Sean Lewis comes to San Diego State as one of the best offensive minds in college football. He led explosive offenses at Eastern Illinois, Bowling Green, Syracuse, and Kent State. While last year’s stint at Colorado was an unusual season, he’s back in the Group of Five as a head coach.
On paper, Lewis is exactly what San Diego State needs. Brady Hoke led the program to bowls in 2021 and 2022, but the program’s offense was abysmal last season, ranking second-to-last in the Mountain West in scoring and yards per play.
Lewis will change the culture of San Diego State’s program, focusing on offensive tempo and building high-scoring teams. That creates the potential for plenty of wins, and it’s also an easier pitch to convince fans to attend games.
With Lewis at the helm, San Diego State could quickly become one of the most entertaining Group of Five teams. Year 1, however, could come with some bumps along the way.
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San Diego State Football’s Mountain West Title Odds
San Diego State’s odds to win the Mountain West are +3000, via BetMGM.
San Diego State Football’s Betting Odds & Over/Under Win Total
San Diego State’s win total Over/Under is 5.5, with Under 5.5 at -135 and Over 5.5 at +110.
San Diego State Football’s 2024 Schedule
8/31 vs. Texas A&M-Commerce
9/7 vs. Oregon State
9/14 at Cal
9/28 at Central Michigan
10/5 vs. Hawaii
10/12 at Wyoming
10/26 vs. Washington State
11/2 at Boise State
11/9 vs. New Mexico
11/16 at UNLV
11/23 at Utah State
11/30 vs. Air Force
Bold indicates Mountain West contests
Key San Diego State Football Returners
2023 Mountain West Honorable Mention
KR Kenan Christon
WR/PR Mekhi Shaw
San Diego State Football Is At Least One Year Away From Clicking
I love the Lewis hire for the Aztecs, but I’m not sold on the 2024 team. There are questions at quarterback – Florida State transfer AJ Duffy and Danny O’Neil are competing for the starting job – and across most of the roster. Changing a program from a run-focused offense with a strong defense and special teams to a high-powered, up-tempo scheme can take time.
The transfer portal helps San Diego State undergo major changes more quickly. The offense is loaded with transfers, including Ball State running back Marquez Cooper, who is looking for his fourth consecutive 1,000-yard season. Cooper, and a decent group of receivers headlined by Mekhi Shaw, could test Mountain West defenses.
Lingering questions about quarterback and depth give me pause, though.
Lewis will eventually have the offense humming. Will it be ready to go in 2024?
Defensively, only a handful of starters return, and the program will switch defensive schemes. The up-tempo offense could mean more plays for the defense, which could lead to growing pains against a schedule loaded with talented offensive players.
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2024 San Diego State Football Season Prediction
I’m taking the Under 5.5 wins due to questions about the roster in Year 1 of the Sean Lewis era, in addition to the schedule.
Games with Oregon State, Cal, Wyoming, Washington State, Boise State, and UNLV are all going to be extremely hard to win. Even if the Aztecs steal one or two of those games – four of them are on the road – games with Central Michigan, Utah State, and Air Force are also far from guaranteed victories.
Finding a path to six wins is hard, given the question marks across the team. I’m expecting to be all in on the program in 2025, though.
