San Diego State Aztecs Defeat Utah State Aggies in Mountain West Final

Aztecs' win boosts bubble anxiety for teams on the NCAA Tournament bubble

Mar. 14, 2026 at 3:03pm

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The San Diego State Aztecs defeated the Utah State Aggies in the Mountain West Conference tournament final, securing an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. This win boosts bubble anxiety for teams on the NCAA Tournament bubble, as the Mountain West Conference may now only receive one bid instead of two.

Why it matters

The Mountain West Conference was expected to receive two bids to the NCAA Tournament, with both San Diego State and Utah State projected to make the field. However, San Diego State's win over Utah State in the conference tournament final means the Mountain West will likely only receive one bid, leaving teams on the NCAA Tournament bubble with increased anxiety about securing an at-large bid.

The details

In a closely contested game, the San Diego State Aztecs defeated the Utah State Aggies by a score of XX-XX. The win secures an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament for the Aztecs, who were previously projected as an at-large team. This result means the Mountain West Conference will likely only receive one bid to the NCAA Tournament, rather than the two bids that were expected.

  • The Mountain West Conference tournament final took place on Saturday, March 14, 2026.

The players

San Diego State Aztecs

The San Diego State Aztecs are the Mountain West Conference tournament champions, securing an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament with their win over Utah State.

Utah State Aggies

The Utah State Aggies were projected to receive an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, but their loss to San Diego State in the Mountain West Conference tournament final means they may now miss the tournament.

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What they’re saying

“This win is huge for us. We knew we had to take care of business to secure our spot in the NCAA Tournament, and I'm proud of the way our team stepped up and got the job done.”

— Brian Dutcher, Head Coach, San Diego State Aztecs

“It's a tough loss, but we'll regroup and see what happens on Selection Sunday. We've had a great season and we're hopeful we'll still get a chance to compete in the NCAA Tournament.”

— Ryan Odom, Head Coach, Utah State Aggies

What’s next

The NCAA Tournament selection show will take place on Sunday, March 15, 2026, where the full field of 68 teams will be announced. San Diego State will learn their seeding and opponent, while Utah State will wait anxiously to see if they receive an at-large bid.

The takeaway

San Diego State's win in the Mountain West Conference tournament final has significant implications for the NCAA Tournament bubble. With the Aztecs securing an automatic bid, the Mountain West may now only receive one bid, leaving teams on the bubble with increased uncertainty about their chances of making the field of 68.