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Aztecs among ‘others receiving votes’ in preseason USA Today Coaches poll

San Diego State capped a school-record 12-win season with a 38-24 victory over UTSA in the 2021 Frisco Bowl.
(Sam Hodde / Associated Press)

San Diego State totals 25 points, which places the Aztecs 34th in initial poll, highest among Mountain West teams

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San Diego State will have to win its way into the top 25, just like the Aztecs did a year ago during a school-record 12-win season.

The preseason USA Today Coaches poll came out Monday and SDSU was listed among “others receiving votes,” getting 25 points for the equivalent of 34th in the poll.

It was the highest ranking among Mountain West teams, with Fresno State one spot behind after receiving 21 points. Utah State and Air Force were tied at 38th with 12 points apiece. Boise State was tied for 40th with 10 points.

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The top of the poll included the usual powerhouse schools: No. 1 Alabama (54 first-place votes), No. 2 Ohio State (5), No. 3 Georgia (6), No. 4 Clemson and No. 5 Notre Dame.

No. 6 Michigan, No. 7 Texas A&M, No. 8 Utah, No. 9 Oklahoma and No. 10 Baylor rounded out the top 10.

It was the highest preseason ranking in school history for Utah, which will host SDSU on Sept. 17. The Aztecs defeated Utah 33-31 in triple overtime last season at Carson’s Dignity Health Sports Park.

The preseason USA Today rankings included two Group of 5 schools: No. 22 Cincinnati and No. 25 Houston.

The Aztecs finished just outside the top 25 in the final 2021 USA Today poll, listed first among “others receiving votes,” the equivalent of 26th.

SDSU completed a 12-2 season last year with a 38-24 victory over UTSA in the 2021 Frisco Bowl.

The Aztecs return a dozen starters from that team and have added six players from the transfer portal who are expected to start.

The team’s biggest losses were punter Matt Araiza and defensive lineman Cameron Thomas, who both were selected in the 2022 NFL Draft.

The Aztecs were not among the 59 teams that received votes in last year’s USA Today preseason poll.

They debuted on Oct. 10 in the 2021 poll, ranking No. 24 after opening the season with five straight wins. SDSU moved as high as No. 20 before a loss to Fresno State in the eighth game of the season.

The coaches’ poll includes 65 FBS head coaches. Each submits a top 25, with first-place votes worth 25 points down to one point for the 25th spot.

This year’ s panel of voters includes eight of the 12 Mountain West coaches: Utah State’s Blake Anderson, UNLV’s Marcus Arroyo, San Jose State Brent Brennan, Air Force’s Troy Calhoun, New Mexico’s Danny Gonzales, SDSU’s Brady Hoke, Fresno State’s Jeff Tedford and Nevada’s Ken Wilson.

The Associated Press preseason top 25 poll will not be out until Aug. 15. The AP panel includes 62 sportswriters and sportscasters from across the country.

SDSU finished 25th in the final 2021 AP poll, marking the third time in school history the Aztecs were ranked to end the season (25th in 2016 and 16th in 1977).

The Aztecs spent a school-record eight weeks in the AP top 25 during the 2021 season.

They debuted on Oct. 3, joining the poll at No. 25 during an off week that followed a stretch of four straight nonconference victories.

The Aztecs rose as high as No. 21 in the AP poll before tumbling out of the rankings following the loss to Fresno State.

That same week, SDSU was ranked No. 24 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings. It was the first time the Aztecs had ever appeared in the CFP rankings.

SDSU, which moved as high as No. 19 over the next month, finished No. 24 in the final CFP rankings revealed Dec. 5 when bowl matchups were announced.

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