Cal Poly football opens season with 41-17 win over San Diego

Cal Poly opened its season in impressive fashion on Saturday, earning a 41-17 against the University of San Diego at Torero Stadium.

Cal Poly had long held the upper hand against San Diego, winning five of the last six matchups until the Toreros flipped the script last year with their first win over the Mustangs since 2016 in the FCS playoffs.

On paper, there was nothing flashy about Cal Poly’s opening drives. Yet that’s what made them stand out.

After years of inconsistent offense, the Mustangs finally demonstrated they could execute the basics, and in football, that often proves enough.

San Diego’s defense had few answers for the Mustang attack. The Toreros struggled with missed tackles and costly penalties, including a key pass interference call that set Cal Poly up inside the red zone for its first touchdown.

The Mustangs capitalized, as starting quarterback Ty Dieffenbach found wide receiver Michael Briscoe for a 12-yard score to put Cal Poly on the board early.

A second pass interference penalty against San Diego once again placed the Mustangs deep in the red zone. This time, Dieffenbach connected with Briscoe on a 14-yard strike, extending the lead to 14-0.

The Mustangs’ ability to sustain drives and remain consistent on offense was a sharp contrast to last season, when they ranked near the bottom in most offensive categories. At the same time, San Diego’s defensive mistakes repeatedly gave Cal Poly favorable field position, and the Mustangs took advantage.

Ahead of the season, Head Coach Paul Wulff expressed his confidence in the quarterback rotation and their ability to operate the offense, though he hadn’t named a starter. On Saturday, that opportunity went to Dieffenbach.

Dieffenbach, making his Mustang debut after transferring from the University of Pittsburgh, displayed both his passing ability and athleticism. His speed and long stride allowed him to extend plays and pick up key runs.

The highlight came midway through the first half, when Dieffenbach kept the ball and outran the defense for a 45-yard touchdown rush, pushing the lead to 24-0 and showcasing his dual-threat ability.

San Diego didn’t score until seconds before halftime, completing a 45-yard on a jump ball in the end zone. The Toreros carried that momentum into the third quarter, adding a 35-yard field goal to cut the deficit to 24-10.

With Tyrei Washington carrying the ball on the ground, Dieffenbach contributing as both a passer and runner, and targets like Zion Hall and Briscoe in the mix, Cal Poly’s offense showed a balanced attack that consistently moved the ball into San Diego territory.

San Diego opened the fourth quarter with a 79-yard touchdown run to cut into the deficit, but Cal Poly answered quickly. Dieffenbach connected with Jordan Garrison on a 19-yard pass to the 1-yard line, setting up Washington for a short touchdown run that pushed the lead to 34-17.

Anthony Grigsby Jr. relieved Dieffenbach late and saw time in the second quarter as well. He capped Cal Poly’s scoring with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Alek Marshall, sealing a 41–17 win.

Cal Poly put together one of its most complete offensive performances in recent memory, scoring on all but four drives with a mix of runs, passes and quarterback mobility that San Diego had no answer for.

In his debut, Dieffenbach completed 18 of 27 passes for 263 yards and three scores, while recording no turnovers.

The Mustangs opened the year on the right note, but their schedule stiffens quickly. On Saturday, they’ll travel to face Utah, a Big 12 contender fresh off a 43-10 rout of UCLA, in what will present a far greater test.

Cal Poly will travel to Rice-Eccles Stadium on Sept. 6, with kickoff set for 3 p.m. and the game streaming live on ESPN+.