STONY BROOK, N.Y. – Stony Brook football begins its 2025 season with a road battle against FBS foe San Diego State on Thursday evening at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego. The Seawolves return in the 2025 season after completing the largest turnaround in the FCS during the 2024 campaign.

Stony Brook (2024 record: 8-4) vs. San Diego State (2024 record: 3-9)

WHERE: Snapdragon Stadium
WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 28, 10 p.m. (EST)
HOW TO WATCH: Mountain West TV
LIVE STATS: StatBroadcast

SERIES HISTORY

… OVERALL – 0-0 (First meeting all-time)
… AT STONY BROOK – 0-0
… AT SDSU – 0-0
… FIRST MATCHUP – Aug. 28, 2025
… LAST MATCHUP – N/A
… LAST FIVE – 0-0
… LAST 10 – 0-0

OPENING KICK

• Stony Brook football is set for its season opener tonight, taking on San Diego State for the first time in program history.
• The Seawolves finished the 2024 season 8-4 and in sixth place in the CAA, marking the largest turnaround in the FCS after going 0-10 the year before.
• SDSU is the only FBS team on the 2025 slate for the Seawolves. This Labor Day weekend trip will mark the Seawolves' third visit to a Mountain West team, following losses to Air Force in 2018 and Utah State in 2019.
• The San Diego State matchup continues Stony Brook's streak of facing an FBS opponent in every full season since 2010. A win would mark the program's second-ever victory over an FBS team (Army, 2012).
• SBU has played within two scores of four other FBS opponents since 2012 and came within three points of upsetting Buffalo in 2013 and UConn in 2014. The Buffalo game was decided in five overtimes.
• All-time, Stony Brook has faced FBS teams from the following conferences: American Athletic (4), MAC (3 – with one cancellation mid-game), Mountain West (2), Big East (1), Pac-12 (1), Sun Belt (2), and two FBS Independents.
• The Seawolves are ranked No. 24 in the 2025 Stats Perform FCS Preseason Top 25 Poll—their first preseason ranking since 2018.
• RB Roland Dempster was named a Preseason All-American by FCS Football Central, Phil Steele, and Stats Perform after a historic 2024 season where he was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award (FCS Heisman).
• Stony Brook has been picked to finish fourth in the 2025 CAA Preseason Coaches Poll, with six players earning spots on the CAA Football Preseason All-Conference Team: Niko Papic, Roland Dempster, Enda Kirby, AJ Roberts, Rodney Faulk, and Anthony Ferrelli.

THE COSH ERA CONTINUES

• In his first season at the helm as the second-youngest head coach across FBS/FCS, Billy Cosh led the Seawolves to the largest turnaround in the FCS after being picked to finish last in the Preseason CAA Poll.
• He was named Walter Camp FCS Coach of the Year, AFCA FCS Coach of the Year, AFCA Regional Coach of the Year, and CAA Coach of the Year.
• Cosh became the first head coach in program history to win the Walter Camp Award and only the second-ever first-year head coach to receive the AFCA Coach of the Year honor.
• He is now the fastest coach in program history to reach eight wins and guided Stony Brook to its first winning season since 2018 (7-5).
• The Seawolves' No. 16 national ranking last season was their highest since being ranked No. 17 on Oct. 15, 2018.
• The eight victories marked their most wins since 2017 (10-3), and the team captured its first Golden Apple victory over UAlbany since 2021.

NUMBERS NEVER LIE

• Offensively, the team improved from 15.2 points per game in 2023 to 29.6 points per game in 2024.
• Total offensive yardage jumped from 314.2 to 403.9 yards per game, including a surge in rushing yards from 104.1 to 170.3 and passing yards from 210.1 to 223.6.
• The team's touchdown count skyrocketed from 19 in 2023 to 44 in 2024.
• The defense also saw substantial improvements, limiting opponents to 24.0 points per game compared to 39.2 the previous year.
• Total yards allowed dropped from 470.7 to 373.5 per game, and the Seawolves reduced touchdowns allowed from 53 to 32.
• In 2024, Stony Brook led the CAA and ranked in the FCS Top 10 in fumbles recovered, turnover margin, turnovers gained, and blocked punts allowed. They also ranked in the CAA's Top 3—and the FCS Top 25—in fourth-down conversion percentage, defensive touchdowns, passes intercepted, red zone offense, red zone defense, tackles for loss allowed, and time of possession.

ROLAND, ROLAND, ROLAND ON THE ISLAND

• Dempster returns in 2025 after becoming the second player in program history to be named a finalist for the Walter Payton Award.
• He was named to the 2025 Preseason Stats Perform All-America and FCS Football Central Preseason All-American Teams.
• Last season, Dempster rushed for 1,332 yards on 268 carries and scored 18 rushing touchdowns. He also caught 32 passes for 335 yards and one receiving touchdown, averaging 138.9 all-purpose yards per game.
• He led the CAA in rushing yards and rushing yards per game and ranked third in the FCS in total touchdowns.
• In the program record books, Dempster ranked fourth in single-season rushing yards, second in rushing touchdowns by a running back, and third in total touchdowns in a season.
• Dempster had seven games with more than 100 rushing yards and tallied a touchdown in 9 of 12 games—including seven with multiple touchdowns.

NEW LEADERS ON THE FIELD

• OL Niko Papic, DE Rodney Faulk, LB AJ Roberts, LB Chayce Chalmers, and LB Anthony Ferrelli have been named the captains for the 2025 season.
• Papic, a returning captain, was named a Male NSCA All-American and earned Phil Steele All-CAA and All-CAA Third Team honors. One of only two Seawolves to start every game, he anchored a line that helped generate 403.9 yards per game, including 170.3 on the ground. He paved the way for Roland Dempster's breakout and contributed to Stony Brook leading the CAA in time of possession. This season, he was named to the All-CAA Preseason Team and a Preseason All-American by Phil Steele.
• Faulk, also a returning captain, appeared in all 12 games, recording 37 tackles (17 solo), 10.0 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks. He led the defense with four QB hurries and three forced fumbles. Highlights include three TFLs and two sacks vs. New Hampshire, and 2.5 TFLs with a forced fumble against Morgan State. He also made his first sack of the season at Fordham. Named to the Preseason All-CAA Team.
• Roberts earned Second Team All-CAA and Phil Steele All-CAA honors after leading the team with 86 tackles. He added 4.5 TFLs, a sack, an interception, three pass breakups, three QB hurries, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. He recorded at least four tackles in every game, with a season-high 11 and a pick-six vs. William & Mary. Named to the Preseason All-CAA Team.
• Chalmers had a breakout 2024 season with 56 tackles (26 solo), 7.5 TFLs, and 3.5 sacks. He also recorded a 38-yard fumble return (Towson) and a 26-yard interception return (William & Mary). His season-high of 10 tackles came against Marshall.
• 2025 Preseason All-CAA Honorable Mention Ferrelli returns after a breakout season, earning CSC Academic All-District and Phil Steele Fourth Team All-CAA honors. He posted a career-best 84 tackles (38 solo, 46 assisted), with 5.5 TFLs, 1.5 sacks, three breakups, and a fumble recovery. He ranked Top 20 in the CAA with 7.0 tackles per game and had at least five tackles in 11 games—including double-digit stops vs. Marshall and William & Mary.

OUTLOOK FOR THE AZTECS

• Head coach Sean Lewis enters his second season at the helm of the Aztecs (3-9) and seventh overall after spending five years at Kent State (24-31). A former Wisconsin quarterback-turned-tight end, Lewis brings an up-tempo offensive philosophy.
• The Aztecs were selected to finish eighth in the 2025 Mountain West Preseason Poll.
• DL Trey White was selected as the Preseason Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year—the first DL in program history to receive the honor.
• K Gabe Plascencia was named the Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year, becoming the third player in program history to earn the distinction.
• LB Tano Letuli was named to the Preseason All-Conference Team after leading the team with 70 tackles in 2024 despite missing two games.
• SDSU added QBs Bert Emanuel Jr. (Central Michigan) and Jayden Denegal (Michigan) through the transfer portal. Other key additions include WR Jacob Bostick (Texas A&M), OL Kalan Ellis (Syracuse), DB Hunter Haines (Washington State), RB Bryson Cardwell (California), and TE Jackson Ford (Tulsa).

Bring your group out to Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium and enjoy the thrill of gameday, exclusive group benefits, and great discounted pricing to help create an unforgettable experience. 

Click here or contact the Stony Brook Athletics ticket office at 631-632-WOLF or seawolvestickets@stonybrook.edu to get started. 

More information on each theme and ticket offers will be available throughout the offseason on social media and at StonyBrookAthletics.com.

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