jackson said. “Coach Vance got announced, I met with him that day, and I think I committed two days later. I really liked what he was talking about.”
Jackson’s return helped anchor a lineup that has become dramatically more dangerous in 2026. After hitting just six combined home runs over the previous two seasons, he exploded into one of the conference’s top power hitters this spring while benefiting from a deeper and more balanced offense around him.
“When you have guys getting on base and guys hitting you in, it takes pressure off your shoulders,” he explained. “The guys around you make you great because they’re getting you up to hit, they’re hitting you in, giving you RBIs.”
The coaching staff also played a major role in unlocking that offensive growth. Jackson credited the staff’s individualized approach, including movement profiling and swing adjustments tailored to each player’s body mechanics, for simplifying his approach at the plate.
“You don’t have to think about it,” he said. “That’s always the best thing in baseball — thinking less.”
Beyond the statistical improvements, a collective mentality that helped fuel the Aztecs’ championship push has been crucial. During their late-season winning streak that reached 11-games, the team shifted its focus away from individual performance and toward a pitch-by-pitch mindset centered on playing for one another.
“I think everyone just started caring less about their individual stuff and truly playing for the guy next to him,” Jake said. “If a pitch happens and it’s not what you want, just move on and focus on the next one.”
That mentality was reinforced by veteran transfers from powerhouse programs, particularly former Oregon State Dawson Santana, Tyce Peterson, Jabin Trosky, Levi Jones, Anthony Marnell, Drew Talavs, and cross state former Oregon Duck, Zach Justice. They all brought a sense of postseason experience into the clubhouse.
Their presence helped establish a higher standard from the beginning of fall workouts. “They know what it takes to win,” Ryan said. “Ever since the fall, they kind of brought that mentality to the locker room.”
As the Aztecs close out the regular season and earned the share of the championship they prepare for the Mountain West tournament, the opportunity in front of them carries added significance. SDSU has a chance to leave the conference as champions before beginning a new era in the Pac-12, a fitting reward for a roster that embraced its underdog identity and turned it into one of the most entertaining seasons in recent memory.
“We’re a band of misfits,” Jake Jackson said. “Just a little group of misfits getting our groove back and balling out this year.”
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