SAN DIEGO STATE (10-2) VS. ARMY (9-3)
Site: Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, Texas.
Kickoff: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. TV: ESPN.
Line: San Diego State by 6 ½.
All-time series: San Diego State leads 2-0.
Last meeting: San Diego State 42, Army 7 (2012).
SAN DIEGO STATE
Coach: Rocky Long (7th season, 64-28; overall 18th season, 129-97).
All-time postseason: 5-7.
Last postseason appearance: Beat Houston 34-10 in 2016 Las Vegas Bowl.
Draft spotlight: RB Rashaad Penny. Somehow left off the Heisman invite list, the explosive runner ranks 8th among draft-eligible RBs. Can be tough for DBs to bring down, gifted with a rare size/speed combination. His upright running style needs to improve, though, if he’s going to last at the next level.
Other Aztecs to watch: FB Nick Bawden, WR Micah Holder, CB Kameron Kelly.
Aztec Signals: A victory would make SDSU just the fifth school to reach 11 wins in each of the past three seasons. The others: Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State and Oklahoma. … Penny arrives on a run of four consecutive 200-yard outings, needing one more to tie the FBS record. He needs 107 yards to break the SDSU season record.
ARMY
Coach: Jeff Monken (4th season, 23-26).
All-time postseason: 4-2.
Last postseason appearance: Beat North Texas 38-31 (OT) in 2016 Heart of Dallas Bowl.
Draft spotlight: DE John Voit. No Cadet has been drafted since 2008 – there’s a 5-year commitment to active duty after graduation – but Voit’s 6-3 size and instincts would play well. Credited with the game-saving tackle in Army’s 14-13 win over Navy, swiping at Malcom Perry’s cleats to keep a long run from the end zone.
Other Cadets to watch: QB Ahmad Bradshaw, OL Bryce Holland, LB Alex Aukerman.
Cadet Maneuvers: Army’s second consecutive postseason trip caps a season not seen in decades at West Point. The Cadets’ nine wins are the most since the 1986 season, and their last back-to-back bowl invites came in 1984 and ’85. … Army tops the nation at 355.8 rushing yards per game, needing just 168 more yards to break the school record.
* underclass draft prospect