San Diego State University understands the importance of assisting the media in providing coverage of the institution, its athletics programs, administrators, coaches and student-athletes. To this end, the best attempt will be made to fill reasonable requests by recognized media outlets. It is not permissible for media members to contact any athletics department administrator, associate, coach or student-athlete directly without working through the athletic communications department.
Press Credentials
Season credentials will not be issued for San Diego State football or men’s basketball during the 2026-27 academic year. Working press credentials for the 2026 San Diego State home football games must be submitted though an online credential link, which is located here:
*** ONLINE CREDENTIALING LINK ***
Credential requests must come from the sports editors or the sports directors only. Requests for single games should be made as far in advance as possible and no later than three days in advance of that week’s game (Tuesday for Friday games, Wednesday for Saturday games). You will receive an email regarding the status of your request at a later date. Please note that some requests may not be granted due to our current policy or limited space. Once approved, credentials will be available to be picked up two hours prior to kickoff on game day at the Media Will Call booth near the Northwest Gate at Snapdragon Stadium. Regardless of whether you are picking up a credential or already have it hand, government identification matching the name on the credential must be provided to enter the stadium. Any questions or concerns can be directed to Jamie McConeghy in the San Diego State athletic communications department at jmcconeg@sdsu.edu.
Credential Guidelines
Credentials and working space for media members are issued at the sole and exclusive discretion of the San Diego State Athletic Communications Office based on the following priorities and guidelines:
- Originating television and radio personnel involved in a live broadcast.
- Daily newspapers regularly covering San Diego State, the current-game opponent. Wire services, regional and national publications are also afforded this priority.
- Non-originating radio and television personnel producing reports on the game. Only local radio stations with a full-time sports director conducting a regular sports show receive consideration.
- Officially recognized San Diego State student publications or electronic media outlets.
- Non-daily newspapers reporting on the game who regularly cover San Diego State athletics.
- Individuals and/or media outlets approved by a visiting institution.
Additional Credential Rules
- Credentials are non-transferable and are subject to immediate revocation if transferred.
- Credentials are issued to websites that are affiliated with national or regional television news media organizations.
- San Diego State has the right to deny media credentials to any individual whose web site is not affiliated with a recognized news-gathering organization.
- No credentials will be issued to the following:
- Any website that is not deemed by the San Diego State athletic communications office to have adequate editorial oversight
- Freelancers (writers or photographers/videographers)
- Spouses, guests, or children of credentialed media members
- Persons writing or gathering material for books and/or documentaries
- Representatives of syndicated television stations who are not producing programs for immediate news coverage (i.e., to air within 48 hours)
- Podcasters who do not meet the above credential policies and guidelines
- Agents, scouts and other representatives of professional/international organizations
- Executives and/or staff of news outlets who do not have game day assignments
- Entities devoted solely to gambling
- NIL-related content gatherers and agencies
- Social media influencers, regardless of reach
- Having been credentialed for previous San Diego State events, NCAA Division I events, NCAA championships or other major events, regardless of the sport, does NOT automatically qualify an agency or individual for credentials
- Membership in a writers’ or broadcasters’ association (e.g., Football Writers Association of America) does not automatically qualify an agency for credentials
- Restrictions have been placed on the usage of Internet video of San Diego State athletic events. Highlights of game action and news conferences for San Diego State events cannot exceed three minutes in length per event.
Photographers/Sideline Policy
San Diego State adheres to the NCAA and Pac-12 guidelines regarding media representatives on the sidelines.
- Photo credentials will be issued only to accredited media outlets prior to the game and photo identification must be provided.
- Photographers of major newspapers in the market of the host city, media approved to cover participating teams, broadcast partners and national photo agencies and partners of the NCAA (NCAA Photos, Getty, AP, Imagn/USA Today, Sports Illustrated).
- Freelance photographers/videographers will not be issued credentials.
- All working photographers/videographers must wear a photo/video vest, which should be picked up in the photo/video work room near the south side of the stadium. You will have to show your credential and government identification matching the name on the credential to receive a bid, which must be signed out and returned after the event.
- Working photographers/videographers are permitted to shoot in the designated area (between the two marked dotted lines outside the 20-yard lines). All other media representatives on the field (announcers, reporters, etc.) must stand behind the designated area. This will ensure that photographers/videographers have the appropriate space to do their work.
- According to NCAA policies, the presence of any type of photographer (television or still) in the bench area for all sports is strictly prohibited. According to the NCAA Football Rules and Interpretations Manual (Rule 1, Section 2, Article 4b): "the team area shall be limited to squad members in uniform and a maximum of 40 other individuals directly involved in the game. The 40 individuals not in uniform shall wear special identification." (Rule 1, Section 2, Article 4e): "No media personnel, including journalists, radio and television personnel, or their equipment, shall be in the team area or coaching box, and no media personnel shall communicate in any way with persons in the team area or coaching box."
- San Diego State also prohibits photographers (television or still) from stopping and shooting from directly behind the bench area or into the bench area.
- San Diego State prohibits photographers (television or still) from sitting on the sidelines while shooting.
- Photographers located in the end zone shall be instructed to shoot from one knee.
- Tripods are not allowed on the field at Snapdragon Stadium.
2026-2027 PAC-12 TELEVISION HIGHLIGHT POLICIES
Coming soon.