LOGAN, Utah -

USU Game Notes

UU Game Notes

(RV) UTAH STATE (1-0) vs. (RV) UTAH (1-0)
FRIDAY, SEPT. 11, 2015 • 7:05 P.M. (MT) • SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH • RICE-ECCLES STADIUM (45,807)

GAME TWO INFORMATION
• Surface: FieldTurf
• Series History: Utah leads 78-29-4

TV: ESPN2
• Play-by-Play: Dave Flemming
• Analyst: Mack Brown
• Reporter: Allison Williams

RADIO: AGGIE SPORTS NETWORK
• Play-by-Play: Al Lewis
• Analyst: Craig Hislop
• Online: 610kvnu.com
• National: Sirius 108 / XM 197

TWITTER: #USUAGGIES
• Official Account: @USUFootball

ONLINE: UTAHSTATEAGGIES.COM
UtahStateAggies.com offers the most complete and comprehensive coverage of the Aggies on gameday.

AGGIES PLAY AT UTAH ON ESPN2
• Utah State (1-0) will play its first road game of the 2015 season at in-state rival Utah (1-0) on Friday, Sept. 11, at 7:05 p.m., in a game that will be nationally televised on ESPN2.

• Utah State is playing Utah for the 112th time in series history, which is the oldest rivalry in school history. The series began in 1892 with a USU win (12-0) and the two teams played one another on an annual basis for 90 straight years (1919-2009), minus the 1943 season when neither school fielded a team due to World War II. However, in 2010 the series took a two-year hiatus before the two teams played back-to-back games in 2012 and 2013. USU and UU did not play each other last year.

• The Utah State vs. Utah series is tied for the 14th-most played series in the nation at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level and tied for the 23rd-most played series in college football. USU's second-oldest rival is BYU (84 games).

• Utah State is 7-7 on the road under head coach Matt Wells, including a 1-4 non-conference road record. In all, USU has won 14 of its last 23 road games dating back to the 2012 season.

WHAT TO WATCH FOR FRIDAY
• Utah State has won 36 of its last 48 games (.750) and those 36 wins are the third-most in the West behind Oregon (42) and Boise State (37).

• Utah State is 1-0 to start a season for the first time since 2012 and for just the sixth time dating back to 1979, a span of 36 years. Overall, USU has won its season-opener 61 times in school history. The last time USU started the season 2-0 was in 2012 when it posted back-to-back home wins against Southern Utah (34-3) and Utah (27-20 OT). The Aggies have started a season 2-0 just 37 times in school history.

• Utah State redshirt senior QB Chuckie Keeton has 58 career touchdown passes and is just two touchdown passes away from tying the school record of 60 set by Jose Fuentes (1998-2002). Keeton is also just 20 pass attempts away from tying Diondre Borel (2007-10) for second all-time in school history with 922 pass attempts.

• Utah State has won nine of its last 12 games played during the month of September, including three of its last six on the road. USU is also 5-3 all-time in games played on Sept. 11.

UTAH STATE PLAYS AT UTAH IN FIRST ROAD GAME OF 2015 SEASON
Utah State (1-0, 0-0 MW) will play at Utah (1-0, 0-0 Pac-12) in its first road game of the 2015 season on Friday, Sept. 11, at 7:05 p.m. (MT). The game will be televised nationally on ESPN2 and live audio of the game is available on www.UtahStateAggies.com. USU, which is 526-517-31 (.504) in its 118th season, has 11 nationally televised games on ESPN, CBS Sports Network and the Pac-12 Network in 2015.

UTAH STATE IN THE PRESEASON POLLS
Utah State received four top-25 votes in the preseason Amway Coaches Poll to rank tied for 43rd in the nation, along with Marshall. It is the third-straight year that USU has received preseason votes in either the Associated Press or Coaches Poll.

A LOOK AT UTAH STATE
Utah State is 1-0 on the season following its 12-9 home win against Southern Utah last weekend. Offensively, USU is led by redshirt senior QB Chuckie Keeton, who is 16-of-33 passing for 110 yards with one interception and no touchdowns. Sophomore RB LaJuan Hunt leads the team in rushing with 80 yards on 23 carries and sophomore WR Braelon Roberts has a team-best four receptions for 25 yards. Defensively, junior LB Nick Vigil leads the team with 13 tackles, which includes 2.0 tackles for loss, while senior LB Kyler Fackrell has five tackles and a team-best 2.5 tackles for loss, which includes 2.0 sacks. As a team, Utah State is averaging 12.0 points and 250.0 yards of total offense (140.0 - rushing, 110.0 - passing) and allowing 9.0 points and 163.0 yards of total offense (111.0 - passing, 52.0 - rushing).

FIRST TIME STARTERS
Utah State had six players make their first career start against Southern Utah last weekend in senior SS Marwin Evans, senior CB Tyler Floyd, senior NG David Moala, senior OL Ben Wysocki, junior DE Ricky Ali'ifua, redshirt junior WR Andrew Rodriguez and redshirt freshman WR Zach Van Leeuwen.

FOURTEEN AGGIES GET FIRST DIVISION I EXPERIENCE AGAINST SOUTHERN UTAH
Utah State had 14 players play in their first-ever Division I game against Southern Utah last week in redshirst freshman LB Chasen Andersen, junior LB Brock Carmen, redshirt freshman LB Chase Christiansen, sophomore WR Jaren Colston-Green, redshirt freshman P Aaron Dalton, redshirt junior DE Edmund Faimalo, redshirt freshman WR Tyler Fox, sophomore OL Jarom Ioane, junior RB Devante Mays, freshman TE Dax Raymond, redshirt freshman FS Jontrell Rocquemore, redshirt freshman NG Gasetoto Schuster, redshirt freshman WR Zach Van Leeuwen and redshirt freshman SS Aaron Wade.

THREE AGGIES SUSPENDED FOR FIRST TWO GAMES OF 2015 SEASON
Utah State head coach Matt Wells announced Aug. 8 that sophomore OL Tyshon Mosley, senior WR Hunter Sharp and senior CB Bryant Hayes were suspended for the first two games of the 2015 season for a violation of team rules. Mosley started 11 games a year ago as a redshirt freshman and played in all 14 at left guard. Sharp earned honorable mention all-Mountain West honors in his first season with the Aggies a year ago as he played in all 14 games, making 12 starts, and Hayes played in 12 games, making three starts a year ago.

AGGIE DEFENSIVE LINEMEN CONTINUE TO RECOVER FROM CAR CRASH
On June 28, 2015, Utah State had four defensive linemen, along with a former USU softball player, involved in a car crash in Cache Valley. Those four football players injured in the accident were senior NG Travis Seefeldt, senior DE John Taylor, redshirt junior DE Edmund Faimalo and redshirt freshman DE Adewale Adeoye. Taylor and Faimalo both played in USU's season opener against Southern Utah, while Adeoye continues to improve and is practicing with the team. As for Seefeldt, he will most likely miss the 2015 season and apply for a medical redshirt with the NCAA and Mountain West.

UTAH STATE COACHING CHANGES FOR 2015
Utah State's coaching staff had just two changes during the off-season as third-year head coach Matt Wells hired Josh Heupel as the assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach and Kevin Clune as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Heupel replaces Kevin McGiven, who was named the quarterbacks coach at Oregon State, while Clune replaces Todd Orlando, who was named the defensive coordinator at Houston.

UTAH STATE ONE OF JUST SEVEN PROGRAMS WITH NEW COORDINATORS
Utah State is one of just seven FBS programs to have new offensive and defensive coordinators for the 2015 season, despite having the same head coach as the previous year, along with Bowling Green, Central Florida, Hawai'i, New Mexico State, Utah and Vanderbilt.

DID YOU KNOW?
Utah State is one of just four FBS programs to win at least 30 games and record three bowl victories in the past three years joining Clemson, Michigan State and Oregon.

A QUICK LOOK AT UTAH
Utah is 1-0 on the season following its 24-17 home win against Michigan last weekend. The Utes are led by senior QB Travis Wilson, who is 24-of-33 passing for 208 yards with one interception and no touchdowns. Senior RB Devontae Booker leads the team in rushing as he has carried the ball 22 times for 69 yards and one touchdown. Booker also leads the team in receiving as he has seven receptions for 55 yards. Defensively, senior LB Gionni Paul has a team-best 14 tackles, including 0.5 tackles for loss, while senior SS Tevin Carter has nine tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss. As a team, Utah is averaging 24.0 points and 337.0 yards of total offense (208.0 - passing, 129.0 - rushing) and allowing 17.0 points and 355.0 yards of total offense (279.0 - passing, 76.0 - rushing). Utah returns 15 starters (O-7, D-8) and 57 lettermen (O-28, D-27, S-2) from last year's team that went 9-4 and finished in fifth place in the South Division of the Pac-12 Conference with a 5-4 record. The Utes concluded their season with a 45-10 win against Colorado State in the Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl. Utah had five players named to the preseason all-Pac-12 team in senior RB Devontae Booker, senior LB Jared Norris, senior P Tom Hackett, junior DL Hunter Dimick and junior PK Andy Phillips. Utah is coached by Kyle Whittingham, who is 86-43 in 10 seasons as a collegiate head coach.

AGGIES AND UTES SERIES HISTORY
Utah State trails in the all-time series against Utah, 29-78-4, including a 17-53-4 record in Salt Lake City. Overall, Utah had won 12 straight games played in the series before Utah State's 27-20 overtime win in Logan in 2012. The last time the two teams played in Salt Lake City was on Aug. 29, 2013, with the Utes winning 30-26. In fact, Utah has won each of the last seven games played in Salt Lake City as USU's last win at Utah was on Aug. 30, 1997 by a final score of 21-14.

TOP AGGIE PERFORMERS AGAINST UTAH
Rushing Yards: Louie Giammona (1974), 207 on 31 carries
Passing Yards: Tony Adams (1972), 561 - 30-of-43
Receiving Yards: Craig Clark (1972), 224 on 8 receptions

UTAH STATE - UTAH CONNECTIONS
Utah State defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Kevin Clune was a graduate assistant at Utah for two years (2001-02). Clune was also on staff at Southern Utah with current Utah co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Aaron Roderick for two years (2003-04). Senior LB LT Filiaga spent three seasons at Utah (2009, 2012-13), playing in 20 games with two starts.

UTAH STATE AGAINST THE PAC-12 CONFERENCE
Utah State is 40-122-5 (.254) all-time against current members of the Pac-12 Conference as it is 29-78-4 against Utah, 6-11-1 against Colorado, 2-11-0 against Arizona State, 2-4 against Arizona, 1-2 against Washington State, 0-5 against USC, 0-4 against Oregon, 0-3 against Oregon State, 0-2 against Washington, and 0-1 against both Stanford and UCLA. The only current Pac-12 team that USU has not played is California.

WELLS AGAINST THE PAC-12 CONFERENCE
Utah State's Matt Wells is 0-2 all-time against the Pac-12 Conference as he lost at Utah (30-26) and at USC (17-14) in 2013 in his first year as the Aggies' head coach.

UTAH STATE VERSUS BCS OPPONENTS
Utah State is 46-174-5 (.216) all-time against current BCS schools and has been very competitive in games against BCS opponents during the last six years. In 2009, USU lost at Texas A&M, 38-30. In 2010, USU lost at No. 7 Oklahoma, 31-24. In 2011, USU lost at defending national champion and No. 19 Auburn, 42-38, after leading for the majority of the game. In 2012, USU defeated Utah at home, 27-20 (OT), and lost at No. 22 Wisconsin, 16-14. In 2013, USU lost at Utah, 30-26, and lost at USC, 17-14. And in 2014, USU lost at Tennessee, 38-7, and defeated Wake Forest, 36-24.

FROM THE STATE OF UTAH
Utah State has 40 players in its program from the state of Utah, while Utah has 40 players on its active roster from the Beehive State.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
Utah State is 17-24-1 all-time in games played on Friday and went 3-0 in Friday games a year ago with a road win at No. 18 BYU (35-20), a road win at Wyoming (20-3) and a home win against San José State (41-7). Overall, USU is 4-1 in Friday games under head coach Matt Wells, with its only loss coming at home to BYU, 31-14. The Aggies are 2-0 all-time against the Utes on Friday, posting a 27-20 overtime home win in 2012 and a 12-0 win in 1892 in its first-ever game as a program.

DID YOU KNOW?
Utah State is playing two Pac-12 opponents (Utah and Washington) for the first time since 2013 when it played at Utah and at USC. The last time USU played consecutive games against Pac-12 opponents was in 1998 when it hosted Oregon State and played at Washington.

UTAH STATE AND UTAH AS CONFERENCE FOES
Utah State and Utah spent 38 years as conference foes as the two teams were members of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference from 1922-37 and the Mountain States/Skyline Conference from 1938-61. As conference foes, USU was 7-28-3 (.224) against Utah.

STATS FOR CURRENT AGGIES VERSUS UTAH
The following is a look at what current Utah State players have done against Utah. Redshirt senior QB Chuckie Keeton is 53-of-72 (.736) passing for 530 yards and four touchdowns, to go along with 171 rushing yards on 32 carries (5.3 ypc) and one touchdown in two games. Senior WR Brandon Swindall has caught five passes for 39 yards (7.8 ypc) and two touchdowns in two games. Senior LB Kyler Fackrell has 17 tackles, including 2.0 tackles for loss and 1.0 sacks, to go along with two quarterback hurries and one forced fumble in two games. Senior DE Jordan Nielsen has four tackles, including 2.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks, to go along with one quarterback hurry in two games. Senior NG Travis Seefeldt has one fumble recovery in one game. Junior LB Nick Vigil has one tackle, including 0.5 for loss, in one game. Junior PK Brock Warren is 0-for-1 on field goals and 1-for-2 on extra points in one game. Warren also kicked off three times for 190 yards (65.3 ypk) with one touchback, to go along with one tackle on special teams. Junior PK Jake Thompson has six kickoffs for 386 yards (64.3 ypk) and three touchbacks in one game.

UTAH STATE STARTING 2015 SEASON WITH BACK-TO-BACK IN-STATE GAMES
Utah State is starting its 2015 season with back-to-back in-state games as it defeated Southern Utah, 12-9, last weekend and plays at Utah this weekend. The last time USU began the year with two-straight in-state opponents was in 2012 when it posted home wins against SUU (34-3) and Utah (27-20 OT). Overall, it is just the second time in school history that USU has opened its season with consecutive games against in-state competition.

UTAH STATE TO PLAY THREE IN-STATE OPPONENTS IN 2015
Utah State will play three in-state schools during the 2015 season as it hosted Southern Utah (9/3) and plays at Utah (9/11) to start the year, and then hosts BYU (11/28) to end the regular season. The last time USU played three in-state schools was in 2013. Overall, this season will mark the 17th time in program history that USU will play three in-state schools dating back to 1972. From 1972 to 1982 (11 years), the Aggies played BYU, Utah and Weber State every season. USU then played three in-state opponents again in 2000 and 2001, along with 2009, 2012 and 2013.

AGGIES VERSUS THE STATE OF UTAH
Utah State has had much better success against in-state opponents as of late as it is 7-4 against other teams from the state of Utah during its last 11 meetings. During its previous 10 games, USU was just 1-9 against in-state competition.

UTAH STATE HAS NINE BOWL TEAMS ON ITS 2015 SCHEDULE
Utah State's 2015 schedule features nine teams who played in bowl games a year ago as Utah played in the Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl (W, 45-10 vs. Colorado State); Washington played in the TicketCity Cactus Bowl (L, 30-22 vs. Oklahoma State); Colorado State played in the Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl (L, 45-10 vs. Utah); Fresno State played in the Hawai'i Bowl (L, 30-6 vs. Rice); Boise State played in the Vizio Fiesta Bowl (W, 38-30 vs. Arizona); San Diego State played in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl (L, 17-16 vs. Navy); Air Force played in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (W, 38-24 vs. Western Michigan); Nevada played in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl (L, 16-3 vs. Louisiana-Lafayette); and BYU played in the Miami Beach Bowl (L, 55-48 vs. Memphis in 2OT).

UTAH STATE'S NINE BOWL TEAMS RANK TIED FOR FIFTH-MOST NATIONALLY
Utah State's nine bowl teams from the previous year on its 2015 schedule rank tied for the fifth-most nationally. Alabama, Arkansas, Vanderbilt and Virginia all have 10 bowl teams from the 2014 season on its schedule this year, while Georgia Tech, Kentucky, LSU, Michigan State, Ole Miss, Purdue, South Carolina, Texas A&M, USC and Utah State all have nine bowl teams on its 2015 ledger.

UTAH STATE'S 2015 SCHEDULE IS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST IN THE NATION
According to Phil Steele's Magazine, Utah State has the toughest schedule in the Mountain West in 2015 and the 35th-toughest schedule in the nation as its opponents were a combined 88-68 (.564) last year.

UTAH STATE AMONG MOST EXPERIENCED TEAMS IN THE NATION
According to Phil Steele, Utah State is tied with Utah as the eighth-most experienced team in the country. Using a system that charts the number of starters and players on the two-deep by grade classification, USU has 10 senior starters, seven junior starters and three sophomore starters and collected 81 points.

LAST MEETING AGAINST UTAH
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah - Junior QB Chuckie Keeton's 314 yards passing and 85 yards rushing were not enough as Utah State suffered a 30-26 loss at Utah on Thursday, Aug. 29 to open the 2013 season. The loss snapped a seven-game winning streak and three-game road win streak for the Aggies.

Senior WR Travis Van Leeuwen had a career-high five receptions for a career-best 107 yards for Utah State, while sophomore WR JoJo Natson added a career-best nine catches for a career-high 83 yards.

Junior RB Joe Hill had a career-high 18 carries for 75 yards and a career-best seven receptions for 39 yards as the Aggies ended with 173 yards on the ground and 314 yards through the air for 487 total yards of offense. Keeton was 31-of-40 passing with two touchdowns, posting career-highs for both completions and attempts.

The USU defense was led by senior LB Jake Doughty with a game-high 16 tackles, while senior SS Maurice Alexander posted 1.5 sacks as part of a career-high 11 stops and junior LB Zach Vigil added 10 tackles.

Utah finished the game with 450 yards of total offense (302-passing, 148-rushing) and was led by Travis Wilson's 17-of-28 passing for 302 yards with two touchdowns. James Poole rushed for 47 yards, while Karl Williams added 45 yards and a score, both carrying the ball 12 times apiece. Anthony Denham added six catches for 113 yards and Eric Rowe led the Utes' defense with 10 tackles.

Utah scored a touchdown on its first drive of the game, only to see the Aggies respond on their first possession on a 26-yard field goal by junior PK Nick Diaz.

Following another Utah touchdown, the Aggies closed to 14-10 on their first possession of the second quarter, as Keeton hit sophomore WR Brandon Swindall from 15 yards for his first career touchdown catch as USU drove 75 yards in nine plays.

Keeton then connected with Swindall from 4-yards out with 10 seconds left, capping a 10-play, 85-yard drive and sending USU into halftime leading, 17-14.

The Aggies opened the second half the same way they closed the first with Keeton orchestrating a long drive. Keeton capped the 10-play, 75-yard drive with a 15-yard touchdown run. The extra point, however, was wide left giving USU a 23-14 lead with 11:52 on the third-quarter clock.

The Utes closed to 23-17 with 2:24 to go in the third quarter on a 45-yard field goal and recovered the ensuing on-side kick. Five plays later, Utah scored another touchdown for a 24-23 Utah lead with 1:29 to go in the frame.

On its next drive that overlapped the end of the third quarter and the start of the fourth, Utah State drove deep into Utes' territory before the drive slowed, and Diaz drilled a 24-yard field goal to give USU a 26-24 lead with 10:39 remaining.

Utah took the kickoff and marched down the field, capping the drive with a 19-yard field goal with 6:38 for the Utes' lead and the Aggies couldn't counter. USU used its timeouts to hold the Utah drive, but the Utes kicked a 38-yard field goal with 19 seconds left for a 30-26 lead.

USU had a last chance, but Keeton's heave to the end zone fell to the turf incomplete as time expired.

WHAT'S RETURNING IN 2015
Utah State returns 15 starters (O-8, D-7) and 38 letterwinners (O-12, D-24, S-2) from last year's team that finished with a 10-4 record, finished tied for second in the Mountain Division of the Mountain West with a 6-2 record, and ended its season with a 21-6 win against UTEP in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl. At season's end, USU received 11 top-25 votes in the final Associated Press poll and eight votes in the final ESPN/USA Today Coaches' poll to rank 32nd and 34th, respectively. Highlighting Utah State's returners is junior LB Nick Vigil, who earned first-team all-Mountain West honors a year ago. Joining Vigil as returning all-conference players from 2014 are senior DE Jordan Nielsen (honorable mention), senior WR Hunter Sharp (honorable mention), junior FS Devin Centers (honorable mention), junior OT Jake Simonich (honorable mention) and junior OC Austin Stephens (honorable mention), while sophomore CB Jalen Davis was named a True Freshman All-American by 247Sports. USU also returns redshirt senior QB Chuckie Keeton and senior LB Kyler Fackrell. Keeton earned first-team all-Western Athletic Conference honors as a sophomore in 2012 and was a Heisman Trophy candidate in 2013 before suffering a season-ending injury in his sixth game. Keeton then received a medical hardship from both the NCAA and Mountain West as he played in just three games in 2014 before re-injuring his knee. Fackrell earned second-team all-Mountain West honors as a sophomore in 2013, along with being named a sophomore honorable mention All-American by College Football News, and earned first-team all-WAC honors as a redshirt freshman along with being named a Freshman All-American by the Football Writers Association of America (FWAA) in 2012. Along with the players mentioned above, USU returns five other starters on offense (OG-Taani Fisilau; TE- Wyatt Houston; OT-Tyshon Mosley; QB-Kent Myers; WR-Devonte Robinson) and three other starters on defense (LB-LT Filiaga; CB-Daniel Gray; LB-Torrey Green), to go along with two specialists returning (LS-Salanoa Galea'i; K-Jake Thompson).

WHAT UTAH STATE MUST REPLACE FROM 2014
Utah State lost nine players who earned various all-Mountain West honors in 2014, including DE B.J. Larsen, PR JoJo Natson, SS Frankie Sutera, LB Zach Vigil and OT Kevin Whimpey, who all earned first-team honors, PK Nick Diaz, who was named to the second-team, and P Jaron Bentrude, NG Elvis Kamana-Matagi and FS Brian Suite, who were all named to the honorable mention team. Vigil was also named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year and earned second-team All-American honors from USA Today Sports, third-team All-American honors from Phil Steele, fourth-team All-American honors from Athlon Sports, and honorable mention All-American honors from SI.com. Other starters lost include WR Ronald Butler, TE Jefferson Court, RB Joe Hill and CB Rashard Stewart.

AGGIES HAVING SUCCESS ON THE FIELD AS OF LATE
Over the past five-plus seasons, Utah State has won 62.7 percent (42-25) of its games as compared to just 22.0 percent (13-46) in its previous five seasons and that change of 40.7 percent ranks second in the nation behind only Stanford, which has a change of 42.3 percent as it has won 80.6 percent of its games the past five years, as compared to 38.3 percent the previous five seasons.

DID YOU KNOW?
Junior LB Nick Vigil was voted as the 10th-most versatile FBS athlete in the nation by NFL.com heading into the 2015 season.

Andrew Rodriguez NAMED MOUNTAIN WEST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
• Redshirt junior WR Andrew Rodriguez was named the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week following Utah State's 12-9 season-opening home win against Southern Utah last weekend. Rodriguez returned a USU and Mountain West record eight punts for 136 yards against the Thunderbirds, including one 88 yards for a touchdown with 4:54 to play in the game to turn a 9-5 Aggie deficit into a 12-9 come-from-behind win. The previous school record for punt returns in a game was seven by Kelley Deist against Southern Mississippi in 1974, while the previous MW record was also seven by Scott Harding (Hawai'i) in 2014.

• That 88-yard punt return for Rodriguez is a Maverik Stadium record and the third-longest in USU history trailing Kevin Robinson, who returned a punt 90 yards for a touchdown at Troy in 2004 and Dale Leatham, who also returned a punt 90 yards for a touchdown at Wichita State in 1950. Robinson held the previous Maverik Stadium record as he returned a punt 87 yards for a touchdown against San José State in 2005.

• Rodriguez's 88-yard punt return is also tied for the second-longest in Mountain West history trailing Dallas Davis (Colorado State), who returned a punt 89 yards against Utah in 1999 and tied with Anthony Wright (Air Force), who returned a punt 88 yards against Army in 2009.

Aaron Dalton RECORDS SECOND-MOST PUNTS IN SCHOOL HISTORY
Redshirt freshman P Aaron Dalton punted 13 times for 463 yards (35.6 ypk) with a long of 48 yards and three of his punts were downed inside the 20-yard line in Utah State's 12-9 season-opening home win against Southern Utah last weekend. Those 13 punts are the second-most in both Utah State and Mountain West history as the school record for punts in a game is 14 by Jess Garcia against Air Force in 1969, while the MW record is also 14 by Tyler Gaus (New Mexico) against Utah in 2004. Dalton's 13 punts are, however, the most in both USU and MW history by a freshman as the previous conference record was 11 by Den Skaer (New Mexico) against UNLV in 2010.

Nick Vigil RECORDS SEVENTH CAREER DOUBLE-DIGIT TACKLE OUTING
Junior LB Nick Vigil recorded a team-best 13 tackles in Utah State's season-opening 12-9 win against Southern Utah, which included 2.0 tackles for loss. For Vigil, it is his seventh-career double-digit tackle game, including his fourth in his last five games dating back to the 2014 season.

Kyler Fackrell HAS IMPRESSIVE RETURN FROM KNEE INJURY
Senior LB Kyler Fackrell looked as good as advertised in his first game in over a year following a season-ending knee injury at Tennessee on Aug. 30, 2014. The 2015 Mountain West Preseason Defensive Player of the Year had five tackles in Utah State's 12-9 home win against Southern Utah last weekend, including a career-high 2.5 tackles for loss and a career-high tying 2.0 sacks, to go along with two QB hurries.

Jalen Davis HAS CAREER GAME AGAINST SOUTHERN UTAH
Sophomore CB Jalen Davis had a career game in Utah State's 12-9 home win against Southern Utah last weekend as he tied his career-high in both sacks (1.0) and tackles for loss (2.0), while adding a career-high three pass breakups. Davis finished the game with four tackles.

LT Filiaga PERFORMS WELL IN FIRST GAME BACK FROM INJURY
Senior LB LT Filiaga had a solid outing in his first game back after tearing his Achilles' tendon at Wyoming (11/7/14). Against Southern Utah, Filiaga recorded six tackles and added a pass breakup.

PLAYER NOTABLES FROM THE SOUTHERN UTAH GAME
Sophomore WR Braelon Roberts had career-highs in both receptions (4) and receiving yards (25)... Sophomore RB LaJuan Hunt had a career-high two receptions... Senior NG David Moala blocked his first career kick on an extra point and recorded his first sack of the season, to go along with a career-high three tackles... Senior LB Torrey Green scored his first career points as he returned a blocked extra point... Junior PK Brock Warren converted his first career field goal from 30 yards and is now 1-of-2 on field goal attempts in his career... Junior DT Ricky Ali'ifua had a career-high 2.0 tackles for loss and tied his career-high with 1.0 sacks... Senior LB Michael Okonkwo had a career-high five tackles.

DEFENSES DOMINANT IN SEASON OPENER
Both defenses were dominant in last week's season opener between Utah State and Southern Utah. USU's defense held Southern Utah to just 163 yards of total offense, which is the fewest by an Aggie opponent since Weber State had just 138 yards of total offense in 2013. Furthermore, both teams punted a combined 29 times and were a combined 2-for-33 on third downs as USU was just 1-of-15, while SUU was 1-of-18, which is the fewest third downs converted by an Aggie opponent since Utah was just 2-of-17 on third downs in 2012.

DID YOU KNOW?
Utah State has returned a pair of blocked extra points for two-point conversions in its last three games as senior LB Torrey Green returned a blocked PAT by senior NG David Moala against Southern Utah last weekend, while sophomore CB Jalen Davis returned a blocked PAT by senior NG Travis Seefeldt at Boise State in last year's regular season finale.

TEAM NOTABLES FROM THE SOUTHERN UTAH GAME
• Utah State has now won 10 straight home games, 12 of its last 14 home games against non-conference opponents and 19 of its last 21 home games overall. USU is now 11-2 at home under head coach Matt Wells. That 10-game home winning streak is tied with the 1923-27 teams for the fourth-longest in school history. The school record is 17 straight home wins from 1959-63, while the 1905-08 teams won 15 straight home games and the 1931-34 teams won 13 straight home games.

• Utah State improved to 4-0 against Southern Utah and 79-17-6 all-time against current members of the Big Sky Conference. Overall, USU has now won nine-straight games against FCS opponents.

• Utah State improved to 38-14-1 all-time in home openers and is now 131-98 (.572) all-time in Maverik Stadium.

• Utah State did not force a turnover for just the fourth time in its last 38 games as USU has forced 77 turnovers during that time period.

• Utah State is now 2-7 all-time under head coach Matt Wells when trailing after the first quarter, 3-7 when trailing at the half and 1-6 when trailing after three quarters. USU also improved to 2-8 under Wells when scoring less than 20 points and 8-0 when allowing less than 10 points.

• Utah State did not score an offensive touchdown for the first time since Oct. 5, 2012, when it lost at BYU, 6-3, a span of 37 games.

UTAH STATE IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST AND NCAA RANKINGS
One week into the college football season, Utah State's defense ranks among the top-26 in the nation in six different categories, including second in the Mountain West and seventh nationally in total defense (163.0 ypg). USU also ranks tied for third in the MW and tied for eighth nationally in sacks per game (5.0), fourth in the MW and 20th in the nation in rushing defense (52.0 ypg), fourth in the MW and 25th in the nation in scoring defense (9.0 ppg), fifth in the MW and 19th in the nation in passing defense (111.0 ypg) and sixth in the MW and 24th in the nation in passing efficiency defense (87.1). Offensively, USU ranks tied for fourth in the MW and tied for 26th in the nation in sacks allowed per game (1.0). And on special teams, USU ranks third in the MW and 16th nationally in punt return average (17.1 ypr).

MORE DEFENSIVE RANKINGS
Utah State limited Southern Utah to just 1-of-18 (.056) on third-down conversions, which ranks second nationally behind Oregon State. Furthermore, USU allowed just nine first downs against SUU, which ranks second in the Mountain West and ninth nationally. USU also ranks third in the MW and 12th nationally in tackles for loss (10.0 pg) and was one of four teams nationally, along with Georgia, Louisiana Tech and Washington, to block a kick during the first week of the season.

AGGIES IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST AND NCAA RANKINGS
One week into the college football season, sophomore CB Jalen Davis ranks tied for first in the Mountain West and tied for second nationally in passes defended (3.0 pg), second in the MW and 14th nationally in punt returns (17.5 ypr), tied for seventh in the MW in sacks (1.0 pg) and tied for eighth in the MW in tackles for loss (2.0 pg). Senior LB Kyler Fackrell ranks tied for second in the MW and tied for eighth nationally in sacks (2.0 pg), tied for third in the MW and tied for 21st in tackles for loss (2.5 pg) and tied for 33rd in the MW in tackles (5.0 pg). Redshirt junior WR Andrew Rodriguez ranks third in the MW and 16th in the nation in punt returns (17.0 ypr) and fourth in the MW and 34 nationally in all-purpose yards (156.0 ypg). Junior LB Nick Vigil ranks third in the MW and tied for 13th nationally in tackles (13.0 pg) and tied for eighth in the MW and tied for 43rd nationally in tackles for loss (2.0 pg). Junior DE Ricky Ali'ifua ranks tied for seventh in the MW and tied for 37th nationally in sacks (1.0 pg) and tied for eighth in the MW and tied for 43rd nationally in tackles for loss (2.0 pg). Sophomore RB LaJuan Hunt ranks seventh in the MW in rushing (80.0 ypg). Senior NG David Moala ranks tied for seventh in the MW and tied for 37th nationally in sacks (1.0 pg). Senior LB LT Filiaga ranks tied for 22nd in the MW in tackles (6.0 pg). Senior LB Michael Okonkwo and junior CB Daniel Gray both rank tied for 33rd in the MW in tackles (5.0 pg). And redshirt freshman P Aaron Dalton ranks ninth in the MW in punting (35.6 ypk).

Andrew Rodriguez ONE OF 12 FBS PLAYERS TO RETURN A PUNT FOR A TD
Redshirt junior WR Andrew Rodriguez was one of just 12 players at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level to return a punt for a touchdown during the first weekend of the college football season.

AGGIES IN OVERTIME
With its 21-14 overtime loss at Arkansas State on Sept. 20, 2014, Utah State is now 6-5 all-time in overtime, including winning three of its last four. All-time, USU is 4-3 in single-overtime games, 2-1 in double-overtime games, and 0-1 in triple-overtime games.

DID YOU KNOW?
Utah State has now won 17 straight games when it has a 100-yard rusher, with its last loss coming against Ohio (24-23) in the 2011 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. USU has also won 19 of its last 20 contests when rushing at least 40 times in a game.

Chuckie Keeton IN THE AGGIE RECORD BOOK
Redshirt senior QB Chuckie Keeton ranks among the top 10 in school history in the following categories: • First all-time with a career completion percentage of 64.7 percent (584-of-902).

• First all-time with an interception percentage of 0.020 as he has thrown just 18 interceptions in 902 pass attempts.

• Second all-time with 58 career touchdown passes. Jose Fuentes (1999-2002) holds the school record at 60.

• Second all-time with 584 career completions. Fuentes holds the school record with 704.

• Third all-time with 7,738 yards of total offense (6,497-passing, 1,241-rushing). Fuentes holds the school record with 8,791 yards, while Diondre Borel (2007-10) is second with 8,096 yards.

• Third all-time with 6,497 passing yards. Fuentes holds the school record with 9,168 yards.

• Third all-time with 902 career pass attempts. Fuentes holds the school record with 1,270.

• 18th all-time with 1,241 career rushing yards (278 carries, 4.5 ypc). Demario Brown (1996-99) holds the school record with 4,053 yards, while Borel holds the school record with 1,398 yards by a quarterback. Overall, Keeton is one of just 27 players in school history to rush for 1,000 yards and just the second quarterback.

• Set single-season school records as a sophomore in 2012 for touchdown passes (27), passing yards (3,373), total offensive yards (3,992), completions (275) and completion percentage (.676), and broke his own completion percentage record as a junior (.694).

• Is the only quarterback in school history to have five touchdown passes in three games as he tied the single-game school record against both Air Force (9/7/13) and Weber State (9/14/13) during his junior season, as well as against Wyoming (10/8/11) as a freshman.

• Set a then single-game school record with an 88.0 percent completion percentage against Southern Utah (8/30/12) during his sophomore season as he was 22-of-25 passing.

• Tied the single-game school record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 121 yards on a career-high tying 17 carries in a 48-41 overtime win at No. 19 Louisiana Tech (11/17/12) during his sophomore season. Tony Adams set the record in 1972.

Chuckie Keeton AMONG ACTIVE FBS QUARTERBACKS
In just 32 career games, redshirt senior Chuckie Keeton ranks among the top 10 FBS quarterbacks in the following 12 categories:

• Second among QBs with 6,000 passing yards & 1,000 rushing yards (6,497 passing/1,241 rushing), trailing TCU's Trevone Boykin (7,399 passing/1,529 rushing).

• Third in completion percentage (.647), trailing USC's Cody Kessler (.680) and Western Kentucky's Brandon Doughty (.668).

• Third in touchdown passes (58), trailing USC's Cody Kessler (63) and Western Kentucky's Brandon Doughty (63).

• Fourth in total offense with 7,738 yards (6,497 passing + 1,241 rushing), trailing TCU's Trevone Boykin (8,928 yards), Ohio State's Braxton Miller (8,346 yards) and Mississippi State's Dak Prescott (7,825 yards).

• Fourth in passing yards (6,497), trailing California's Jared Goff (7,790), TCU's Trevone Boykin (7,399) and USC's Cody Kessler (7,039).

• Fourth in pass completions (584), trailing California's Jared Goff (660), Western Kentucky's Brandon Doughty (635) and TCU's Trevone Boykin (599).

• Fourth in pass attempts (902), trailing California's Jared Goff (1,071), TCU's Trevone Boykin (960) and Western Kentucky's Brandon Doughty (951).

• Fifth in total TDs responsible for (73), trailing Navy's Keenan Reynolds (88), Ohio State's Braxton Miller (84), Mississippi State's Dak Prescott (75) and TCU's Trevone Boykin (75).

• Eighth in passing efficiency (142.48), ninth in passing yards per game (203.0), ninth in completions per game (18.25) and 10th in rushing yards by a QB (1,241).

MORE NOTABLES ON Chuckie Keeton
• Utah State redshirt senior Chuckie Keeton is one of just two FBS quarterbacks to start five season openers along with Tulsa's T.J. Rubley (1987-91).

• Utah State redshirt senior QB Chuckie Keeton is the second-winningest QB in school history with his 20 wins, trailing Tony Adams (1970-72), who won 22 games, and ahead of John Pappas (1966-68), who won 18 games.

DID YOU KNOW?
Redshirt senior QB Chuckie Keeton is one of just three active quarterbacks at the FBS level who holds their school's single-season passing record along with Jared Goff (California) and Brandon Doughty (Western Kentucky). Keeton set the USU record with 3,373 passing yards during his sophomore season in 2012.

WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN FOR KEETON IN 2013
• Redshirt senior QB Chuckie Keeton was putting up some gaudy numbers during his junior season before missing the final eight games with a knee injury suffered against BYU on Oct. 4. Through his first five games, Keeton ranked second in the nation with 17 touchdown passes, while also ranking first in the Mountain West and second in the nation in points responsible for (22.8 pg), second in the MW and 22nd in the nation in passing efficiency (161.6), third in the MW and eighth in the nation in completions (26.4 pg), third in the MW and 11th in the nation in completion percentage (.710), third in the MW and 18th in the nation in total offense (317.2 ypg), and fourth in the MW and 25th in the nation in passing (272.4 ypg). Keeton concluded his junior campaign completing 136-of-196 passes for 1,388 yards (231.3 ypg) and 18 touchdowns and two interceptions, while rushing for 241 yards on 55 carries (40.2 ypg/4.4 ypc) and two more scores. Those 18 touchdown passes rank tied for ninth all-time at USU, while his completion percentage of 69.4 percent ranks first all-time.

• In 2014, Keeton played in just two and one-half games before re-injuring his surgically repaired left knee in the first half against Wake Forest (9/13). He missed the rest of the season and received a medical redshirt from both the NCAA and Mountain West.

Hunter Sharp LED THE NATION IN 70-YARD RECEIVING TOUCHDOWNS
Senior WR Hunter Sharp led the nation with his four touchdown receptions of 70-plus yards (81, 72, 75, 70) last season and is one of just two Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) players in the last five years to accomplish this feat along with USC's Marqise Lee in 2012. Sharp's 81-yard touchdown reception was at Arkansas State (9/20), his 72-yard touchdown reception was at BYU (10/3), his 75-yard touchdown reception was against Air Force (10/11), and his 70-yard touchdown reception was at Hawai'i (11/1).

Hunter Sharp TIED FOR NINTH IN SINGLE-SEASON RECEPTIONS
Senior WR Hunter Sharp caught 66 passes for 939 yards and seven touchdowns last season, which is tied with James Murphy (1980) for ninth-place all-time in school history in single-season receptions.

Devin Centers ONE OF 18 FBS DEFENDERS WITH MULTIPLE TOUCHDOWNS
Junior FS Devin Centers returned two fumbles for touchdowns last season, against Wake Forest (9/13) and Hawai'i (11/1), and was one of just 18 players at the FBS level with multiple defensive touchdowns on the season.

Kyler Fackrell IN THE AGGIE RECORD BOOKS
• Senior LB Kyler Fackrell has intercepted four passes during his career for 125 return yards, which ranks tied for ninth all-time in school history along with Rob Fuhriman (1972-74). Fackrell is the only linebacker among USU's top 10 career leaders in this category. The school record for career interception return yards is 373 set by Henry King (1965-66).

• Fackrell's 99-yard interception return for a touchdown against Hawai'i in 2013 rank as the third-longest in school and Mountain West history. Those 99 interception return yards also rank 10th on USU's single-season lists.

UTAH STATE ENTERING THIRD SEASON IN MOUNTAIN WEST
Utah State is entering its third year as a member of the Mountain West and has been a Division I-A football playing school in each of its 117 seasons of competition. USU joined the Mountain States/Skyline Conference in 1938 until 1961. USU then played as a football independent from 1962-77 when the Aggies became members of the Pacific Coast Athletic Association in 1978. The PCAA changed its name to the Big West Conference in 1988. Following the 2000 season when the Big West no longer sponsored football, USU spent two years as an independent (2001-02) and two years in the Sun Belt Conference (2003-04), before joining the Western Athletic Conference for eight seasons from 2005-12.

Nick Vigil NAMED PRESEASON SECOND-TEAM ALL-AMERICAN
Utah State junior LB Nick Vigil was named to the USA TODAY Sports 2015 preseason All-America football team, it was announced on Sept. 1. Vigil was one of 11 selections to the second-team defense and one of just two players from a school outside of the Power 5 conferences honored along with Colorado State's Rashard Higgins, as the junior wide receiver was tabbed a first-team offensive selection.

Matt Wells AND Nick Vigil TABBED BEST IN MOUNTAIN WEST
In a poll released in July of 2015 by members of the media that cover football in the Mountain West, Utah State junior LB Nick Vigil and head coach Matt Wells were tabbed the best defensive player and best coach, respectively, in the conference. The Las Vegas Review-Journal polled one media member at each of the 12 conference schools to rank the top-five choices in 10 categories, ranging from best offensive and defensive players to best college towns and road trips. USU redshirt senior QB Chuckie Keeton was named the conference's third-best offensive player, trailing Colorado State WR Rashard Higgins and San Diego State RB Donnel Pumphrey. Keeton also ranked second in the top expected storylines with the question being whether he will remain healthy this year. Senior LB Kyler Fackrell was tabbed the MW's third-best defensive player, trailing Vigil, his teammate, and Boise State defensive lineman Kamalei Correa. Utah State was tabbed the second-best program in the conference. Boise State earned the top honor in that category with a unanimous vote. USU also ranked tied for third with Wyoming for best college towns and was fourth in best game-day atmosphere.

WELLS' 20 WINS MOST BY ANY AGGIE COACH IN HIS FIRST TWO-PLUS YEARS
Utah State head coach Matt Wells already ranks as the 10th-winningest coach in school history with his 20 wins, while his 69.0 winning percentage (20-9) ranks second all-time in school history with a minimum of 15 games coached behind John Ralston (1959-62), who won 73.3 percent of his games (31-11-1). Furthermore, Wells' 19 wins is a school-record for a coach in his first two seasons, bettering the 15 wins Phil Krueger produced in 1973 and 1974.

WELLS 17TH-YOUNGEST HEAD COACH IN THE NATION
Matt Wells is the 17th-youngest head coach at the FBS level at 42 years of age (8-10-73). Wells is also just the second USU graduate to be appointed its head football coach joining Chris Pella, who graduated from USU in 1965 and coached the Aggies from 1983-85. Wells was a three-year letterwinner at quarterback for USU from 1994-96.

WELLS ONE OF 14 HEAD COACHES AT HIS ALMA MATER
Matt Wells is one of 14 head coaches at the FBS level who played football at the same school he is currently the head coach joining Troy Calhoun (Air Force), Bryan Harsin (Boise State), John Bonamego (Central Michigan), Ruffin McNeill (East Carolina), Paul Haynes (Kent State), Jim Harbaugh (Michigan), Pat Fitzgerald (Northwestern), Mike Gundy (Oklahoma State), David Shaw (Stanford), Kliff Kingsbury (Texas Tech), Sean Kugler (UTEP), Frank Beamer (Virginia Tech) and Paul Chryst (Wisconsin).

UTAH STATE DEFENSE NOTABLE
According to Lindey's Sports magazine, Utah State has the 10th-best linebacker group in the nation entering the 2015 season.

AGGIE SENIORS LOOKING TO SET SCHOOL RECORD FOR CAREER WINS
Utah State's 2015 senior class has 31 career wins and needs seven more victories this year to break last year's senior class record of 37 wins. The previous record prior to last year was 31 wins set in 2013.

LOOKING INSIDE THE 2015 ROSTER
Utah State's 15 returning starters (O-8, D-7) in 2015 are its most since it also returned 15 starters (O-8, D-7) for the 2013 season. Furthermore, USU's 23 seniors on its 2015 roster are its most since it had 24 seniors in 2010.

DID YOU KNOW?
Due to injury, Utah State used three different quarterbacks in 2013 and four different quarterbacks in 2014 and still produced a 19-9 record, including a pair of bowl wins.

UTAH STATE PLAYING SIX HOME GAMES ONCE AGAIN IN 2015
Utah State's 2015 schedule marks the sixth-straight season, the seventh time in the last eight years, and the eighth time in the last 19 years that it will play six home games. Overall, the Aggies have had six home games on the slate just 12 times: 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2008, 1998, 1996, 1995, 1978, 1952.

AGGIES' 10 WINS IN 2014 SECOND-MOST IN SCHOOL HISTORY
• Utah State concluded the 2014 season with a 10-4 record, marking just the second time in school history that USU has won double-digit games, trailing only the 2012 team that finished with an 11-2 record.

• Utah State recorded its fourth-straight winning season last year, which is its longest since posting five-straight winning seasons from 1971-75.

• Utah State received 11 votes in the final Associated Press poll to rank 32nd nationally and eight votes in the final ESPN/USA Today Coaches' poll to rank 34th nationally. Overall, it is the third time in as many years that USU has finished the season ranked among the top teams in the nation as the 2012 team was 16th in the final AP poll, while the 2013 team received two votes in the final AP poll to rank tied for 37th nationally.

AGGIES WIN THIRD-STRAIGHT BOWL GAME
• With its 21-6 win against UTEP in the 2014 Gildan New Mexico Bowl, Utah State has now won three-straight bowl games for the first time in school history. In 2013, USU posted a 21-14 win against No. 24 Northern Illinois in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl and in 2012 it recorded a 41-15 win against Toledo in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.

• Utah State played in its fourth-straight bowl game for the first time in school history and its 10th bowl game all-time last season with its appearance in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl. Overall, USU is 4-6 all-time in bowl games. Utah State's other bowl win was in 1993 when it posted a 42-33 victory against Ball State in the Las Vegas Bowl II.

UTAH STATE BOWL HISTORY
Following its 21-6 win against UTEP in the 2014 Gildan New Mexico Bowl, Utah State now has a 4-6 bowl record all-time as it lost to San Jose State, 20-0, in the 1946 Raisin Bowl (Fresno, Calif.); lost to Pacific, 35-21, in the 1947 Grape Bowl (Lodi, Calif.); lost to New Mexico State, 20-13, in the 1960 Sun Bowl (El Paso, Texas); lost to Baylor, 24-9, in the 1961 Gotham Bowl (New York City); defeated Ball State, 42-33, in the 1993 Las Vegas Bowl II; lost to Cincinnati, 35-19, in the 1997 Humanitarian Bowl; lost to Ohio, 24-23, in the 2011 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl; defeated Toledo, 41-15, in the 2012 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, defeated No. 24 Northern Illinois, 21-14, in the 2013 San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl; and defeated UTEP, 21-6, in the 2014 Gildan New Mexico Bowl.

LOOKING BACK AT UTAH STATE'S 2014 SEASON
Utah State ended its 2014 season with a 10-4 record after posting a 21-6 win against UTEP in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl. USU finished tied for second place in the Mountain Division of the Mountain West with a 6-2 record. Offensively, USU was led by freshman QB Kent Myers, who was 79-of-119 passing for 866 yards (123.7 ypg) with five touchdowns and three interceptions. Freshman RB LaJuan Hunt rushed for 540 yards on 111 carries (4.9 ypc) with one touchdown, and junior WR Hunter Sharp had 66 catches for 939 yards (14.2 ypr) and seven touchdowns. Defensively, senior LB Zach Vigil had a team-high 156 tackles, including 20.5 tackles for loss and 9.0 sacks, while sophomore LB Nick Vigil had 123 tackles, including 16.5 tackles for loss and 7.0 sacks. As a team, USU averaged 26.9 points and 378.8 yards of offense (198.7-passing, 180.1-rushing) and allowed 19.7 points and 356.1 yards of offense (225.4-passing, 130.7-rushing). All-time, USU has a 525-517-31 (.504) record in 117 seasons.

UTAH STATE GOES UNDEFEATED AT HOME DURING 2014 SEASON
Utah State went 6-0 at home last season, tying the 2012 team for the most home wins in a single season in school history. Overall, it is just the fifth time in the 47-year history of Maverik Stadium that a USU team has gone undefeated at home joining the 1968 (4-0), 1972 (5-0), 1982 (4-0) and 2012 (6-0) teams.

UTAH STATE RECORDS SECOND-BEST ATTENDANCE EVER IN 2014
For the third-straight season, Utah State averaged over 20,000 fans, marking the first time in school history it has accomplished that feat. During the 2014 season, USU averaged 20,467 fans (122,803) to rank second all-time in school history behind the 2013 season that saw an average of 23,263 fans (139,576).

UTAH STATE HAS A FIVE-GAME WINNING STREAK EACH OF LAST FOUR YEARS
Utah State has had at least a five-game winning streak in each of its last four seasons as the 2011, 2013 and 2014 teams all won five-straight games, while the 2012 team won its last seven games. The 1961 team holds the school record with nine-straight wins. Prior to its current run the last four seasons, USU's last five-game winning streak was in 1993.

DEFENSIVE NOTABLES
• Utah State has forced at least one turnover in 34 of its last 38 games, including 30 turnovers last season with 19 interceptions and 11 fumble recoveries. In all, USU has forced 77 turnovers in its last 38 games.

• Utah State has intercepted 36 passes in its last 25 games, including multiple interceptions in 12 of those 25 games, and has at least one interception in 16 of its last 21 games.

• Utah State scored five defensive touchdowns last season and has scored eight defensive touchdowns in its last 23 games.

DEFENSIVE NOTABLES FROM 2014
• Utah State returns three defensive players who earned various all-Mountain West honors in 2014 as junior LB Nick Vigil was named to the first team, while senior DE Jordan Nielsen and junior FS Devin Centers were both named to the honorable mention team. USU also returns senior LB Kyler Fackrell, who earned second-team all-Mountain West honors and was named a Sophomore Honorable Mention All-American by College Football News in 2013. USU also returns sophomore CB Jalen Davis, who was named a True Freshman All-American by 247Sports last season.

AGGIES DEFENSE AMONG THE BEST IN THE NATION THE LAST THREE YEARS
• Utah State's defense has been among the best in the nation the past three seasons as it has ranked among the top-25 teams each year in scoring defense, rushing defense and pass efficiency defense. In 2012, USU ranked seventh nationally in scoring defense (15.4 ppg), eighth nationally in passing efficiency defense (104.4) and 13th nationally in rushing defense (113.8 ypg). In 2013, USU ranked seventh nationally in scoring defense (17.1 ppg), eighth nationally in rushing defense (106.7 ypg) and 15th nationally in passing efficiency defense (113.2). And in 2014, USU ranked 12th nationally in scoring defense (19.1 ppg) 17th nationally in passing efficiency defense (111.4) and 24th nationally in rushing defense (130.7 ypg).

• Utah State is one of just three teams to rank among the top-12 nationally in scoring defense in each of the past three seasons along with Alabama and Stanford as USU allowed 15.4 points per game in 2012 and 17.1 points per game in 2013 to rank seventh nationally both seasons, and 19.7 points per game in 2014 to rank 12th nationally. During the past three seasons, USU ranks third nationally, allowing an average of just 17.44 points per game, trailing only Alabama (14.44 ppg) and Michigan State (16.93 ppg).

MORE NOTABLES ON UTAH STATE'S DEFENSE
• Utah State is one of just five defenses nationally to hold opposing offenses under five yards per play the last three years, along with Alabama, Stanford, TCU and Wisconsin. Over the past three seasons, USU's opponents have averaged just 4.55 yards per offensive play.

• Utah State has the fourth-best rushing defense nationally over the past four seasons, allowing just 3.13 yards per carry, trailing only Alabama (2.85 ypc), Michigan State (3.00 ypc) and Stanford (3.03 ypc).

• According to FootballScoop.com, Utah State's defense was ranked as the most disruptive in the Mountain West and 12th-most disruptive nationally during the 2014 season as 19.8 percent of the plays it faced resulted in either a sack, a tackle for loss, a forced fumble, or a tipped or intercepted pass.

• Utah State has held its opponent out of the end zone in the first quarter in 32 of its last 43 games, and scoreless in the first quarter in 23 of its last 43 games. Overall, USU has led at the end of the first quarter in 32 of its last 43 games and is 27-5 in those contests. USU was 6-2 last season and is 13-2 under head coach Matt Wells when leading at the end of the first quarter.

• Utah State's defense has held 23 of its last 41 opponents without a first-half touchdown, while seven of its last 41 opponents have been held scoreless in the first half. USU has led at the half in 33 of its last 42 games and is 29-4 in those contests. USU was 10-1 last season and is 18-2 under Wells when leading at the half.

OFFENSIVE NOTABLES FROM 2014
• Utah State returns two players on its active roster who started at QB and led their team to a bowl victory in redshirt senior Chuckie Keeton and sophomore Kent Myers.

• Utah State returns its leading rusher in sophomore RB LaJuan Hunt (540 rushing yards) and leading receiver in senior WR Hunter Sharp (939 receiving yards). The last time USU returned its leading rusher and receiver from the previous season was in 2006 when it returned sophomore FB Ryan Bohm (340 rushing yards) and senior WR Tony Pennyman (741 receiving yards).

• Utah State returns three players who earned all-conference honors a year ago as senior WR Hunter Sharp, junior OT Jake Simonich and junior OC Austin Stephens were all named to the honorable mention team. Furthermore, redshirt senior QB Chuckie Keeton earned first-team all-Western Athletic Conference honors as a sophomore in 2012.

MORE OFFENSIVE NOTABLES FROM 2014
• Sophomore RB LaJuan Hunt was the first Aggie freshman to lead the team in rushing since 2007 when Derrvin Speight gained 504 yards on 129 carries (3.9 ypc). In fact, Hunt's 540 rushing yards on 111 carries (4.9 ypc) is the most by a true freshman in school history and the third-most by a freshman all-time, trailing Abu Wilson, who rushed for 795 yards on 164 carries (4.8 ypc) in 1992, and Demario Brown, who rushed for 700 yards on 119 carries (5.9 ypc) in 1996. Hunt's best game of 2014 was at Hawai'i (11/1) as he carried the ball 34 times for 145 yards, both of which are career-highs. Those 34 carries are the most by an Aggie since Joey DeMartino had 35 carries against Colorado State in 2013 and the most by a USU freshman in school history. The 145 rushing yards are the most by an Aggie since Kerwynn Williams had 235 rushing yards against Toledo in the 2012 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, and the most by a USU freshman since Abu Wilson rushed for 157 yards against New Mexico State in 1992. Furthermore, Hunt's 145 rushing yards marked the first time last season that USU had a 100-yard rusher.

AGGIES ANNOUNCE CORPORATE SPONSORSHIP WITH MAVERIK, INC.
Utah State University and Maverik, Inc., owners of convenience stores throughout the Intermountain West, jointly announced Saturday, April 11, 2015, a long-term naming rights partnership to its football stadium, which was known as Romney Stadium. Utah State's football venue is now known as Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium. The partnership with Utah State and Maverik is a multi-year agreement, which includes top-tier advertising rights and prominent signage on the exterior and interior of the stadium. Additionally, the venue will feature a Maverik concessions outlet that will sell a number of Maverik proprietary food products. Renovations to Maverik Stadium will focus on greatly improving the overall fan experience. On the west side, a new four-story premium seating and press box structure will be built to include a state-of-the-art media and game operations area, 24 luxury suites, 20 loge boxes, over 700 covered club seats and a premium club area that will also be used to host a student-athlete training table. This project will be completed in time for the 2016 season. Major concourse work will include significantly increased restrooms, upgraded concessions and an enlarged concourse for better pedestrian traffic flow. Renovations will also include new video boards on both the north and south ends of the stadium, along with a new public address system. The additional expansion of Maverik Stadium's seating capacity is also planned for the future.

AGGIES IN THE NFL
Utah State currently has eight players on NFL rosters and has had eight players drafted into the NFL in the past five years. Former Aggies currently in the NFL include: SS Maurice Alexander (St. Louis), CB Will Davis (Miami), CB Nevin Lawson (Detroit), CB Curtis Marsh (Denver), OT Donald Penn (Oakland), RB Robert Turbin (Seattle), LB Zach Vigil (Miami) and LB Bobby Wagner (Seattle).

AGGIES WHO ARE MARRIED
Utah State has nine players on its roster who are married in junior OL Austin Albrecht, junior DE Ricky Ali'ifua, redshirt freshman LB Chase Christiansen, senior LB Kyler Fackrell, redshirt freshman LB Dillon Filiaga, senior LB LT Filiaga, sophomore OL Jarom Ionae, sophomore OL Brandon Taukeiaho and senior OL Ben Wysocki.

AGGIES WHO HAVE SERVED LDS CHURCH MISSIONS
Utah State has 22 players on its roster who have served two-year LDS Church Missions: junior DE Ricky Ali'ifua, senior LB Jarom Baldomero, junior DE Eric Berntson, junior OL Preston Brooksby, junior CB Austin Cheney, junior TE Chris Copier, redshirt freshman LB Dillon Filiaga, senior LB LT Filiaga, senior LS Salanoa Galea'i, freshman LB Braden Harris, junior TE Landon Horne, sophomore OL Jarom Ioane, redshirt freshman LB Derek Larsen, redshirt freshman QB DJ Nelson, junior CB Jentz Painter, freshman TE Dax Raymond, junior DE Siua Taufa, sophomore OL Brandon Taukeiaho, redshirt junior LB Leki Uasike, redshirt freshman OL KJ Uluave, redshirt freshman WR Zach Van Leeuwen and freshman DE Jacoby Wildman.

AGGIES IN THE CLASSROOM
Along with all of its success on the field, Utah State has also excelled in the classroom as it had 21 football players earn academic all-Mountain West honors in 2014, which ranked second in the league, along with two Mountain West Scholar-Athletes. Over the past six years, USU has had 128 players earn academic all-league honors and 131 players have graduated from Utah State. USU also had a Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 86 percent to rank second in the Mountain West during the 2014-15 academic year.

DID YOU KNOW?
Utah State is one of just five FBS schools with a Graduation Success Rate (GSR) above 80 percent, while averaging 10 wins a season from 2012-14 along with Central Florida, Northern Illinois, Notre Dame and Stanford.

RECAPPING THE SOUTHERN UTAH GAME
LOGAN, Utah - Redshirt junior WR Andrew Rodriguez returned a punt 88 yards for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter to lead Utah State to a come-from-behind 12-9 season-opening victory against Southern Utah in front of 21,209 fans on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium on Thursday night.

Rodriguez's return, which gave Utah State (1-0) its only lead of the game, was the third-longest in school history and tied for the second-longest in Mountain West history. In all, Rodriguez returned eight punts in the game, which is a USU and MW record.

Utah State junior LB Nick Vigil recorded a game-best 13 tackles, including 2.0 tackles for loss. In his first game back since suffering a season-ending knee injury at Tennessee on Aug. 31, 2014, senior LB Kyler Fackrell added five tackles, including a career-high 2.5 tackles for loss and a career-high tying 2.0 sacks.

Senior LB LT Filiaga, who was also playing in his first game since suffering a season-ending injury at Wyoming on Nov. 7, 2014, tallied six tackles for the Aggies, who limited Southern Utah (0-1) to just 163 yards of total offense and 2.5 yards per play.

Sophomore CB Jalen Davis finished with four tackles, to go along with a career-high three pass breakups and a career-high tying 2.0 tackles for loss and 1.0 sacks. He also returned two punts for 35 yards as the Thunderbirds punted 15 times on the night.

In his first action since reinjuring his surgically repaired knee against Wake Forest on Sept. 13, 2014, redshirt senior QB Chuckie Keeton completed 16-of-33 passes for 110 yards and one interception as the Aggies won their 10th-straight home game.

With his 33 pass attempts against Southern Utah, Keeton moved into third place all-time in school history as he now has 902 career attempts, trailing only Jose Fuentes (1,270) and Diondre Borel (922). Sophomore RB LaJuan Hunt led the Aggies offensively as he rushed for 80 yards on 23 carries, while junior RB Devante Mays added 51 yards on the ground on just four carries. Utah State finished with 250 yards of total offense.

Southern Utah QB Ammon Olsen completed 17-of-34 passes for 111 yards and a 27-yard touchdown pass to WR Mike Sharp to give the Thunderbirds a 6-0 lead with 13:21 left in the first quarter. However, USU senior NG David Moala blocked the ensuing extra-point try and senior LB Torrey Green returned it for a two-point conversion, making it 6-2.

Junior PK Brock Warren made the first field goal of his Utah State career when he drilled a 30-yarder with 4:59 left in the first quarter, trimming Southern Utah's lead to 6-5.

The Thunderbirds answered with a field goal of their own with four seconds left in the first half as Keita Calhoun converted from 36 yards out to give Southern Utah a 9-5 lead at halftime. The score remained the same until Rodriguez's game-changing punt return for a touchdown with 4:54 left in the fourth quarter.

Utah State, which did not score an offensive touchdown for the first time since Oct. 5, 2012, was 1-for-15 on third-down conversions, while Southern Utah finished the game 1-for-18. The two teams combined for 29 punts.

Sophomore WR Braelon Roberts led the Aggies in receiving as he caught a career-best four receptions for 25 yards, while senior WR Devonte Robinson added three catches for 29 yards.

HEAD COACH Matt Wells
• Matt Wells has wasted little time putting his stamp on the Aggie football program in his first two-plus seasons as head coach, as USU is 20-9 including a 13-3 Mountain West record. Those20 wins are a school-record by a USU coach in his first 29 games. USU has also played in fourth-straight bowl games and won three-straight bowls, including two in a row under Wells.

• Wells led Utah State to 10 wins in 2014 to rank as the second-most in school history behind the 2012 team that finished with an 11-2 record.

• During the 2014 season, Wells mentored 15 players who earned 16 all-Mountain West honors, which were the most in the league and tied for the third-most in school history.

• Wells led Utah State to the inaugural Mountain West Championship game after winning the Mountain Division of the conference with a 7-1 record in 2013. He also led USU to just its third-ever bowl victory as it posted a 21-14 win against No. 24 Northern Illinois in the 2013 San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl.

• Wells was named the 2013 Mountain West Coach of the Year as he set the school record for wins by a first-year head coach as the Aggies finished the 2013 season with a 9-5 record.

• During his first year as Utah State's head coach, Wells mentored 14 Aggies who earned various all-Mountain West honors, including three All-Americans as Tyler Larsen was named a second-team All-American by USA Today Sports, Nevin Lawson was named a third-team All-American by College Sports Madness, and Kyler Fackrell was named an honorable mention Sophomore All-American by College Football News.

• Wells coached a school-record four players who were invited and participated in the 2014 NFL Combine in Larsen, Lawson, Maurice Alexander and D.J. Tialavea, while a total of 11 players from the 2013 roster were invited to NFL camps, including Alexander (St. Louis Rams) and Lawson (Detroit Lions), who were both selected in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft.

• Overall, Wells is the second USU coach and fifth in school history to garner conference coach of the year honors along with Bruce Snyder (1978), Chuck Shelton (1991), John L. Smith (1997) and Gary Andersen (2012). Wells is also the fourth individual to earn MW Coach of the Year honors in his first season along with BYU's Gary Crowton (2001), Utah's Urban Meyer (2003) and Air Force's Troy Calhoun (2007).

• Wells, who is the 17th-youngest head coach at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level and one of just 14 coaches to lead his alma mater, is just the second Utah State graduate to be appointed its head football coach joining Chris Pella, who graduated from USU in 1965 and coached the Aggies from 1983-85.

• Prior to being named the head coach at his alma mater, Wells spent the previous two seasons as an assistant at Utah State, including serving as the team's offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2012. In 2011, Wells coached USU's quarterbacks and was the team's recruiting coordinator. • During his four years at Utah State, Wells has been part of a USU program that has played in four straight bowl games for the first time in school history, and won three-straight bowl games for the first time ever, while posting a 37-17 record.

• As offensive coordinator in 2012, Utah State concluded its most successful season in school history with a school-best 11-2 record. USU also won its first outright conference championship since 1936.