2026 MAC Football Week 4 Game Preview: San Diego State Aztecs at Toledo Rockets

In the final dress rehearsal before full-on conference play, two teams with proud and successful traditions square off when San Diego State (1-2) heads to the Glass City to tangle with Toledo (2-1).

As you hear it in press conferences the last week, both squads have done some very good things but also have some lessons to learn to reach the consistency needed to make noise in the post season.

The most recent games for both clubs provides a good snapshot of where each stand– so let's talk about what we might see this week.

Game Notes

• Date and Time: Saturday, Sept. 26th, 2026, at noon Eastern time
• Location: The historic Glass Bowl in Toledo, Ohio
• Weather: Per AccuWeather, Sunny with a high of 73 degrees Fahrenheit
• TV: The game will air nationally on CBS Sports Network, CBSSN. A valid subscription is required.
• Streaming options: The game will be available via the CBS App. A valid subscription is required for viewing. Other applicable cable/satellite streaming services are also available with a valid subscription. Other streaming carriers include Sling, DirecTV Stream, fuboTV, Hulu Live TV, or YouTube TV. The Varsity Network or UTRockets.com streams free.
• Radio/online: Toledo Rockets call features Mark Beier (play-by-play), Jack Mewhort (color), and Pete Seymour (sidelines) for the Rocket Radio Network while San Diego State features Jon Schaeffer (play-by-play) and Rich Ohrnberger (color) for Aztec Radio Network, San Diego Sports 760.
• Gambling Considerations: Toledo is the home favorite by 2.5 points, with an over/under 51.5, per Covers.
• All-Time Series: The Aztecs won the only meeting between the two programs, with the first– and last– contest in 2022.

San Diego State outlook

San Diego state said goodbye to the Mountain West Conference this offseason, leaving for the PAC-12, where they are in the midst of their inaugural campaign as a member.

This week, SDSU heads into the heart of Mid-American Conference country led by former Kent Golden State Flashes head coach Sean Lewis. In a form familiar to Flash fans, Lewis waxed about football philosophy at recent press conference, putting early season's 1-2 record in perspective. When asked about how he approaches discussing scoreboard results with his team, Lewis said the focus in on preparation: "[We] [d]on't worry about results. Results are a byproduct of your process and about how you go about your business." Lewis was encouraged by his squad's potential despite 26-13 loss to James Madison (3-0) last week, saying the loss was "empowering", as he felt the team gave the game away as opposed to the Dukes winning it.

Lewis' words are probably applicable to the 28-10 loss to UCLA as well, where the Aztecs trailed only 7-3 with eight minutes left in the fourth quarter not having capitalized, for instance, on some deep throws earlier in the game.

The Aztecs have probably played enough football this year to glean their basic approach. On offense, expect a heavy dose of run behind a stout offensive line, with things like play action passes off the run. So far, SDSU has run the ball almost 64 percent of the time. Last week, the rushing attack had great moments, particularly on the interior, where RB Javion Kinnard gashed against James Madison for 141 yards rushing while leading the club with 70 yards receiving. If healthy, expect to see San Diego native and pile-mover RB Lucky Sutton in the mix this week.

The passing game begins with QB Jayden Denegal, who returns for season two. With over double-digit starts on his SDSU career, the Apple Valley product has enough experience to play his best football this year. Denegal enters the contest with career numbers including 2,248 yards passing, completing 58 percent of his throws with 14 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. As far as a running threat, the SDSU signal caller is not known so far for his ground game which consists of 122 yards on 83 carries (including sack yardage), but he does have four rushing touchdowns.

Wideout Nathan Acevedo is one of the main targets this year, leading the club with 11 catches for 119 yards. Former Central Michigan QB Bert Emanuel Jr.– who still holds the Chippewas' all-time single-game rushing record for a quarterback– converted this offseason to wideout after backing up at QB for SDSU last season, contributing three catches and 50 yards last week.

The defense was fabulous in 2025, ranking sixth in the nation in scoring defense with 15.4 yards per contest. A lot has changed, however, with defensive coordinator Rob Aurich off to Nebraska and losing most of the defensive starters. Such is the nature of the game in football today. Still, the Aztecs carry the torch forward from some great defenses, promoting long-time defensive coach Demetrius Sumler to defensive coordinator after Aurich's departure.

The defense is the club's leading unit in 2026 so far, holding James Madison to seven second-half points last week and UCLA to seven points in three quarters in Week 2. The team plays well as a unit, instead of reliant on individual star power. On name to watch in the middle of the defense is linebacker Sione Hala, who has shown a well-rounded skill set with 32 tackles, a sack, and a PBU.

Toledo outlook

"Whatever it takes, as long as it takes."

In a jubilant moment in the post game of an improbable comeback OT win last week against Temple 49-48, first year coach Mike Jacobs proudly shared those words as the team motto and rallying cry for the 2026 season.

Living life in what must have felt like when Keanu Reeves' character Neo stepped inside the mental clarity of the Matrix, Toledo pulled together in all three phases in the last two minutes, erasing a 14-point deficit to force overtime. Toledo scored with a little over a minute left in regulation to close the deficit to seven, recovered an obvious onside kick attempt, then hit a tying score on a near-perfect execution of a thirty-yard fade route. OT was decided when, after both teams scored, the defense's good coverage stopped Temple's potential game winning two-point conversion cold.

Toledo will be the first to tell you, though, that they have many lessons to learn from the Temple game– but such lessons are a lot less painful when you make the corrections after a win versus a loss.

Given that SDSU's bread-and-butter is the running game, the Rockets will focus on its running defense, which yielded 261 yards last week. Key to those efforts on run defense will be players like linebackers Julian Fox and Isaac Zay, who lead the club with a combined 51 tackles.

Offensively, Toledo has some guys who have paid their dues behind very good players and are now cashing in on starting opportunities. In his first season as a full-time starter, QB John Allen Richter has impressed, throwing for 432 yards last week– a performance which ranked ninth all-time for a single game in program history. Overall, Richter is off to a hot start throwing the ball, completing 66 percent of his passes for 877 yards and nine touchdowns against only one interception. Like SDSU's QB, Richter hasn't run a lot on designed or improvised runs, but can move to buy by time and is a good enough athlete to pick up first downs on the ground if needed.

Last week, Richter's receiving corps erupted, with six players contributing at least one explosive reception (20 yards or more). Leading the group are wideouts Terrell Crosby Jr. and Adjatay Dabbs, who combined for 15 catches and 183 yards receiving last week.

When they go to the ground game so far this season, it is a by-committee approach with halfbacks Connor Walendzak and CJ Miller splitting carries for a combined 283 yards rushing. Like Richter, Walendzak is off to a hot start with 6.9 yards per carry average and has been a major red zone threat so far with five scores (four rush, one pass).

Game outlook

The teams could not really ask for a better final non-conference game to get ready for conference play. Each team has what it takes to come away with the victory in this one if they play their best game, so each should be tested, with a chance for development.

For San Diego State, they would probably like nothing better than a good dose of complementary football: run the ball, move the chains, control the clock, and keep a good defense rested. Sprinkle in some explosive plays in the run and pass game and continue with effective special teams play.

For the home team, they probably are the biggest test so far this season for the Aztecs' revamped secondary, as Richter and company have been above board much of the young season and have many weapons. For the defense, the key to success will be the balancing act of managing the visitor's running game while not getting burned deep for explosive plays.

Importantly, Toledo should benefit from the home crowd, which should be enhanced by the folks celebrating Rockets Family Weekend.

We'll see how it plays out, but we're expecting a fun, back-and-forth contest.