Saturday, September 2
San Luis Obispo, CA
3:02 p.m.
vs
San Diego
Photo by: Owen Main
Cal Poly Hosts San Diego Saturday to Open 2023 Season
8/29/2023 1:50:00 PM | Football
CAL POLY WEEKLY RELEASE | BIG SKY CONFERENCE RELEASE
WATCH | LISTEN | LIVE STATS
SAN LUIS OBISPO – The Cal Poly football program – under the direction of first-year head coach Paul Wulff – opens the 2023 season, its 29th fall of Football Championship Subdivision competition and 105th overall campaign when welcoming San Diego to Mustang Memorial Field Presented by French Hospital on Saturday, Sept. 2. Kickoff is 3:02 p.m. with action streamed on ESPN+ for Cal Poly, which returned 61 letterwinners and 22 starters from last fall while welcoming five FBS transfers to the Aug. 3 opening day of preseason camp. With Cal Poly beginning the year against San Diego for the third time in the last four years, fifth time since 2012 and for the second successive season after edging the Toreros in 2022, 28-27, Saturday's matchup marks the first of six home games for the Mustangs this fall. Opening at home for just the third fall since 2014, Cal Poly closed a 2-9 season last November with a 49-42 home victory against Portland State. San Diego, meanwhile, finished 5-5 last season, completing the 2022 campaign with four wins in its last six games.
CAL POLY VERSUS SAN DIEGO AND THE PIONEER FOOTBALL LEAGUE: Cal Poly has won three straight against San Diego and prevailed in seven of the eight all-time matchups dating to the first meeting on Sept. 1, 2012 (41-14). San Diego's only victory against Cal Poly remains a 35-21 decision during the first round of the 2016 FCS playoffs. Cal Poly's only other matchup against a Pioneer Football League program was a 44-24 home victory against Dayton on Nov. 15, 1997.
CAL POLY IN SEASON OPENERS: Since beginning FCS action in 1994, Cal Poly has won 13 of 29 season openers, but two of its last three fall openers with a 2021 victory at San Diego (28-17) and 2019 home win against the Toreros (52-34). Cal Poly fell in last season's opener at Fresno State, 35-7.
THE WULFF OF CALIFORNIA BOULEVARD: A familiar face takes to the Mustang Memorial Field sideline for Cal Poly in 2023 with Paul Wulff – who led Eastern Washington to three FCS Playoff appearances (2004-05, 2007) before serving as head coach at Washington State (2008-11) – named the program's 18th all-time head coach on Dec. 6, 2022. Wulff was promoted after serving as Cal Poly's offensive line coach and running game coordinator the last three years and the program's associate head coach last fall. A near three-decade collegiate coaching veteran, Wulff – a three-time Big Sky Coach of the Year recipient at Eastern Washington (2001, 2004-05) – directed the Eagles to a share of two Big Sky titles. His other Big Sky coaching stops include Sacramento State (2016-18) and UC Davis (2019). The 2023 season marks Wulff's 13th as a collegiate head coach.
MEYER NAMED TO BIG SKY MEDIA PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM: Cal Poly's leading tackler last fall, junior linebacker David Meyer – one of the program's four captains alongside quarterback Sam Huard, defensive lineman Elijah Ponder and offensive lineman Garrett Weichman – was named to the Big Sky Media Preseason All-Conference Team as part of the league's July Football Kickoff Weekend. Meyer led Cal Poly in 2022 and finished 12th among Big Sky players with 85 total tackles. Playing all 11 games last fall, Meyer's 2022 tally included 57 solo tackles, 4.5 sacks, a pair of forced fumbles and one interception during Cal Poly's Nov. 19 season-ending, 49-42 home victory against Portland State. Meyer produced a career high 12 tackles at UC Davis (Oct. 29), 11 versus Portland State and 10 during a late loss at Northern Arizona (Oct. 8).
HISTORY IN THE MAKING: Saturday's game is the 980th in university history and the 320th game Cal Poly has played since moving to the Football Championship Subdivision level in 1994. The Mustangs are currently 155-164 as an FCS program. The 100th game at the FCS level was a 34-13 win at Texas-El Paso (Sept. 6, 2003) while the 200th was a 41-10 triumph at South Alabama to end the 2011 season. Game No. 300 was a 48-14 loss to South Dakota (Sept. 18, 2021). The 100th FCS win was at Old Dominion, 50-37 (Oct. 9, 2010), and the 100th loss was to Eastern Washington, 35-22 (Nov. 16, 2013). Cal Poly earned its 500th all-time win at Portland State in October 2017 and is playing its 105th overall season and 30th in the FCS this fall. Cal Poly was a member of the now-defunct American West Conference (Southern Utah, Sacramento State, CSUN) before becoming an independent in 1996. After eight years as an FCS Independent, the Mustangs became a charter member of the Great West Football Conference in 2004. Following eight seasons in the Great West (and four titles), Cal Poly moved to the Big Sky Conference in 2012, capturing the title in its first season.
BIG SKY'S THE LIMIT: Competing in the Football Championship Subdivision's deepest conference, five of Cal Poly's 11 games this fall – 46 percent – come against ranked Big Sky opponents (ranking current at time of matchup):
Date Opponent (Coaches Poll/Stats Perform) Result
Sept. 30 UC Davis (17/16) --
Oct. 7 Idaho (13/8) --
Oct. 14 at Montana State (3/3) --
Nov. 11 at Sacramento State (8/10) --
Nov. 18 Weber State (10/13) --
CAL POLY AGAINST THE BIG SKY: Since moving to the Football Championship Subdivision in 1994, Cal Poly is 63-87 against Big Sky opposition. Since joining the conference as an associate member for the 2012 season, Cal Poly is 34-48 in Big Sky play.
LOOKING AHEAD: After going winless in six attempts on the road last fall, Cal Poly looks to snap an 11-game slide away from Mustang Memorial Field at San Jose State on Saturday, Sept. 9. Kickoff is 1 p.m. for the Mustangs, whose last road victory was a 28-17 decision at San Diego (Sept. 4, 2021). Cal Poly's last victory against an FBS program came on Sept. 15, 2012 with the Mustangs edging Wyoming, 24-22. San Jose State has prevailed in all three matchups against Cal Poly at the Division I level, handing the Mustangs defeats in 2017 (34-13), 2009 (19-9) and 2006 (17-7). Cal Poly's last victory against San Jose State was a 10-6 road win on Oct. 11, 1958.
WATCH | LISTEN | LIVE STATS
SAN LUIS OBISPO – The Cal Poly football program – under the direction of first-year head coach Paul Wulff – opens the 2023 season, its 29th fall of Football Championship Subdivision competition and 105th overall campaign when welcoming San Diego to Mustang Memorial Field Presented by French Hospital on Saturday, Sept. 2. Kickoff is 3:02 p.m. with action streamed on ESPN+ for Cal Poly, which returned 61 letterwinners and 22 starters from last fall while welcoming five FBS transfers to the Aug. 3 opening day of preseason camp. With Cal Poly beginning the year against San Diego for the third time in the last four years, fifth time since 2012 and for the second successive season after edging the Toreros in 2022, 28-27, Saturday's matchup marks the first of six home games for the Mustangs this fall. Opening at home for just the third fall since 2014, Cal Poly closed a 2-9 season last November with a 49-42 home victory against Portland State. San Diego, meanwhile, finished 5-5 last season, completing the 2022 campaign with four wins in its last six games.
CAL POLY VERSUS SAN DIEGO AND THE PIONEER FOOTBALL LEAGUE: Cal Poly has won three straight against San Diego and prevailed in seven of the eight all-time matchups dating to the first meeting on Sept. 1, 2012 (41-14). San Diego's only victory against Cal Poly remains a 35-21 decision during the first round of the 2016 FCS playoffs. Cal Poly's only other matchup against a Pioneer Football League program was a 44-24 home victory against Dayton on Nov. 15, 1997.
CAL POLY IN SEASON OPENERS: Since beginning FCS action in 1994, Cal Poly has won 13 of 29 season openers, but two of its last three fall openers with a 2021 victory at San Diego (28-17) and 2019 home win against the Toreros (52-34). Cal Poly fell in last season's opener at Fresno State, 35-7.
THE WULFF OF CALIFORNIA BOULEVARD: A familiar face takes to the Mustang Memorial Field sideline for Cal Poly in 2023 with Paul Wulff – who led Eastern Washington to three FCS Playoff appearances (2004-05, 2007) before serving as head coach at Washington State (2008-11) – named the program's 18th all-time head coach on Dec. 6, 2022. Wulff was promoted after serving as Cal Poly's offensive line coach and running game coordinator the last three years and the program's associate head coach last fall. A near three-decade collegiate coaching veteran, Wulff – a three-time Big Sky Coach of the Year recipient at Eastern Washington (2001, 2004-05) – directed the Eagles to a share of two Big Sky titles. His other Big Sky coaching stops include Sacramento State (2016-18) and UC Davis (2019). The 2023 season marks Wulff's 13th as a collegiate head coach.
MEYER NAMED TO BIG SKY MEDIA PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM: Cal Poly's leading tackler last fall, junior linebacker David Meyer – one of the program's four captains alongside quarterback Sam Huard, defensive lineman Elijah Ponder and offensive lineman Garrett Weichman – was named to the Big Sky Media Preseason All-Conference Team as part of the league's July Football Kickoff Weekend. Meyer led Cal Poly in 2022 and finished 12th among Big Sky players with 85 total tackles. Playing all 11 games last fall, Meyer's 2022 tally included 57 solo tackles, 4.5 sacks, a pair of forced fumbles and one interception during Cal Poly's Nov. 19 season-ending, 49-42 home victory against Portland State. Meyer produced a career high 12 tackles at UC Davis (Oct. 29), 11 versus Portland State and 10 during a late loss at Northern Arizona (Oct. 8).
HISTORY IN THE MAKING: Saturday's game is the 980th in university history and the 320th game Cal Poly has played since moving to the Football Championship Subdivision level in 1994. The Mustangs are currently 155-164 as an FCS program. The 100th game at the FCS level was a 34-13 win at Texas-El Paso (Sept. 6, 2003) while the 200th was a 41-10 triumph at South Alabama to end the 2011 season. Game No. 300 was a 48-14 loss to South Dakota (Sept. 18, 2021). The 100th FCS win was at Old Dominion, 50-37 (Oct. 9, 2010), and the 100th loss was to Eastern Washington, 35-22 (Nov. 16, 2013). Cal Poly earned its 500th all-time win at Portland State in October 2017 and is playing its 105th overall season and 30th in the FCS this fall. Cal Poly was a member of the now-defunct American West Conference (Southern Utah, Sacramento State, CSUN) before becoming an independent in 1996. After eight years as an FCS Independent, the Mustangs became a charter member of the Great West Football Conference in 2004. Following eight seasons in the Great West (and four titles), Cal Poly moved to the Big Sky Conference in 2012, capturing the title in its first season.
BIG SKY'S THE LIMIT: Competing in the Football Championship Subdivision's deepest conference, five of Cal Poly's 11 games this fall – 46 percent – come against ranked Big Sky opponents (ranking current at time of matchup):
Date Opponent (Coaches Poll/Stats Perform) Result
Sept. 30 UC Davis (17/16) --
Oct. 7 Idaho (13/8) --
Oct. 14 at Montana State (3/3) --
Nov. 11 at Sacramento State (8/10) --
Nov. 18 Weber State (10/13) --
CAL POLY AGAINST THE BIG SKY: Since moving to the Football Championship Subdivision in 1994, Cal Poly is 63-87 against Big Sky opposition. Since joining the conference as an associate member for the 2012 season, Cal Poly is 34-48 in Big Sky play.
LOOKING AHEAD: After going winless in six attempts on the road last fall, Cal Poly looks to snap an 11-game slide away from Mustang Memorial Field at San Jose State on Saturday, Sept. 9. Kickoff is 1 p.m. for the Mustangs, whose last road victory was a 28-17 decision at San Diego (Sept. 4, 2021). Cal Poly's last victory against an FBS program came on Sept. 15, 2012 with the Mustangs edging Wyoming, 24-22. San Jose State has prevailed in all three matchups against Cal Poly at the Division I level, handing the Mustangs defeats in 2017 (34-13), 2009 (19-9) and 2006 (17-7). Cal Poly's last victory against San Jose State was a 10-6 road win on Oct. 11, 1958.
Players Mentioned
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