2018 San Diego Toreros football team

The 2018 San Diego Toreros football team represented the University of San Diego as a member of the Pioneer Football League (PFL) during the 2018 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by sixth-year head coach Dale Lindsey, the Toreros compiled an overall record of 9–3 with a mark of 8–0 in conference play, winning the PFL title. San Diego earned the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division I Football Championship playoffs, where the Toreros lost in the first round to Nicholls. The team played home games at Torero Stadium in San Diego.

2018 San Diego Toreros football
PFL champion
NCAA Division I First Round, L 30–49 vs. Nicholls
Conference	Pioneer Football League
Ranking
STATS	No. 25
FCS Coaches	No. 20
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
Seasons ← 2017 2019 →

2018 Pioneer Football League standings

v t e	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

Preseason

Award watch lists

Award	Player	Position	Year
Walter Payton Award[1]	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.^[2]

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.^[3]

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 Boston, 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	Tenney Stadium at 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 (NCAA Division I 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

^[4][5]

Ranking movements

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes

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

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

See also: 2018 UC Davis Aggies football team

At Harvard

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

See also: 2018 Harvard Crimson football team

Stetson

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

See also: 2018 Stetson Hatters football team

At Morehead State

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

See also: 2018 Morehead State Eagles football team

Dayton

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

See also: 2018 Dayton Flyers football team

At Butler

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

See also: 2018 Butler Bulldogs football team

Jacksonville

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

See also: 2018 Jacksonville Dolphins football team

At Drake

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

See also: 2018 Drake Bulldogs football team

Davidson

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

See also: 2018 Davidson Wildcats football team

At Marist

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

See also: 2018 Marist Red Foxes football team

At Nicholls—NCAA Division I First Round

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

See also: 2018 Nicholls Colonels football team

References

1. "FCS football: 2018 Walter Payton Award watch list". August 1, 2018. Retrieved August 1, 2018.
2. "Twelve First-Team All-PFL returnees highlight Preseason All-PFL Team".
3. "Defending Champion San Diego edges Dayton in PFL Preseason Coaches' Poll".
4. "San Diego Toreros Schedule 2018". ESPN. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
5. "2018 Football Schedule". University of Sam Diego Athletics. Retrieved November 5, 2024.