San Diego Toreros (6-2, 5-0 PFL) • Stetson Hatters (6-2, 3-2 PFL)
Saturday, November 9 • 9 a.m. PT/12 p.m. ET
Spec Martin Memorial Stadium (6,000) • DeLand, Fla.
Live Stream • ESPN+ | Live Statistics
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SAN DIEGO – After knocking off previously-unbeaten Drake at home, San Diego faces an East Coast trip in week 11 of the season as it will face Stetson on Saturday at 9 a.m. PT/12 p.m. ET at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium.
The Toreros, making their third of four trips to the eastern time zone this season, enter the contest against the Hatters on a six-game winning streak, 16-game conference road winning streak, and 34-game conference winning streak.
The matchup in Florida will be one between two of the best offenses not only in the PFL but all of the FCS. USD is third in total offense in the country (487.4) while Stetson is fourth (482.0).
With the help of its high-powered offense, the Hatters have won five of their last six games, including two in PFL play and four at home. They are a perfect 5-0 at home this season.
Saturday's game will be available on ESPN+ as well as can be heard with free live audio streaming, with the Voice of the Toreros Jack Cronin on the call.
LAST TIME OUT: TOREROS TAKE SOLE POSSESSION OF FIRST PLACE IN THE PFL
- San Diego outmatched Drake, who entered the game 4-0 in PFL action, by dominating both sides of the ball and winning 49-7 at Torero Stadium to seize the top spot in the conference standings. The Toreros scored six rushing touchdowns, including a career-high three by JoJo Binda, Jr., and built a 35-0 lead at halftime by holding the Bulldogs to 51 yards of offense in the first half. Terrence Smith (86 yards, 2 TD) and Binda, Jr. combined for 168 of the Toreros' 195 yards on the ground. USD finished with 476 yards of offense against the PFL's best defense, at the time, as Reid Sinnett contributed 281 passing yards. The redshirt senior quarterback also added a rushing touchdown as he completed the day responsible for two of the seven Torero touchdowns. The USD defense also forced three turnovers, with interceptions by David Tolbert, Victor Lopez and Amir Wallace.
ALL-TIME SERIES AGAINST STETSON
- Saturday will be the seventh all-time meeting between USD and Stetson, with the Toreros winning all six prior matchups.
- The Toreros have won the last four meetings by a combined 146 points (average win margin: 36.5 points). However, the closest matchup in the series occurred at Stetson in 2014, when the Toreros won 31-23.
- USD is 3-0 all-time at Spec Martin Memorial Stadium.
- The Toreros have scored 30+ points in all six meetings and 42+ in five. They are averaging 46 points per game in the series.
LOOKING AHEAD
- The Toreros will close out their home schedule when they host Morehead State on Senior Day at Torero Stadium on Saturday, November 16 at 2 p.m.
THE STREAK
- The Toreros enter Saturday on a historic run as they have won 34 consecutive conference games, the longest active streak in all of Division I (FCS and FBS).
- The 34-game conference winning streak is the third-longest in FCS history and fifth-longest in Division I history. They are two wins away from tying the second-longest FCS conference winning streak (Jacksonville State, 36 games from 2013 to 2018).
- On Saturday, it will have been 1,491 days since USD lost a conference game. The last time USD fell in a PFL game was at Dayton on October 10, 2015.
- Since 2014, USD has won 43 of its last 44 PFL games (.977 winning pct. over that stretch).
LONGEST CONFERENCE WINNING STREAKS IN DIVISION I HISTORY (FBS and FCS)
- Oklahoma, 44 games (1952-59)
- Nebraska, 40 games (1992-98)
- Duquesne, 39 games (1999-06)
- Jacksonville State, 36 games (2013-18)
- San Diego, 34 games (2015-current)
- Oklahoma, 31 games (1984-88); Boise State, 31 games (2001-05)
LONGEST CONFERENCE WINNING STREAKS IN FCS HISTORY
- Duquesne, 39 games (1999-06) - MAAC
- Jacksonville State, 36 games (2013-18) - OVC
- San Diego, 34 games (2015-current) - PFL
- Grambling State, 26 games (2005-17) - SWAC; Eastern Kentucky, 26 games (1992-95) - OVC; Appalachian State, 26 games (2007-10) - Southern
- Montana, 25 games (1999-02) - Big Sky
- South Carolina State, 21 games (2007-10) - MEAC
- James Madison, 20 games (2014-18) - CAA & Penn, 20 games (2001-04) - Ivy
THE STREAK, PART 2
- In addition to winning 34 straight PFL games, the Toreros are on a 16-game PFL road game winning streak. The stretch of road wins started on October 31, 2015 at Stetson (W, 47-16).
- USD has won at Davidson (37-17 on October 12) and Dayton (50-38 on October 26) this season to extend the streak. Both the Wildcats and Flyers are tied for third - with Stetson - in the PFL standings entering the weekend.
- Over the course of the PFL road game winning streak, USD has averaged 42.7 points and limited its opponents to 14.0 points.
WHAT'S AT STAKE ON SATURDAY
- With a win and loss by Drake, the Toreros will clinch at least a share of the PFL title on Saturday. The Bulldogs play Jacksonville (2-7, 0-5 PFL) at home at 11 a.m. PT/2 p.m. ET.
- If the above scenario occurs, it will give USD its sixth consecutive PFL title, eighth in the last nine years and 11th in program history.
ALL-AMERICAN CANDIDATE ONCE AGAIN
- Senior Michael Bandy is one of the top wide receivers in the FCS once again as he ranks third in receiving yards per game (116.1), fifth in receiving yards (929) and fifth in receiving touchdowns (10).
- In the last four games, Bandy has 32 catches, 515 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.
- He has at least six receptions in six games this year, including in each of the last four. Over the last two seasons, Bandy is averaging 7.2 catches per game.
- Bandy has 100+ yards in eight of his last 11 games dating back to last year and 15 100-yard games in his career.
- In the PFL, Bandy leads the league in receiving yards, receiving yards per game, and receptions per game while he is second in receiving touchdowns.
BANDY MOVING UP THE CAREER CHARTS
- Michael Bandy continues to climb the USD career lists, as he is fourth in career receiving yards (3,048) and tied for fifth in career touchdowns (26). He is only the fourth receiver in USD history to have 3,000+ career yards.
- Bandy is currently tied for seventh in USD history with 172 career receptions. He is six receptions away from a tie for sixth (Sam Hoekstra, 178 from 2010-13) and needs 28 receptions to become only the second receiver in program history to have 200 career catches.
- He is averaging 17.8 yards per reception in his career, which is currently sixth-best in USD history.
- Among active FCS players, Bandy enters this week fourth in career receiving yards (3,071) and third in career average yards per game (78.7).
AMONG THE BEST
- While primary target Michael Bandy is among the FCS leaders, redshirt senior Reid Sinnett is among the nation's leaders as he is commanding one of the top offenses in the FCS. The quarterback leads the FCS in passing efficiency (186.4) and completion percentage (70.8%) while he is third in passing yards per game (325.5) and passing touchdowns (26).
- The first-year starter is also fourth in total offense (340.3) and third in points responsible for (180).
FCS LEADER - REID SINNETT
Passing Efficiency 186.4 1st
Completion Percentage 70.8% 2nd
Passing Yds. Per Game 325.5 3rd
Touchdowns 26 3rd
Total Offense 340.3 4th
Passing Yds. Per Comp. 14.55 11th
Total Passing Yards 2,604 11th
- With three games left in the regular season, Sinnett's current passing efficiency of 186.4 would be the second-best in school history, trailing Josh Johnson's 198.3 from 2007, and fifth-best in FCS history.
- Sinnett is the PFL leader in completion percentage, completions per game, passing touchdowns, passing efficiency, passing yards, passing yards per game, yards per completion, and total offense.
OFFENSIVE PRODUCTION
- Under the guidance of Sinnett, the USD passing offense is first in the FCS in team passing efficiency (185.43) and fourth in pass offense (330.0). Last year, USD was first in the nation in passing efficiency (170.87) and second in passing offense (349.2). In each of the last three seasons, the Toreros have finished the season in the nation's top-25 in both categories.
- Also, USD is first in the FCS in completion percentage (70.4%) and third in total offense (487.4).
TRADITION OF EFFICIENCY
- The Toreros enter week 11 with the best passing efficiency in the FCS (185.43).
- With three weeks left in the regular season, USD's team passing efficiency currently ranks as the third-best mark in FCS history.
- Of the top-25 marks in FCS history for team passing efficiency, San Diego holds six of the spots, including the all-time record of 197.3 helped set by NFL veteran Josh Johnson. No other school has more than three spots in the top-25 (Cal Poly). Also, the six marks span over 15 seasons and include three different head coaches.
Where USD stands in the all-time Top-25
FCS All-Time Record - Team Passing Efficiency
1. USD - 197.3 (2007)
15. USD - 170.9 (2018)
16. USD - 170.0 (2006)
19. USD - 169.5 (2003)
21. USD - 169.1 (2013)
22. USD - 168.6 (2005)
SMITH STEPPING UP
- Junior Terrence Smith has come on in the last two games, averaging 10.7 yards per carry (225 yards, 21 carries) and totaling five touchdowns. In both contests he has multi-touchdown efforts, including three at Dayton in week nine and two against Drake in week 10.
- In the first six games of the year, Smith averaged 4.0 yards per rush (188 yards, 47 carries) and had no touchdowns.
- Smith remains a reliable option out of the backfield in the passing game as he has a catch in six straight games, including a season-high five last week against Drake. He leads all USD running backs in catches (17) and receiving yards (155) this year.
GOING FOR A RUN
- USD nearly rushed for 200 yards last week against Drake as it now has 150+ rushing yards in three consecutive games. In the first five games of the year, the Toreros rushed for 150+ yards once.
- In the last three games, the Toreros are averaging 219 rushing yards per game (657 total rushing yards). They also have 11 rushing touchdowns - after registering four in the first five games of the year and having none in a three-game stretch from week six to eight.
SCORING OUTPUT
- San Diego has scored 42 or more points in each of the last three weeks, helping it average 41.8 points per PFL game this year.
- San Diego has scored 30+ points in all eight games this season and in 11 consecutive games dating back to last year. It is the first time in program history the Toreros have scored 30+ points in at least 11 consecutive games.
- For the season, the Toreros are averaging 38.6 points per game, which is sixth in the FCS and second in the PFL. Last year, the Toreros averaged 37.8 points, which was second in the conference and 10th in the FCS.
- The Toreros have scored 30+ points in 18 of their last 19 PFL games, a stretch that goes back to 2017.
KINCAID GOES LONG
- Sophomore
Dalton Kincaid had his fourth 100-yard game of the season last week against Drake, giving him 626 receiving yards on 28 catches this season. Both of those surpass his totals from last year's freshman campaign.
- He has proven to be big-play threat as Kincaid is eighth in the FCS and first in the PFL with 22.36 yards per catch. He also has six touchdowns, which is second-best on the team.
TAKING CARE OF IT
- A key part of USD's current six-game winning streak has been winning the turnover battle as it is +9 in turnover margin over the stretch.
- In conference-only games, USD is first in the PFL with a +9 turnover margin.
- The Toreros turned it over six times (five interceptions, one fumble) in the first two games of the season, going 0-2. In the last six games, USD has turned it over four times, going 6-0.
TOREROS THIS DECADE (2010s)
- The Toreros are one of the best teams in the FCS this decade as they currently hold the fourth-best winning percentage (.741; 83-29) in the 2010s.
Best FCS Records in the 2010s (By Percentage)
- North Dakota St. 130-13 .909
- Harvard 74-23 .763
- Kennesaw St. 44-14 .759
- San Diego 83-29 .741
- Jacksonville St. 91-32 .740
- Sam Houston St. 97-36 .729
- Eastern Wash. 94-35 .729
- James Madison 90-34 .726
- Bethune-Cookman 79-33 .705
- Dartmouth 68-29 .701
- Georgia Southern 35-15 .700
- The 83 wins this decade, meanwhile, are the sixth-most in the FCS.
- In this decade, the Toreros have won seven out of nine conference titles, including five outright, and made four trips to the FCS playoffs. There are only two teams in the country this decade with that many conference titles and trips to the FCS playoffs: San Diego and North Dakota State.
- In the 2000s, San Diego had the 11th-best winning percentage among FCS schools (.692; 74-33).