SAN DIEGO – San Diego football will host its second Big Sky opponent of the nonconference schedule when the Toreros take on No. 14/12 UC Davis on Saturday, September 11 in Torero Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. (PT).
 
Taking on arguably one of their toughest nonconference schedules in recent program history, the Toreros (0-1) will look for their first win of the young season against at top-25 foe. A free live stream and live statistics will be available via USDToreros.com.
 
LAST TIME OUT
• The Toreros dropped a hard-fought 28-17 decision to Cal Poly on Saturday in Torero Stadium for their season opener. USD outgained the Mustangs, 425 to 362 and the Torero defense held CP to just 44 yards on the ground. San Diego also held the advantage in time of possession 38:15 to 21:45. A pair of redzone interceptions, including a 75-yard pick six proved to be the difference in the contest for the Mustangs.
 
• Tight end Gadnis finished with eight catches for 83 yards to lead the USD receivers and Terrence Smith notched 82 yards on the ground to lead the Torero rushers.  Emilio Martinez added 76 yards on 20 carries and Bennett Dondoyano hauled in USD's only touchdown reception. Quarterback Mason Randall was 29-of-44 passing for a total of 254 yards, notching a touchdowns and a pair of interceptions.
 
• Kama Kamaka led the Toreros defensively with nine tackles (7 solo), while Cassius Johnson finished with eight tackles and a pass breakup and Kyle Bilchik chipped in six tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss.
 
ALL-TIME SERIES AGAINST UC DAVIS
• Saturday will be 9th meeting between San Diego and the Aggies, with UC Davis leading the all-time series 7-1.
 
• The teams last met on Sept. 7, 2019 in Toreros Stadium, a heartbreaking 35-38 loss for USD to the then-fourth-ranked Aggies. It was a back-and-forth battle that saw USD leading by four with under four minutes remaining. With two seconds on the game clock, Emilio Martinez had the ball knocked away from his outstretched hand at the goal line by UC Davis' Devon King, resulting in a touchback and a victory for the Aggies.
 
• San Diego's lone victory over UC Davis came on Nov. 22, 2008, a 28-20 victory in Torero Stadium.
 
LOOKING AHEAD
• San Diego will hit the road next week for its third Big Sky opponent of the nonconference schedule on Saturday, Sept. 18 as the Toreros travel to face Montana State. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. (PT) in Bozeman, Mont. with the game being streamed via ESPN+ and live statistics on USDToreros.com.
 
2021 FALL FOOTBALL SEASON
• USD begins its 59th season of play this fall, and 29th season as a member of the Pioneer Football League during the 2021-22 academic year. The Toreros own the second-most PFL titles with 11 (Dayton leads with 12) and have won eight of the last 10 PFL championships (2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015c, 2014, 2012c, 2011c) and 11 overall when adding in titles from 2007c, 2006 and 2005.
 
• USD has made four trips to the FCS Playoffs in five years and twice advanced to the second round. The Toreros are the only non-scholarship program in FCS history to earn wins in the postseason tournament.
 
COACH LINDSEY BEGINS NINTH SEASON
• Head coach Dale Lindsey enters his ninth season at the helm of USD in the fall of 2021. The three-time PFL Coach of the Year and four-time national coach of the year finalist has 68 wins in his head coaching career as well as a 57-5 record in conference play.
 
TEAM CAPTAINS
Emilio Martinez (RB), DJ Wright (OL) and Kyle Bilchik (LB) were selected as the team captains for 2021.
 
SEVEN TOREROS EARN PRESEASON PFL HONORS
• Seven scholar-athletes were named to the 2021 Preseason All-PFL Team. Kyle Bilchik (LB), Kama Kamaka (NB), Michael Hawkins (CB) and Hunter Nichols (S) represented the Toreros on the defensive side of the ball. Michael Carner (WR), Derek Kline (TE) and DJ Wright (OL) on the offensive side.
 
TOREROS PICKED TO FINISH SECOND IN COACHES POLL
• San Diego was selected to finish second in the PFL Preseason Coaches' Poll, receiving 93 of the maximum 100 points possible and three first-place votes. Davidson, the defending PFL champion, was picked to finish first with 97 points and eight of the 11 first-place votes. Drake and Dayton round out the top four with 67 and 62 points, respectively.
 
SPRING 2021 ALL-PFL SELECTIONS
• The Toreros had 14 players earn All-PFL honors in 2020-21. USD had 13 players selected to either the first or second teams – the most of any team in the conference – and a league-best 10 first-team honorees.
 
• All-PFL returners include first-team selections Michael Carner (WR), Derek Kline (TE), DJ Wright (OL), Kyle Bilchik (LB), Kama Kamaka (LB), Michael Hawkins (DB) and Hunter Nichols (DB, KR). Emilio Martinez (RB), Michael Gadinis (TE) and Muhindo Kapapa (DL) were all second-team selections, while Mason Randall (QB) earned honorable mention.
 
WINNING IN THE CLASSROOM
• USD had 58 players named to the PFL Academic Honor Roll for 2020-21. The academic honor roll consists of student-athletes who participated in football at member institutions during the semester of competition and posted a 3.0 grade-point average or higher during the semester.
 
• Additionally, seven Toreros earned Academic All-PFL honors for the spring 2021 season including Michael Carner, Bennett Dondoyano, Kama Kamaka, Chris Reese, Brandon Eickert, Derek Kline and Connor Strode.
 
COACHING STAFF RELOADS
• San Diego had some shuffling among its coaching staff during the offseason, and head coach Dale Lindsey added three assistants to his staff.
 
• Taylor Mazzone joins USD from Arizona and will coach the wide receivers. Matt Aponte will take over as tight ends coach after serving as an offensive assistant at Iowa. Former Torero defensive tackle Aaron Laut will join the staff as the defensive tackles coach after spending the past season as a graduate assistant at New Mexico State.
 
TOREROS IN THE PROS
• San Diego had three former players signed to NFL practice squad's after strong preseason performances. Quarterback Reid Sinnett (USD, '19) returns for his second season with the Miami Dolphins, while wide reciever Michael Bandy (USD, '19) earned a spot with the Los Angeles Chargers.
 
• Detroit Lions running back/wide receiver Jamal Agnew (USD, '17) finished third in the NFL with 961 total return yards and produced his first season with 1,000 all-purpose yards in 2020. Since entering the League in 2017, he leads the NFL in punt return average (11.6), punt return touchdowns (4) and total return touchdowns (5). Agnew recently signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Jacksonville Jaguars this offseason.
 
• Tight end Ross Dwelley completed his third year with the San Francisco 49ers in 2020, starting 10 games as the No. 1 tight end and five additional games when the 49ers opened with two tight-end formations. Dwelley recently signed a one-year contract extension with the 49ers through the 2021 season.
 
• Veteran quarterback Josh Johnson spent time on the 49ers practice squad last fall and recently signed on to the New York Jets practice squad for the 2021 season.
 
TOREROS IN THE PAST DECADE (2010s)
• The Toreros are one of the best teams in the FCS in the past decade as they hold the third-best winning percentage (.741; 86-30) in the 2010s.
 
Best FCS Records in the 2010s (By Percentage)
1.  North Dakota St. 137-13 (.913)
2.  Kennesaw St. 48-15 (.762)
3.  San Diego 86-30 (.741)
4.  Harvard 74-26 (.740)
5.  Eastern Wash. 97-35 (.735)
6.  James Madison 96-35 (.733)
7.  Jacksonville St. 91-34 (.728)
8.  Sam Houston St. 99-37 (.728)
9.  Dartmouth 70-30 (.700)
10.  Bethune-Cookman 80-35 (.696)
 
• The 86 wins in the decade, meanwhile, are the sixth-most in the FCS.
 
• In the 2010s, the Toreros won eight out of 10 conference titles, including six outright, and made five trips to the FCS playoffs. There are only two teams in the country in the past decade with that many conference titles and trips to the FCS playoffs: San Diego and North Dakota State.
 
• Also in the decade, the Toreros have 26 All-America honors, 13 Academic All-Americans, 144 All-PFL selections and 30 PFL All-Academic awards.
 
• In the 2000s, San Diego had the 11th-best winning percentage among FCS schools (.692; 74-33).
 
THE ROAD AHEAD
• The Toreros will kick off the fall 2021 season in Torero Stadium when they play host to Cal Poly in the first of three tough nonconference matchups. San Diego will host UC Davis the following week before traveling to face Montana State in Bozeman, Mont.
 
• It is the first time in program history that USD will face three scholarship teams in the regular season, all from the Big Sky conference.
 
• In their 29th season as a member of the Pioneer Football League, the Toreros will host PFL newcomer St. Thomas (MN) as well as Drake, Valparaiso and Morehead State. On the road, USD will face Davidson, Butler, Presbyterian and Stetson.
 
• The spring 2021 season saw the Toreros tie the FCS record for consecutive conference victories with 39 games and finish one win shy of their 12th PFL title. USD will travel to face the defending PFL champions Davidson to open Pioneer Football League play on Oct. 2.