CS Northridge, Stepping Up in Class, Plays San Diego State

Cal State Northridge, a financially strapped program limited to 17 scholarship players, makes its debut as a Division I-AA football team against Heisman Trophy candidate Marshall Faulk and San Diego State tonight at 6 at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.

Faulk led the NCAA in rushing the last two seasons. He set an NCAA single-game rushing record with 386 yards against Pacific in 1991 before that mark was broken by Kansas’ Tony Sands, with 396 against Missouri later that season.

Despite sitting out the final seven quarters of last season because of a sprained knee, Faulk gained 1,630 yards and finished second in the voting for the Heisman.

San Diego State has 16 returning starters from a team that lost three of its last four games and finished 5-5-1.

Northridge has 10 starters back from a team that finished 5-5 in its final season in Division II. The Matadors moved up because of recent NCAA legislation requiring schools to play in the same division in all sports. Northridge moved to Division I in all sports except football in 1990.