San Diego State Football: Aztecs surge back to top of MWC in 2018

The Aztecs failed to win a third straight Mountain West title in 2017. Can San Diego State football rebound to reclaim the conference crown this season?

Since taking over for Brady Hoke in 2011, Rocky Long has turned San Diego State into a perennial Mountain West powerhouse. In seven seasons with Long at the helm, the Aztecs have won three conference crowns. After going 8-5 in his first season and finishing fourth in the MWC West, Long’s teams have finished either first or second in the division every year since.

It isn’t that surprising, though. Long was a better coach than he gets credit for at New Mexico, and he left on his own terms. He spent a decade steadily building up the Lobos, but they plateaued and Long decided to seek out other opportunities after one 4-8 season. That brought him to southern California, where he spent two years as Hoke’s defensive coordinator before taking over the head job in 2011.

Last year the Aztecs failed to reach the Mountain West championship game to defend their title. Missing out on the three-peat opportunity was disappointing, but San Diego State still won 10 games for the third straight year. Long has generated a level of consistency that had been missing in San Diego.

Can San Diego State return to the top of the Mountain West in 2018? There are going to be some challenges to overcome both internally and on the schedule, but the Aztecs should contend once again. Let’s break down the offense and defense before looking at San Diego State’s calendar and prospects for the upcoming season.