Inside SDSU’s Scrimmage: Denegal Is QB1, the Defense Is Legit, and One Concern Remains

San Diego State gave a pretty clear picture of what this team could be during Saturday’s football event, and the biggest takeaway was not necessarily something new. The defense still looks like the backbone of this roster, Jayden Denegal looks firmly in control of the starting quarterback job, and the offense has enough talent to put together some impressive stretches. The question is whether those stretches can become consistent enough to carry over into the biggest games on the schedule. That may ultimately decide just how good this team can be in 2026.

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Denegal looked every bit like the starting quarterback Saturday. Whatever competition may have existed earlier in the offseason, it did not look particularly close from the stands. He appeared comfortable operating the offense, carried himself like the player this team expects to lead the unit, and looked like the clear QB1. At this point, the more interesting question is no longer who starts at quarterback, but what the Year 2 jump looks like for Denegal. There were moments where the offense found a rhythm and genuinely started to hum. When the timing was right and the passing game began connecting, SDSU flashed an offense capable of doing more than simply staying out of the defense’s way. There is enough there to believe this group can score points and create explosive stretches when everything starts clicking.

The problem is that it still feels somewhat dependent on which version of the offense shows up. There were stretches Saturday where the unit looked sharp, followed by others where things became much quieter. That inconsistency could become the defining factor in games against teams like UCLA, James Madison and, once again, Boise State. SDSU’s defense appears good enough to keep the Aztecs competitive in just about any game, but against the better teams on the schedule, there is only so much pressure a defense can absorb before the offense has to provide something in return. A few stalled drives, missed opportunities or empty possessions could be the difference between a major win and another game that feels like it slipped away.

The encouraging part is that SDSU does not appear to need an elite offense to have a successful season. It simply needs one that is dependable. If Denegal can consistently keep drives alive, protect the football and give the defense favorable situations, the Aztecs should have a chance to win plenty of games. If the offense can add a few explosive plays on top of that, the ceiling becomes much more interesting. One under-the-radar name worth remembering is Carson Diehl, the La Jolla High product who seemed to have a knack for finding open space and making himself available when the offense needed him. He was not necessarily the loudest player on the field, but he repeatedly seemed to be open at the right time, which is exactly the type of trait that can earn a player more opportunities as the season develops.

Saturday ultimately reinforced what SDSU’s identity appears to be heading into the season. The defense is still the foundation, Denegal looks like the guy at quarterback, and the offense has enough ability to make this team dangerous when it gets rolling. The biggest question is whether that version of the offense can show up every Saturday. Against the strongest teams on the schedule, “getting hot” may not just determine whether SDSU has a good offensive day or a bad one. It may be the difference between winning and losing.