Utah State (9-3) vs. No. 19 San Diego State (11-1)
- Kickoff: Saturday, 1 p.m. MDT
- Venue: Dignity Health Sports Park (27,000 capacity)
- TV: Fox
- Livestream: Fox
- Radio: KSL Sports/The Zone
- Series: San Diego State leads the all-time series between the two sides 13-2, including a win in the most recent meeting in 2020. Utah State won in 2019, snapping a 10-game win streak in the series for the Aztecs.
- Weather: Sunny with temperatures in the low to mid-60s at kickoff.
THE TRENDS
For Utah State ... The Aggies enter Saturday having won six of their last seven games. This is their second MWC championship game appearance in program history. They lost to Fresno State in 2013.
For San Diego State ... The Aztecs have won four games in a row after dropping a late October contest to Fresno State. Before that, San Diego State won six games in a row to start the campaign. They are playing in their third MWC title game in program history but first since 2016.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR
This game could prove to be fascinating given that each side has pretty drastically different extreme strengths.
The Aztecs, for example, are second in the country in run defense, giving up just 78.7 yards per contest. The Aggies, though, are 15th in the country in passing yards per game.
Which side will be able to do what it’s best at?
KEY PLAYER
Cameron Thomas, DL, San Diego State: The junior is tied for 12th in the country in sacks on the season with 10.5. There have only been two games this season in which he has
QUOTABLE
“The only thing I know is that (Utah State coach) Blake (Anderson) has got a heck of a football team. They got good-looking guys. You watch the film — they’re athletic up front, they’re big on both sides of the ball. To me, they’ve done an unbelievable job.” — San Diego State coach Brady Hoke on Utah State
“I’m not sure anybody expected us to be here, but our guys are excited, as am I. Huge challenge to find a way to beat a team as well-built and well-coached as San Diego State ... we don’t want to be satisfied with being there. We want to find a way to win it. These opportunities are rare, and considering what we’ve come through and what has happened here the last year-and-a-half, two years, we feel very fortunate to be in this game, and we want to maximize every ounce of it and find a way to win this game.” — Utah State coach Blake Anderson
NEXT UP
Both teams will await their bowl matchups, which will be announced on Sunday. The winner of Saturday’s game is expected to face a Pac-12 Conference opponent in the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl.
UTAH STATE SCHEDULE
Sept. 4 — Utah State 26, Washington State 23
Sept. 10 — Utah State 48, North Dakota 24
Sept. 18 — Utah State 49, Air Force 45
Sept. 25 — Boise State 27, Utah State 3
Oct. 1 — BYU 34, Utah State 20
Oct. 9 — Bye
Oct. 16 — Utah State 28, UNLV 24
Oct. 22 — Utah State 26, Colorado State 24
Oct. 30 — Utah State 51, Hawaii 31
Nov. 6 — Utah State 35, New Mexico State 13
Nov. 13 — Utah State 48, San Jose State 17
Nov. 20 — Wyoming 44, Utah State 17
Nov. 26 — at New Mexico (11 a.m., FS1)
Dec. 4 — vs. San Diego State (1 p.m., Fox)
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