AZTECS’ 3RD-EVER FINISH IN AP TOP 25

They jump 3 spots with 12th win to join 2016, 1977 teams

San Diego State was ranked No. 25 on Tuesday in the final Associated Press top 25 poll, marking just the third time in program history SDSU was ranked in the season-ending poll.

SDSU also finished the 2016 season ranked No. 25 by the AP following an 11-3 season. The Aztecs were ranked 16th in the final poll in 1977 after a 10-1 year.

The Aztecs just missed the 25th spot in the final USA Today Coaches poll, finishing first among “others receiving votes,” which is the equivalent of 26th.

SDSU was 28th in both the AP and Coaches polls — and 24th in the College Football Playoff rankings — when the regular season concluded.

SDSU (12-2) defeated UTSA 38-24 on Dec. 21 in the Frisco Bowl, giving the Aztecs their school-record 12th victory of the season.

The team opened the season with seven straight victories before a 30-20 loss to Fresno State. SDSU’s only other defeat was a 46-13 loss to Utah State in the Mountain West championship game.

SDSU received 137 points in the final AP poll. Utah State was ranked No. 24 with 163 points. The Aggies and Aztecs replaced UTSA and Texas A&M in the rankings.

In the Coaches poll, the only team to drop out was No. 25 UTSA. The Roadrunners were replaced by Utah State, which checked in at No. 24, one spot ahead of Texas A&M, which dropped from No. 23.

SDSU debuted at No. 24 in that poll Oct. 10 and moved as high as No. 20 before dropping out after the loss to Fresno State.

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

They debuted at No. 25 during an off week that followed a stretch of four straight nonconference victories. Included were a pair of wins over Pac-12 foes — Arizona (38-14) and Utah (33-31, triple OT).

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