San Diego State vs. Toledo: Preview, Storylines

The San Diego State Aztecs and their fans will have early wake-up calls on Saturday ahead of the final non-conference game against Toledo at the Glass Bowl. 

For the players, kickoff will be at noon in Toledo. For the fans back home, that translates to 9 a.m. to watch on CBS Sports Network or listen on San Diego Sports 760 radio. 

The Aztecs (1-2) can’t afford to sleepwalk through this one, or else they’ll head into their historic Pac-12 opener on a three-game losing streak. Slow starts in the last two weeks doomed them to a 28-10 loss to UCLA at the Rose Bowl and then a 26-13 home setback against James Madison, which had to travel across the country. 

What's at stake for San Diego State

The Aztecs will face a Rockets team that has won eight straight home games by an average of 35.4 points. Toledo stunned Temple last week when it rallied from a 42-28 deficit in the closing minutes to send it to overtime and then won 49-48 when it denied the Owls a two-point conversion.

This is just the second meeting between the schools. SDSU beat the Rockets 17-14 in the third game ever at Snapdragon Stadium on Sept. 24, 2022.

San Diego State players to watch

Sophomore running back Javion “Chop” Kinnard is set to start at running back against the Rockets after his career-best performance in place of senior running back Lucky Sutton. Kinnard had career highs of 33 carries for 181 yards rushing, plus one score, and caught four passes for 70 yards.