San Diego State Aztecs are counting down the days to their 2026 football season opener, a clash with Portland State that will kick off in just ten days.
A New Era Under Coach White
The recent practice session was marked by the thumping beats of 1990s hip‑hop and mid‑80s temperatures, a combination that left the players sweating but energized.
At the heart of the team’s preparation is a revamped linebacker corps that finished the 2025 campaign among the nation’s top 25 in sacks, tackles for loss and forced turnovers, a unit now guided by veteran coach Scott White, whose stints at UCLA helped shape players such as Carson Schwesinger, Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks.
Linebacker Tano Letuli, the first three‑time Aztec captain since Kevin O’Connell’s four‑year run as Vikings head coach, has already drawn praise for his 30‑tackle season, a 31‑yard interception return and four quarterback hurries, while Sione Hala, a preseason All‑Pac‑12 selection and watch‑list candidate for the Polynesian Player of the Year, is expected to anchor the defense.
Coach White stresses depth, a stout run defense and the need to ‘layer, pursue and tackle’ with precision, and the Aztecs will test those principles against a slate that includes James Madison, Texas State, Fresno State, Washington State and Utah State. Season tickets are now on sale at reduced rates, with prices starting at $175, aiming to draw the local fan base into the action.