San Diego Toreros (0-0, 0-0 PFL) • Cal Poly Mustangs (0-0, 0-0 Big Sky)

Saturday, August 31, 2024 •  5:00 p.m. PST

Torero Stadium (6,000) • San Diego, CA

Live Streaming • ESPN+ |  Live Radio • USDToreros.com | Live Statistics • USDToreros.com

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SAN DIEGO —  A sold-out crowd will await San Diego football in its 2024 opener on Saturday, with the Toreros (0-0, 0-0 PFL) set to host Cal Poly (0-0, 0-0 Big Sky) in primetime at Torero Stadium.

5,792 tickets were either sold to fans or claimed by members of the USD campus community ahead of kickoff, which is set for 5:02 p.m.

The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ with The Voice of the Toreros Jack Cronin (play-by-play) on the call alongside former USD quarterback Reid Sinnett (analyst).

Braden Surprenant will have the live radio call alongside live statistics on USDToreros.com.

ALL TIME SERIES AGAINST CAL POLY
• The Toreros are 1-8 all time against Cal Poly, with the two teams'  most recent matchup coming in the 2023 season opener, when San Diego suffered a 27-10 loss to the Mustangs in Alex G. Spanos Stadium in what marked head coach Brandon Moore's USD debut.

• USD last hosted Cal Poly in 2021, when it fell to the Mustangs 28-17 at Torero Stadium.

• San Diego last defeated Cal Poly on November 26, 2024, when the No. 24 Toreros stunned the No. 21 Mustangs with a 35-21 win in the first round of the NCAA FCS playoffs on a wet and muddy afternoon in San Luis Obispo.

THE LAST TIME CAL POLY AND USD PLAYED...
• Wide receiver Ja'seem Reed totaled 69 receiving yards
• Quarterback Dom Nankil passed for 145 yards while completing 15 of his 27attempts in his college debut
• Safety Joshua Hong led the San Diego defense with 11 total tackles, including nine solo and two for losses.
• Linebacker Jerry Rangel was just behind with nine total tackles, notching seven on his own and two for losses.

SETTING THE SCENE
• Saturday's season opener will mark just USD's second night game at Torero Stadium since 2016.

• San Diego last played under the lights at home on September 3, 2022, when it dismantled La Verne by a 58-0 margin after a 6:00 p.m. kickoff.

• In 2016, USD pitched another Saturday night shutout, taking down Western New Mexico 27-0 in another 6:00 p.m. kickoff.

THREE TOREROS NAMED TO 2024 PFL PRESEASON TEAM
• Three San Diego players were named to the 2024 All-PFL Preseason Team, the Pioneer Football League announced on July 31.

• Defensive lineman Malachi Cooper, linebacker Chase Lyons, and defensive back Eric Haney earned the honor ahead of the Toreros' season opener against Cal Poly.

• Cooper, a San Diego native who attended Serra High School, was named to the All-PFL Second Team last season after recording 24 total tackles (11 solo) and seven tackles for losses across 10 games. This is his first career All-PFL Preseason Team selection.

• Lyons was named to the All-PFL Preseason Team for a second consecutive season following a dynamic junior campaign that saw him pick up a 2023 All-PFL Honorable Mention. He appeared in nine games last season, recording 23 total tackles (14 solo), five tackles for losses, and one sack. Lyons has also earned an All-PFL Second Team selection (2022).

• Haney took home both All-PFL First Team (Defense) and an All-PFL Honorable mention in 2023 after notching 41 total tackles (30 solo) alongside five tackles for losses, two interceptions, and three pass breakups. He recorded a team-high 18 kickoff returns for 411 yards (22.83 yards per return) and had six punt returns for 30 yards. This is his first career All-PFL Preseason Team selection.

KEY SAN DIEGO RETURNERS
• Quarterback Grant Sergent: Started five games in 2023, completing 65 of 105 pass attempts (61.90%) for 893 total yards and seven touchdowns. Averaged 178.60 passing yards per game, posted a 151.54 quarterback rating, and threw only two interceptions.

• Quarterback Dom Nankil: Appeared in eight games (seven starts) in 2023, completing 109 of 183 pass attempts (58.60%) for 1158 total yards and five touchdowns. Averaged 144.75 yards per game, posted a 115.47 quarterback rating, and threw four interceptions.

• Wide Receiver Ja'seem Reed: Led USD with 764 receiving yards (56 receptions) and an average of 69.45 yards per game in 2023. Scored two touchdowns across 11 games.

• Wide Receiver Josh Heverly: Led USD with five touchdowns and an average of 16.88 yards per reception in 2023, totaling 574 yards (52.18 yards per game).

• Running Back Isaiah Smith: 161 yards on 32 carries ranked third on the USD roster in 2023 and are the most of any returning Torero.

• Cornerback Nick Murray: 55 total tackles and three interceptions in 2023 were second on USD roster and are the most among returning Toreros.

• Cornerback Eric Haney: 30 solo tackles in 2023 were third on USD roster and are the most among returning Toreros. Grabbed two interceptions last year, including a game-sealing pick against Dayton at Torero Stadium on September 23. Was named to 2023 All-PFL First Team (Defense) and 2024 All-PFL Preseason Team.

• Safety Joshua Hong: Returns for sixth season at USD after racking up 34 tackles (21 solo), four pass breakups, and a forced fumble in 2023.

• Linebacker Chase Lyons: 14 solo tackles and a fumble recovery in 2023. Was named to 2024 All-PFL Preseason Team.

FROM USC TO USD
• Running back Matt Colombo has joined San Diego for the 2024 season as a graduate student after spending the first four years of his college career at the University of Southern California.

• He appeared in four games as a redshirt junior in 2023, totaling seven yards on one rushing attempt, and was named to the Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll for the 2022-23 season.

• Colombo, who attended St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower, California, has amassed a sizable audience on TikTok, where he boasts nearly 60,000 followers.