Bobcats vs Aztecs on Saturday night brings Texas State (2-2) to Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego for a game against San Diego State (1-3), in the Aztecs’ first season in the Pac-12. San Diego State is trying to snap a three-game losing streak while a mumps outbreak and injuries thin its roster. The Bobcats arrive after blowout wins over North Texas and Incarnate Word. Can a depleted Aztecs defense slow Torrance Burgess Jr. and the Texas State ground game?
Bobcats vs Aztecs game information
- Date: Saturday, Oct. 3
- Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. PT (10:30 p.m. ET)
- Venue: Snapdragon Stadium, San Diego
- TV: The CW
- Weather: Sunny, with a high near 92 degrees at game time
How badly has the mumps outbreak hit San Diego State?
San Diego State confirmed 14 cases of mumps and one probable case within the football program as of Sept. 30, according to NBC 7 San Diego. The outbreak was first announced Sept. 18 with three confirmed and two probable cases. Our earlier report on the Aztecs mumps outbreak has more background.
Coach Sean Lewis declined to discuss which players are affected. “Due to FERPA, due to HIPAA and the respect and privacy of our student-athletes, I’m not going to say anything further about that matter,” Lewis said. The school is working with San Diego County Public Health Services on daily screenings and is offering MMR booster shots to close contacts.
Who carries the load at running back for San Diego State?
Running back Lucky Sutton is out, and Javion Kinnard is listed as doubtful after getting hurt in last week’s loss at Toledo, per Yahoo Sports. Guard Michael Levelle Watkins is also out. Kinnard rushed for 181 yards in the season-opening 53-20 win over Portland State, but the Aztecs ran for just 48 yards at Toledo.
Toledo beat San Diego State 41-16 and outgained the Aztecs 494-296 yards. San Diego State converted only 3 of 14 third downs. Quarterback Jayden Denegal threw for 206 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Toledo is also on our Toledo vs Ball State preview.
Can Texas State keep its offense rolling?
Burgess ranks fourth among FBS players with 537 rushing yards entering the game. He ran for 140 yards and a touchdown on nine carries in a 63-10 win over Incarnate Word, a game in which quarterback Brad Jackson went 17-of-20 for 244 yards and five touchdowns before being benched in the third quarter, per the Associated Press.
Texas State’s season began with a 59-7 loss at Texas and a 31-26 loss to UTSA, a team we covered in our UTSA vs Rice preview. The Bobcats then beat North Texas 49-35 and Incarnate Word 63-10 to even their record at 2-2.
Running back Davian Jackson, a Mississippi State transfer, scored Texas State’s only touchdown in the opener at Texas, according to Texas State athletics. He later scored four touchdowns in the 49-35 win over North Texas, and the Bobcats have not been held under 26 points since that opener. Jackson and Burgess give the Bobcats two options in the backfield, which is a lot for a defense missing healthy bodies in this Bobcats vs Aztecs game.
San Diego State’s slide since opening day
San Diego State’s lone win is the 53-20 victory over Portland State. The Aztecs then lost 28-10 at UCLA, 26-13 to James Madison and 41-16 at Toledo. They have not scored more than 16 points in any of the three losses.
What to watch
The Bobcats vs Aztecs matchup is a chance for Texas State to win a third straight game against a short-handed opponent. For San Diego State, a loss would drop the Aztecs to 1-4. The key matchup in Bobcats vs Aztecs is simple: whether a makeshift Aztecs defense can stop the Bobcats’ running game.
