Aztecs players and coaches have had to wait not one but two weeks to put some distance on a shutout loss to Nevada.
The 6-0 loss was just the second shutout in 213 games since the 2006 season.
Following a bye, SDSU (3-5, 1-3 Mountain West) finally can change the narrative Saturday afternoon against Utah State (3-5, 1-3).
The Aztecs are 2-point underdogs against the Aggies. Kickoff is 4 p.m. (Fox Sports 1) at Snapdragon Stadium.
Here are five things to watch:
1. Aztecs offense
The elephant in the stadium is an SDSU offense that failed to produce a point the last time the Aztecs took the field.
The home loss to Nevada, which had been allowing nearly 40 points a game, was called “embarrassing” this week by SDSU offensive coordinator Ryan Lindley.
Re-emphasis of fundamentals was the focus of last week’s workouts.
Using the bad taste left from the loss was among the suggestions to fuel this week’s performance.
The Aztecs also may be encouraged by this stat: Utah State has been outscored 105-17 in the first quarter this season, producing just two touchdowns and a field in the opening period.
Getting off to a fast start could be the key for an Aztecs victory because Utah State, which leads the Mountain West with the nation’s 21st-ranked scoring offense (35.2 ppg), has outscored opponents in every other quarter.
The Aggies hold a 265-167 scoring advantage across the other three periods.
2. Utah State’s QB
Utah State coach Blake Anderson said at the start of the week that he had not decided whether senior Cooper Legas (101-for-153, 1,338 yards, 13 TDs/6 INTs) or true freshman McCae Hillstead (69-for-119, 890 yards, 10 TDs/7 INTs) would be the Aggies’ starting quarterback.
If Anderson still is undecided, maybe he could borrow the referee’s coin after the pregame coin flip.
Both QBs have had their opportunities this season. Neither one has made the position his own, largely because both have tended to make turnovers.
Whether it is Legas or Hillstead, the starter will have a “short leash,” according to Anderson.
“They’re pretty similar,” SDSU coach Brady Hoke said. “They’re both, within the offense, they do a good job. They both can run, yes. Are they runners? Not as much, though they’ll find some places and get up in the pocket, and they scramble.
“We always go through how many scrambles a guy has when we look at tape. I don’t know that number, but it’s not like some other guys have had.”
3. Takeaways
Turnovers often tell the story, and both defenses have had their moments getting takeaways.
Utah State’s 16 takeaways (eight interceptions, eight fumble recoveries) leads the Mountain West and ranks 13th in the nation. It hasn’t been more impactful because the offense has 17 giveaways (13 interceptions).
The propensity for Utah State quarterbacks to get picked off plays into the hands of the Aztecs, who have nine interceptions this season.
One of the INTs was returned 70 yards for a touchdown by safety Deshawn McCuin, who returns this week after missing the Nevada game while under concussion protocol.
The Aztecs also have five fumble recoveries, giving them 14 takeaways in eight games.
Ten of the turnovers have come in SDSU’s three victories.
“One thing we’ve got to do a better job at is creating turnovers,” Hoke said. “We have not been consistent enough. We were earlier, but we have not been consistent enough at getting the ball back for the offense.”
4. Blanket coverage?
SDSU defensive backs face their biggest challenge of the season against Utah State’s receiving corps.
Junior Jalen Royals (43 catches, 707 yards, 10 TDs) and senior Terrell Vaughn (56 catches 639 yards, 8 TDs) make the Aggies one of only two teams in the nation — LSU is the other — with two receivers who have at least eight TD catches.
Royals’ is one score off the national lead.
Junior wide receiver Micah Davis (25 catches, 478 yards, 5 TDs) also is a threat for Utah State.
5. What a win means
Both teams are desperate for a victory to keep their bowl hopes alive.
SDSU has been bowl eligible a school-record 13 straight seasons. Utah State has been bowl eligible 10 of the past 12 years.
Saturday’s winner moves within two victories of bowl eligibility.
The loser will have no margin for error, needing victories in all three of the season’s remaining games to reach the needed six wins.
“It means a lot because we do say we still have something to play for, and then also for the seniors,” said SDSU senior safety Cedarious Barfield, adding “having 13 straight bowl games is something that we’re very competitive about. … We don’t want to be the first team to let those guys down.”
