UCLA to face San Diego State at Viejas Arena in October Exhibition
San Diego State fans will have a highly anticipated opportunity to see their Aztecs face UCLA at Viejas Arena next month. The game, scheduled for October 17th, will mark the first time the two teams have played in San Diego with fans in attendance as 2016. Previous meetings at Viejas Arena were limited to a pandemic-era game with no spectators and closed-door scrimmages.
This contest is made possible by new NCAA rules allowing preseason games between Division I opponents with paying customers, beyond charitable events. Tickets will be sold separately from season-ticket packages at a reduced rate, with proceeds benefiting revenue-sharing funds for both universities. SDSU plans to announce pricing and ticket distribution details soon,prioritizing Viejas Arena season ticket holders,followed by season ticket holders in other SDSU sports,and then the general public,if available.
While the game won’t impact either team’s win-loss record or NCAA Tournament eligibility, it holds significant appeal for Aztec Nation. UCLA, with its 11 men’s basketball national championships, represents a premier opponent and a rare opportunity for a home game against a Southern California basketball powerhouse.
The last time the Aztecs played the bruins in front of a public crowd was in 2016 at the Honda center in Anaheim, where SDSU secured a 78-69 victory despite a heavily pro-Aztec crowd. Former UCLA coach Ben Howland described the atmosphere as “unfriendly.”
The exhibition game fills a void in SDSU’s nonconference schedule,which currently lacks a major home contest. The Aztecs are also scheduled to compete in the Players Era Festival in Las Vegas against Michigan and Oregon over Thanksgiving week, and will face Arizona in Phoenix on December 20th. All three opponents are projected to be ranked in the Associated Press preseason top 25. SDSU’s full nonconference and Mountain West schedules are still forthcoming.
The aztecs return a strong core from last year’s NCAA Tournament team, bolstered by new transfers and freshmen. Mountain West freshman and Defensive Player of the Year, Magoon Gwath, is a key returnee, though his availability for the UCLA game is uncertain as he recovers from offseason knee surgery, with a projected return to live action in mid-to-late October.
UCLA’s roster will feature two players familiar to San Diego basketball fans: former New Mexico point guard Donovan Dent and USD forward Steven Jamerson II.The Bruins also return Tyler Bilodeau, Skyy Clark, and Eric Dailey Jr. UCLA is expected to be a preseason top-25 team.
Originally Published: September 2, 2025 at 2:04 PM PDT.
