San Diego State is headed to the New Mexico Bowl to play No. 25 North Texas in a game matching SDSU’s highly-regarded defense against a team leading the nation in scoring with 44.8 points a game.
It will be the seventh meeting between the teams, but the first since 1975, when they play in Albuquerque on Dec. 27. The Aztecs are 6-1 all-time against North Texas (11-2), which lost to Tulane 34-21 in the American Conference championship game over the weekend.
The Aztecs have an opportunity to reach 10 wins for only the 13th time in the program’s 105-year history, and the first time since winning a school-record 12 games in 2021.
SDSU turned last year’s 3-9 record into 9-3 this season during its second season under coach Sean Lewis. The team’s regular-season finale, an overtime loss to New Mexico, was played at University Stadium, the site of the New Mexico Bowl.
Lewis said during the week he was eager to learn the Aztecs’ bowl destination and dive into preparations for the game.
“I’m excited to take them through that phase of postseason play and teach them how to work really, really hard,” Lewis said, “but then go to a place where probably a lot of our guys have never been and balance a little bit of fun with the work that needs to get done and have it be part reward, yet business trip.
“Once that game is done, I’ve done this enough times, you call them up one last time in that postgame locker room after the last opportunity and that group of individuals that had such a special season, you break it down one last time on family and then …”
Lewis gestured with his hands to represent how everyone goes their separate ways.
“Guys break down their lockers,” he said, “and guys start their lives and guys go into the NFL and guys go pro in something other than sport. … Just having more time around these guys is really special.”
This is the 21st bowl appearance in school history for the Aztecs, who are 10-10 all-time in bowl games. They have been to the New Mexico Bowl one other time, beating Central Michigan 48-11 in the 2019 game.
North Texas opened the season with five straight victories before losing to South Florida, then reeled off six more victories to reach the American Conference championship game.