2018 San Diego Toreros football team

The 2018 San Diego Toreros football team represented the University of San Diego during the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by sixth-year head coach Dale Lindsey and played their home games at Torero Stadium. They were a member of the Pioneer Football League. They finished the season 9–3, 8–0 in PFL play to be PFL champions. They earned the PFL's automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs where they lost in the first round to Nicholls.

2018 San Diego Toreros football
Pioneer Football League champion
FCS Playoffs First Round, L 30–49 vs. Nicholls
Conference	Pioneer Football League
Ranking
STATS	No. 25
FCS Coaches	No. 20
2018 record	9–3 (8–0 PFL)
Head coach	Dale Lindsey (6th season)
Co-offensive coordinator	Jim Jackson (1st season)
Co-offensive coordinator	Christian Taylor (1st season)
Defensive coordinator	Bobby Jay (1st season)
Home stadium	Torero Stadium (Capacity: 5,792)

2018 Pioneer Football League standings
	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 25 San Diego $^		8	–	0					9	–	3
Stetson		6	–	2					8	–	2
Drake		6	–	2					7	–	4
Marist		5	–	3					5	–	6
Dayton		5	–	3					6	–	5
Davidson		3	–	5					6	–	5
Butler		2	–	6					4	–	7
Morehead State		2	–	6					3	–	8
Valparaiso		2	–	6					2	–	9
Jacksonville		1	–	7					2	–	8
$ – Conference champion ^ – FCS playoff participant Rankings from STATS Poll

Previous season

The Toreros finished the 2017 season 10–3, 8–0 in PFL play to be crowned Pioneer Football League champions. They received the PFL's automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs where they defeated Northern Arizona in the first round[1] before losing to North Dakota State in the second round for the second consecutive year.[2][3]

Preseason

Award watch lists

Award	Player	Position	Year
Walter Payton Award[4]	Anthony Lawrence	QB	SR

Preseason All-PFL team

The PFL released their preseason all-PFL team on July 30, 2018, with the Toreros having four players selected.[5]

Offense Anthony Lawrence – QB Zack Nelson – FB Daniel Cooney – OL

Defense Connor Spencer – DL

Preseason coaches poll

The PFL released their preseason coaches poll on July 31, 2018, with the Toreros predicted to finish as PFL champions.[6]

Predicted finish	Team	Votes (1st place)
1	San Diego	81 (9)
2	Dayton	72 (1)
3	Drake	58
T–4	Butler	48
T–4	Valparaiso	48
6	Jacksonville	47
7	Marist	44
8	Morehead State	22
9	Stetson	19
10	Davidson	11

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Rank	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
September 1	2:00 p.m.	Western New Mexico*		Torero Stadium San Diego, CA	TheW.tv via Stadium	W 38–9	2,023
September 8	7:00 p.m.	at UC Davis*		Aggie Stadium Davis, CA	Pluto TV	L 21–54	7,305
September 15	9:00 a.m.	at Harvard*		Harvard Stadium Allston, MA	ESPN+	L 14–36	8,709
September 29	2:00 p.m.	Stetson		Torero Stadium San Diego, CA	TheW.tv via Stadium	W 49–10	1,471
October 6	9:00 a.m.	at Morehead State		Jayne Stadium Morehead, KY	ESPN+	W 51–34	5,557
October 13	2:00 p.m.	Dayton		Torero Stadium San Diego, CA	TheW.tv via Stadium	W 36–34	2,997
October 20	9:00 a.m.	at Butler		Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl Indianapolis, IN	Facebook Live	W 42–13	2,071
October 27	2:00 p.m.	Jacksonville		Torero Stadium San Diego, CA	TheW.tv via Stadium	W 59–35	1,047
November 3	10:30 a.m.	at Drake		Drake Stadium Des Moines, IA	Bulldog Vision	W 27–10	1,522
November 10	2:00 p.m.	Davidson		Torero Stadium San Diego, CA	TheW.tv via Stadium	W 56–52	3,115
November 17	9:00 a.m.	at Marist	No. 21	Leonidoff Field Poughkeepsie, NY		W 31–14	1,254
November 24	1:00 p.m.	at No. 14 Nicholls*	No. 19	John L. Guidry Stadium Thibodaux, LA (FCS Playoffs First Round)	ESPN3	L 30–49	8,571
*Non-conference game Homecoming Rankings from STATS Poll released prior to the game All times are in Pacific time

• Source: Schedule

Game summaries

Western New Mexico

	1	2	3	4	Total
Mustangs	0	3	6	0	9
Toreros	21	7	10	0	38

at UC Davis

	1	2	3	4	Total
Toreros	0	0	21	0	21
Aggies	7	13	7	27	54

at Harvard

	1	2	3	4	Total
Toreros	3	3	8	0	14
Crimson	27	0	3	6	36

Stetson

	1	2	3	4	Total
Hatters	0	7	3	0	10
Toreros	14	14	14	7	49

at Morehead State

	1	2	3	4	Total
Toreros	14	17	13	7	51
Eagles	7	7	12	8	34

Dayton

	1	2	3	4	Total
Flyers	7	7	7	13	34
Toreros	6	17	0	13	36

at Butler

	1	2	3	4	Total
Toreros	14	21	7	0	42
Bulldogs	0	0	6	7	13

Jacksonville

	1	2	3	4	Total
Dolphins	7	7	14	7	35
Toreros	7	21	14	17	59

at Drake

	1	2	3	4	Total
Toreros	13	7	7	0	27
Bulldogs	0	7	3	0	10

Davidson

	1	2	3	4	Total
Wildcats	24	14	7	7	52
Toreros	7	28	7	14	56

at Marist

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 21 Toreros	10	14	7	0	31
Red Foxes	0	0	7	7	14

FCS Playoffs

at Nicholls–First Round

	1	2	3	4	Total
No. 19 Toreros	7	3	13	7	30
No. 14 Colonels	21	14	7	7	49

Ranking movements

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking. ██ Decrease in ranking.
NR = Not ranked. RV = Received votes. т = Tied with team above or below. ( ) = First place votes.

	Week
Poll	Pre	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	Final
STATS FCS	RV	RV	RV	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	RV	RV	RV	21	19	25
Coaches	RV	RV	RV	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	NR	RV	RV	22	19	20

References

1. "San Diego vs. Northern Arizona - Game Recap - November 25, 2017 - ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
2. Norcross, Don. "Toreros fall in FCS playoffs to North Dakota State". sandiegouniontribune.com. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
3. "North Dakota State rolls past San Diego again, 38-3". WTOP. 2017-12-02. Archived from the original on 2018-01-19. Retrieved 2018-01-18.
4. "FCS football: 2018 Walter Payton Award watch list". August 1, 2018. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
5. "Twelve First-Team All-PFL returnees highlight Preseason All-PFL Team".
6. "Defending Champion San Diego edges Dayton in PFL Preseason Coaches’ Poll".