Cal Poly hosts Lincoln University, its first enemy, on Saturday

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Playing three of its next four home games inside Mustang Memorial Field Presented by French Hospital, the Cal Poly football program hosts its first-time opponent, Lincoln University (Oakland, California), the Saturday, September 16. 5:02 pm with action streaming on ESPN+ for Cal Poly (1-1), which handed San Diego a 27-10 loss in its season opener on Sept. 2 before suffering a setback on Sept. 9 in FBS San Jose State. One week away from opening Big Sky Conference action at Portland State, Cal Poly looks to begin a season with back-to-back home wins for the first time since 2014. The Mustangs look to complete non-conference preparations with a winning record for the first time since 2016. Competing in just its third season, Lincoln (0-3) began 2023 with a 37-7 setback at College of Idaho (Aug. 26) before falling to Division II teams Adams State, 35- 16 (September). . 2), and Western Oregon, 29-14 (Sept. 9). Cal Poly counts as the first of eight Division I opponents for unaffiliated Oakland, which plays all 12 of its games this season on the road.

HUARD ON TARGET: A January transfer from Washington, second-year quarterback Sam Huard Cal Poly’s Sept. 2 debut comprised a 23-of-41 performance for 368 yards. Huard now ranks as the Big Sky Conference’s third-leading passer with 434 total yards, 217.0 yards per game and 34 completions. Huard was selected as one of four Cal Poly captains along with junior linebacker. David Meyerdefensive lineman Elías reflects and offensive lineman Garrett Weichman.
THE DEFENSE LEAVES ITS MARK: Cal Poly’s 27-10 season-opening victory against San Diego (September 2) marked the program’s first performance without giving up an offensive touchdown since a 34-3 win at San Diego (November 22, 2014) : An 81-game streak. . San Diego, limited to 241 total yards of offense, scored its touchdown on a 48-yard interception return. With a career-high 12 tackles performance at San Jose State (Sept. 9) and 11 against San Diego, sophomore linebacker. Ethan Calvert He co-leads all Big Sky Conference players with 23 and ranks 15th among FCS players. Junior Elías reflectshonored as Big Sky Defensive Player of the Week on September 3 after producing three sacks against San Diego, remains the conference leader in that category and ranks third nationally.

CALIFORNIA’S WULFF BOULEVARD: Cal Poly’s season-opening 27-10 victory against San Diego (September 2) provided Pablo Wulff his first win as Cal Poly head coach and his first win as a collegiate head coach in 12 years. Having led Eastern Washington to three FCS playoff appearances (2004-05, 2007) before serving as head coach at Washington State (2008-11), Cal Poly’s victory was the first of Wulff as head coach since leading the Cougars to a 37-27 victory. against Arizona State on Nov. 12, 2011. Named the Cal Poly program’s 18th head coach on Dec. 6, 2022, Wulff, a college coaching veteran with nearly three decades of experience, is a three-time recipient of the award. Big Sky Coach of the Year at Eastern Washington (2001, 2004-05) while leading the Eagles to a share of two Big Sky titles. Wulff’s other coaching stops in the Big Sky include Sacramento State (2016-18) and UC Davis (2019). The 2023 season marks Wulff’s 13th as a collegiate head coach.

MAKING HISTORY: Saturday’s game is the 982nd in university history and the 322nd game Cal Poly will have played since moving to the Football Championship Subdivision level in 1994. The Mustangs are currently 156-165 as a program FCS. The 100th game at the FCS level was a 34-13 win at Texas-El Paso (September 6, 2003), while the 200th was a 41-10 win at South Alabama to end the 2011 season. Game No. 300 was a 48-14 loss to South Dakota (September 18, 2021). The 100th FCS win was at Old Dominion, 50-37 (Oct. 9, 2010), and the 100th loss was to Eastern Washington, 35-22 (Nov. 16, 2013). Cal Poly earned its 500th all-time victory at Portland State in October 2017 and will play its 105th season overall and 30th in the FCS this fall. Cal Poly was a member of the now-defunct American West Conference (Southern Utah, Sacramento State, CSUN) before becoming an independent in 1996. After eight years as an FCS Independent, the Mustangs became charter members of the Conference of Great West football in 2004. After eight seasons in the Great West (and four titles), Cal Poly moved to the Big Sky Conference in 2012, capturing the title in its first season.

THE BIG SKY IS THE LIMIT: Competing in the deepest conference in the Football Championship Subdivision, five of Cal Poly’s 11 games this fall (46 percent) face ranked Big Sky opponents (current ranking at time of matchup):



Date Opponent (Coaches Poll/Stats Performance) Result
September 30 UC Davis (16/16) —
October 7 Idaho (5/10) —
October 14 at Montana State (3/3) —
Nov. 11 at Sacramento State (8/6) —
Nov. 18 Weber State (9/7) —

CAL POLY AGAINST THE BIG SKY: Since moving to the Football Championship Subdivision in 1994, Cal Poly is 63-87 against Big Sky opponents. Since joining the conference as an associate member for the 2012 season, Cal Poly is 34-48 in Big Sky play.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE (SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 23): Cal Poly opens its 11th fall of Big Sky Conference action when it visits Portland State on Saturday, September 23 at 1 p.m. Cal Poly has won three of its last four against the Vikings, including a 49-42 home win to close the last fall. Cal Poly also won two of its three visits to Portland State as a Big Sky opponent. The Vikings, however, won the last meeting at Hillsboro Stadium on October 30, 2021 (42-41). The Mustangs lead the all-time series, 13-11, since the first meeting (a 29-22 Cal Poly road win) on Sept. 10, 1977. A win Saturday against Lincoln by Cal Poly along with a victory at Portland State allow Pablo Wulff to become the first first-year Mustang head coach with wins in three of his first four games in charge.

ETC.: The Cal Poly program is in its 105th all-time season and is playing its 29th fall in Football Championship Subdivision competition… Cal Poly improved to 8-1 all-time against San Diego with an opening win season 27-10 (September 2). ) while improving to 9-1 all-time against Pioneer Football League opponents… Cal Poly’s leading tackler last fall, junior linebacker David Meyer was named to Big Sky Media’s preseason all-conference team as part of the league’s football kickoff weekend in July…quarterback Sam Huard 87-yard completion for the second-year tight end Carlton Brown during Cal Poly’s opener on September 2 against San Diego marked Cal Poly’s longest pass play since an 89-yard effort by Chris Brown at South Dakota State (September 6, 2014)… Cal Poly lost their ninth consecutive matchup against FBS competition on September 9. at San Jose State, a streak that dates back to a 24-22 win at Wyoming (September 15, 2012).