5 Things to Watch at Tomorrow’s Scrimmage

For the first time this fall, Aztec fans will get a real look at the 2026 San Diego State football team. SDSU hosts its “First Saturday at Snapdragon Stadium” scrimmage on Saturday, August 15, with the action beginning at 5:30 p.m. The event comes three weeks before the Aztecs open their first season as a member of the Pac-12 against Portland State.

After a massive turnaround from 3-9 in 2024 to 9-4 last season, expectations have changed on the Mesa. This isn’t about wondering whether Sean Lewis can get the program moving in the right direction anymore. Now the question is whether San Diego State can take another step and immediately become a factor in its new conference. Saturday won’t answer everything, but it should give us our clearest look yet at what this team might become.

1. What Does Year Two Jayden Denegal Look Like?

There shouldn’t be a need to manufacture a quarterback controversy. The more interesting question is what a second year as the starter looks like for Jayden Denegal. Denegal started 12 games last season while battling through injury, completing 143 of 243 passes for 1,807 yards and nine touchdowns while adding another four scores on the ground. More importantly, he helped quarterback a team that won nine games.

Now comes the next step. Forget the box score Saturday and watch his command of the offense. Is the ball coming out quicker? Is he making decisions earlier? Is he more comfortable attacking downfield? Does the offense look like his offense? Year one was about proving Denegal could lead a winning football team. Year two needs to be about becoming one of the reasons SDSU wins. If he makes that jump, the ceiling of this team changes considerably.

2. Is the Defense Still the Backbone?

Last season’s turnaround wasn’t built on offense alone. San Diego State rediscovered an identity that should look very familiar to Aztec fans: defense. The 2025 unit allowed just 12.6 points and 266.7 yards per game through the regular season while producing an FBS-leading three shutouts. It became the strength of the team and gave SDSU a chance to win even when the offense wasn’t at its best.

Now several major pieces from that group are gone, including first-round NFL Draft pick Chris Johnson, and Saturday gives us our first real look at the rebuilt version. The question isn’t whether this defense can perfectly duplicate last year’s numbers. It’s whether the personality remains. Do they run to the football? Are they physical at the line of scrimmage? Can they generate pressure? Does the secondary communicate? SDSU may have new faces, but if this team is going to compete immediately in the Pac-12, the defense likely needs to remain its backbone.

3. Does the Sean Lewis Offense Take Another Step?

This will be Sean Lewis’ third season at San Diego State, and at this point the offense should look comfortable operating at his preferred pace. That doesn’t mean SDSU needs to score six touchdowns in an August scrimmage. Watch how the offense moves instead: tempo, spacing, explosive plays, quick decisions and whether receivers are consistently getting into space.

There were encouraging signs during the spring, including Denegal completing 6 of 8 passes on the opening drive of the spring scrimmage and later directing a successful two-minute possession. Saturday is another checkpoint. Does this look like an offense still learning the system, or one that’s finally ready to weaponize it? If Denegal is more comfortable and the rest of the offense has caught up with him, this could look considerably different than the group we watched early last season.

4. Who Is the Guy We Aren’t Talking About Yet?

Every fall camp produces one. Maybe it’s a young receiver, a transfer who hasn’t received much attention, or a defensive player buried on the depth chart who suddenly looks impossible to keep off the field. Those players can change the complexion of a roster quickly, especially for a team replacing production in several key areas.

Don’t just watch the established names Saturday. Watch for the player who keeps finding the football, winning one-on-one matchups or consistently showing up in big moments. Those are often the players we’re talking about very differently by October, and the first public scrimmage is usually where fans get their first glimpse.

5. Does This Look Like a Pac-12 Football Team?

This might be the most subjective question, but it could also be the most important. SDSU went 9-4 last season and 6-0 at Snapdragon Stadium, outscoring opponents 187-41 at home. Now the Aztecs are stepping into the Pac-12 with expectations that should be considerably higher than they were one year ago.

So look at the team as a whole Saturday. Does the offensive line look physical? Is there enough speed at the skill positions? Does the defense have depth? Does SDSU look bigger, faster and more confident than it did a year ago? An August scrimmage won’t tell us whether San Diego State will contend for a Pac-12 championship, but it should provide the first clue.

Denegal may determine the ceiling of this team. The rebuilt defense may determine its floor. Saturday, we finally get our first look at both.