Can San Diego Aztecs Football Reclaim Their Championship Glory This Season?
I remember the first time I walked into Snapdragon Stadium on a crisp autumn afternoon last season, watching the San Diego Aztecs struggle against a Mountain West opponent they should have handled easily. The energy felt different from what longtime fans described from the championship years—less electric, more uncertain. As someone who's followed college football for over two decades, I've developed a sixth sense for when programs are on the verge of something special, and honestly, I wasn't feeling it that day. But something shifted during the offseason that's made me reconsider my initial skepticism. The question hanging over this program isn't just about winning games anymore—it's about whether they can recapture that championship DNA that made them feared throughout the conference.
Looking at their schedule, I count at least eight winnable games if they perform to their potential. Last season's 7-6 record doesn't tell the whole story—they lost three games by a combined 11 points, games that could have swung either way with slightly better execution in critical moments. Their defense returns 78% of their starters from a unit that ranked in the top 40 nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 22.3 points per game. Those numbers matter, but what I find more telling is the leadership development I've observed during spring practices. The team captains—quarterback Jalen Mayden and linebacker Cooper McDonald—have taken visible ownership of this squad in ways I haven't seen since the Rocky Long era. During a scrimmage I attended in April, I watched Mayden pull aside a freshman receiver who'd run the wrong route, not with frustration but with clear, patient instruction. That's the kind of player leadership that championship teams build around.
Offensively, there's reason for both excitement and concern. The Aztecs averaged just 24.1 points per game last season, ranking them 98th nationally—a number that simply won't cut it if they want to compete for conference titles. However, I'm genuinely excited about the new offensive coordinator Ryan Lindley's system. Having studied his play-calling tendencies from his time with the Cleveland Browns, I believe he'll incorporate more play-action and creative screen packages that leverage their talented running back corps. Speaking of which, Jaylon Armstead rushed for 887 yards last season despite missing nearly three games with an ankle injury—if he stays healthy, I'd put money on him breaking the 1,200-yard mark this year. The offensive line does worry me though—they allowed 31 sacks last season and lost two starters to graduation. During the Red-Black spring game, I noticed they were still struggling with stunts and delayed blitzes, something that needs fixing before conference play begins.
The Mountain West landscape has shifted significantly with Fresno State and Boise State both undergoing coaching changes. This creates a window of opportunity that the Aztecs absolutely must capitalize on. In my analysis, the conference is more wide-open than it's been in at least five years. The Aztecs' schedule sets up favorably with only three true road games in the first two months of the season, giving this relatively young team time to build confidence before the tougher November stretch. The October 14th matchup against Air Force will be the true litmus test—their triple-option offense has historically given the Aztecs fits, but with extra preparation time due to a bye week preceding that game, I like their chances more than I normally would.
Recruiting has quietly improved over the past two cycles, with the 2023 class ranking second in the Mountain West according to 247Sports. More importantly, they've landed key transfers who could contribute immediately—safety Cedarious Woods from Oregon State and wide receiver Jordan Napier from UCLA add much-needed depth to positions that were thin last season. I spoke with a scout from a rival program who told me off the record that the Aztecs' defensive backfield is "sneaky good" and could be among the best in the Group of Five conferences. That kind of respect from opponents matters when you're trying to rebuild a championship culture.
What ultimately separates good teams from great ones isn't just talent—it's the intangible belief that they can win close games against quality opponents. The 2022 team seemed to tense up in critical moments, playing not to lose rather than to win. From what I've observed during fall camp, the mentality has shifted. There's more swagger, more accountability, and frankly, more joy in their preparation. Head coach Brady Hoke has emphasized finishing every practice with "clutch periods"—situational drills specifically designed for high-pressure moments. During one such drill I witnessed last month, the first-team offense executed a perfect two-minute drill against the starting defense, culminating in a 35-yard touchdown pass as time expired. The entire team erupted in a way that felt different from the obligatory celebrations I've seen in previous years.
The path back to championship contention won't be easy, and I'm not suggesting they'll go undefeated. But having watched this program through its ups and downs, I genuinely believe this could be the season they reclaim their place among the Mountain West elite. The pieces are there—experienced leadership, defensive stability, an improving offense, and a favorable conference landscape. More importantly, the mindset appears to have shifted in ways that statistics can't fully capture. When I spoke with Coach Hoke last week, he told me something that stuck with me: "Championships aren't won in November—they're won in January through August when nobody's watching." That understanding of the process, combined with the talent they've assembled, makes me believe the answer to whether they can reclaim their glory isn't just possible—it's probable.