American college football season
The1973 San Diego State Aztecs football team representedCalifornia State University San Diego [ note 1] 1973 NCAA Division I football season as a member of thePacific Coast Athletic Association .[ note 2]
The team was led by head coachClaude Gilbert , in his first year, and played home games atSan Diego Stadium [ note 3] San Diego, California . They finished the season as Conference Champion for the second consecutive year, with a record of nine wins, one loss and one tie (9–1–1, 3–0–1 PCAA).
Date Time Opponent Site Result Attendance Source September 22 atUtah State * W 35–710,225 [ 1] [ 2] September 30 7:30 p.m. Kent State * W 17–928,416–28,461 [ 3] [ 4] October 6 No. 13Houston * San Diego Stadium San Diego, CA L 9–1437,489 [ 5] [ 6] October 13 New Mexico State * San Diego Stadium San Diego, CA W 27–036,552 [ 7] October 20 7:30 p.m. atPacific (CA) W 13–1014,783–14,785 [ 8] October 27 Florida State * San Diego Stadium San Diego W 38–1726,492 [ 9] November 3 7:30 p.m. atSan Jose State T 27–2718,501 [ 10] November 10 7:30 p.m. Long Beach State San Diego Stadium San Diego, CA W 17–226,961 [ 11] November 17 atFresno State W 41–66,419 [ 12] November 24 7:30 p.m. North Texas State * San Diego Stadium San Diego, CA W 56–917,383 [ 13] December 1 Iowa State * San Diego Stadium San Diego, CA W 41–2938,627 [ 14]
[ 15] [ 16] [ 17]
Team players in the NFL [ edit ] The following were selected in the1974 NFL draft .[ 18]
The following finished their college career in 1973, were not drafted, but played in the NFL.[ 19]
Award Player Most Valuable Player Jesse Freitas Outstanding Offensive & Defensive Linemen Claudie Minor, Off Team captains Jesse Freitas, Off Most Inspirational Player Darold Nogle
[ 16]
^ "Utah State 2016 Media Guide" (PDF) . Archived fromthe original (PDF) on September 28, 2018. RetrievedDecember 8, 2016 .^ "San Diego State Wins, Getting 35 in 2nd Half" .The Los Angeles Times . Los Angeles, California. September 23, 1973. p. III-14. RetrievedMarch 15, 2017 – viaNewspapers.com .^ Ray Yannucci (October 1, 1973)."Flood of Mistakes Ruins Kent State" .The Akron Beacon Journal . Akron, Ohio. p. B-5. RetrievedJanuary 16, 2017 – viaNewspapers.com . ^ "Aztecs slip by Kent State" .Daily Times-Advocate . Escondido, California. October 1, 1973. p. A10 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Houston 2016 Media Guide" (PDF) . Archived fromthe original (PDF) on December 20, 2016. RetrievedDecember 8, 2016 .^ "Houston's 442 Yards Rushing Through Aztecs net 14-9 Win" .The Los Angeles Times . Los Angeles, California. October 7, 1973. p. III-14. RetrievedFebruary 22, 2017 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "49ers Remain Winless, Lose to Pacific 10-6" .The Los Angeles Times . Los Angeles, California. October 14, 1973. p. III-14. RetrievedJanuary 16, 2017 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "PCAA San Diego St. 13, Pacific 10" .The Los Angeles Times . Los Angeles, California. October 21, 1973. p. III-15. RetrievedJanuary 16, 2017 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Aztecs whip Florida St" .Daily Times-Advocate . October 28, 1973. RetrievedSeptember 24, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ Gary Rubin (November 4, 1973)."Aztecs tie Spartans with two seconds left" .The Argus . Fremont-Newark, California. p. 14. RetrievedJanuary 16, 2017 – viaNewspapers.com . ^ Jim McCormack (November 11, 1973)."Aztecs sack 49ers, 17-2" .Independent Press-Telegram . Long Beach, California. p. S-1. RetrievedJanuary 16, 2017 – viaNewspapers.com . ^ "Freitas is just 'peachy' as Aztecs bowl over FSU 41–6 on aerials" .The Fresno Bee . November 18, 1973. RetrievedSeptember 24, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Aztecs sack 49ers, 17-2" .Denton Record-Chronicle . Denton, Texas. November 25, 1973. p. C-1. RetrievedJanuary 16, 2017 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Freitas leads Aztecs to easy 41–28 victory" .The San Francisco Examiner . December 2, 1973. RetrievedSeptember 24, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "San Diego State 1973 Schedule" . RetrievedDecember 6, 2016 .^a b "San Diego State 2016 Football Media Guide" . Archived fromthe original on October 18, 2016. RetrievedDecember 7, 2016 .^ "Schedule/Results (1973 San Diego State)" .NCAA Statistics .National Collegiate Athletic Association . RetrievedSeptember 24, 2025 .^ "1974 NFL Draft" . Archived fromthe original on December 21, 2007. RetrievedDecember 7, 2016 .^ "San Diego St. Players/Alumni" . RetrievedDecember 8, 2016 .
Venues College Field / Aztec Field (1921, 1923–1925, 1927–1928, 1934–1935) Navy "Sports" Field (1922, 1926, 1929–1931, 1933–1934) Balboa Stadium (1921–1925, 1927–1929, 1932, 1934–1935, 1940–1941, 1945–1947, alternate in several other seasons)Aztec Bowl (1936–1942, 1947–1966)San Diego Stadium (1967–2019)Dignity Health Sports Park (2020–2021)Snapdragon Stadium (2022–present)Bowls & rivalries People Seasons National championship seasons in bold
