Portland State is rolling into San Diego this Saturday carrying a tough 0-1 record, fresh off blowing a massive 21-0 halftime lead to No. 6 UC Davis in their season opener. Talk about a gut punch to start the year!
Vikings’ Second-Half Meltdown Sets a Grim Tone
They were absolutely flying high, looking untouchable and dominating the first half, only to let UC Davis storm back with a ridiculous 31 second-half points. That’s how you snatch defeat from the jaws of victory, ending up with a brutal 31-24 loss. New head coach Chris Fisk has his hands full trying to rally this squad after that kind of second-half collapse. You gotta wonder what kind of adjustments they’ve made this week to stop a repeat performance. Quarterback Tyrese Smith did show some flashes of real promise, slinging for 268 passing yards and adding two rushing touchdowns. The talent is clearly there, but man, that second half has to sting, and the team’s mental game has to be in question right now.
Aztecs Kicking Off a New Pac-12 Chapter at Home
Now, as if that wasn’t tough enough, they roll into Snapdragon Stadium to face a San Diego State team making its 2026 season debut, and let me tell you, the Aztecs are coming in hot and ready for a statement. This isn’t just any opener; San Diego State finished last year strong with a 9-4 record, and what’s even crazier is their absolutely perfect 6-0 record at home. That’s a fortress, man! They’ve also got a ridiculous streak going, winning 11 straight games against FCS opponents. So, Portland State is walking into a hornet’s nest. And get this, running back Lucky Sutton is back on the field after absolutely tearing it up for 1,297 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns in 2025. He’s a serious problem for any defense.
This game isn’t just about a win, either. It’s San Diego State’s first season as a member of the rebuilt Pac-12. They’re looking to kick off this new, highly anticipated era with a dominant home victory, making a clear statement about who they are in this new conference. The last time these two teams met, way back in 2007, the Aztecs handed Portland State a crushing 52-17 defeat. You know they’ll be trying to repeat history and prove their dominance once again.
So, the stage is set for a wild one this Saturday, September 5, with kickoff at 9:30 PM ET on USA Network. Can Portland State somehow regroup and pull off a shocker after that brutal opener, or will San Diego State leverage their home-field advantage and a powerful returning offense to start their new Pac-12 journey with another dominant victory? You won’t want to miss it!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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