San Diego State Football: Aztecs looking to rebound, contend in 2019

San Diego State football collapsed down the stretch last year. Will the Aztecs be able to rebound in 2019 and reinsert themselves in the Mountain West race?

Last year, San Diego State looked like a Mountain West contender. Their high-water mark was ultimately their Nov. 3 victory over New Mexico, which proved to be the last win of the 2018 season for the Aztecs.

By the time November hit, Rocky Long’s squad could claim a Power Five statement win over Arizona State as well as a takedown of Boise State on the Smurf Turf. But a major collapse saw San Diego State lose its last four games and five of the last six. The 7-6 finish was tied for the worst record of Long’s eight-year tenure on the far southern end of California.

And yet it was not as though the Aztecs had a complete collapse. Three of the six San Diego State defeats came by a single score, including a 31-30 loss to Hawaii in overtime that capped a disappointing finish to the regular season.

In a wide-open MWC West race this season, the Aztecs hope that the breaks will go their way as they look to restore their spot atop the division. Keep reading as we break down the offense and defense before evaluating San Diego State’s schedule and projecting how the Aztecs might finish in 2019.