 Rankings from the AP poll

On November 29, 1981, San Diego State played the Air Force Falcons in the Mitsubishi Mirage Bowl at Tokyo Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, Japan which was a regular season game sponsored by the Mitsubishi Motors, losing 21–16.It is not considered a sanctioned bowl and does not reflect on San Diego States's all-time bowl record.The Aztecs (formerly "Staters") began playing football when SDSU was still known as San Diego Normal School and then San Diego State Teacher's College, and located on Park Boulevard in University Heights.