UTAH STATE TO PLAY KENT STATE IN TROPICAL SMOOTHIE CAFE FRISCO BOWL
Third-annual bowl game will be televised live on ESPN2 at 5:30 p.m. (MT). 
 
UTAH STATE (7-5, 6-2 MW) vs. KENT STATE (6-6, 5-3 MAC)
Friday, Dec. 20, 2019 • 5:30 p.m. (MT) • Frisco, Texas • Toyota Stadium (20,500)
 
GAME 13 INFORMATION
TV: ESPN2
• Play-by-Play: Anish Shroff 
• Analyst: John Congemi
• Reporter: Kris Budden
• Xfinity (Utah): Ch. 269/753HD
• DISH/DirecTV: Ch. 158 / Ch. 221
 
LOCAL RADIO: AGGIE SPORTS NETWORK
• Play-by-Play: Scott Garrard 
• Analyst: Kevin White
• Online: 1280thezone.com / Tunein.com
 
NATIONAL RADIO: ESPN
• Play-by-Play: Brian Estridge 
• Analyst: Landry Burdine
• Reporter: Chris Mykoskie
 
SOCIAL MEDIA: #AGGIESALLTHEWAY
• Twitter/Instagram: @USUFootball
• Facebook: USUFootball
• YouTube: UtahStateFootball
 
AGGIE RADIO NETWORKS
• Every Utah State football game can be heard live on the Aggie Radio Network. Scott Garrard serves as the play-by-play announcer, while former USU quarterback Kevin White (1988-89) will provide color analysis. Games can also be heard on the Internet (www.UtahStateAggies.com) by clicking on the 'Listen Live' link, as well as on the TuneIn App.
• Salt Lake City: KZNS (1280 AM/97.5 FM)
• Logan: KBLU-LP (92.3 FM)
• Cache Valley: KACH (1340 AM/105.5 FM)
• Price: KRPX (95.3 FM)
• Green River: KRPX (102.7 FM)
• Moab: KRPX (100.3 FM)
• Orangeville: KRPX (95.9 FM)
 
KICKOFF COVERAGE
• Utah State is playing in a bowl game for the eighth time in the last nine seasons and for the 14th time in school history as it faces Kent State in the Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl on Friday, Dec. 20, at 5:30 p.m. (MT). USU is 5-8 in its previous 13 bowl games, which includes a 3-2 record against teams from the Mid-American Conference.
 
• Utah State posted a 52-13 win against North Texas in the 2018 New Mexico Bowl and will be looking to win back-to-back bowl games for just the second time in school history, joining the 2012-14 teams that won a school-record three-straight bowl games. USU also played in five-straight bowl games from 2011-15, which is a school record, as well.
 
•  This will be Utah State's third bowl game under head coach Gary Andersen, which is the second-most under any coach in school history, as former head coach Matt Wells (2013-18) led the Aggies to five bowl games.
 
• Junior Jordan Love is 21-10 (.677) as Utah State's starting quarterback and can tie Tony Adams (1970-72) as the winningest quarterback in school history with a victory in the bowl game. Adams was 22-10 (688) as USU's starting quarterback.  
 
• Love is 659-of-1,086 (.607) passing for 8,283 yards with 57 touchdowns in his career, and has 8,670 yards of total offense. Love needs just 139 yards of total offense against Kent State in the bowl game to set the school record, which is currently held by Chuckie Keeton (2011-15) with 8,808 yards. Love also ranks second all-time in school history in passing yards and attempts, third all-time in touchdowns and completions, and is fourth in completion percentage. 
 
• Utah State is among the top-40 teams in the nation in 14 statistical categories, including tied for sixth in special teams touchdowns with three (two kickoff returns, one punt return), ninth in fumbles recovered with 12 (0.9 per game) and 12th in turnovers forced with 23 (1.92 per game). USU is also 16th in the nation in tackles for loss allowed with 56 (4.67 per game), 16th in three-and-outs forced (4.25 per game), 20th in punt returns (12.6 yards per return), 22nd in kickoff returns (23.5 yards per return), 30th with two defensive touchdowns, 31st in fumbles lost with six, 32nd in passes intercepted with 11 and passing offense (275.9 yards per game), 34th in sacks allowed with 19 (1.58 per game) and 36th in fewest penalty yards per game (48.3)
 
UTAH STATE FACES KENT STATE IN TROPICAL SMOOTHIE CAFE FRISCO BOWL
• Utah State (7-5, 6-2 MW) will play Kent State (6-6, 5-3 Mid-American) in the Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl on Friday, Dec. 20, at 5:30 p.m. (MT). The game will be nationally televised on ESPN2 (Xfinity Ch. 36/669HD, DISH Ch. 143, DirecTV Ch. 129) with Anish Shroff (play-by-play), John Congemi (analyst) and Kris Budden (reporter) on the call. The game can also be heard nationally on ESPN radio with Brian Estridge (play-by-play), Landry Burdine (analyst) and Chris Mykoskie (reporter).
 
UTAH STATE NOTABLES HEADING INTO ITS BOWL GAME
• Utah State is 2-0 on the season and has won each of its last four games under head coach Gary Andersen following a bye week and/or heading into a bowl game.
 
• Utah State is 16-17 (.485) all-time in known games played during the month of December and is 1-0 all-time in known games played on Dec. 20, as it posted a 21-6 win against UTEP in the 2014 New Mexico Bowl.
 
A LOOK AT UTAH STATE
• Utah State is 7-5 on the season and finished in third place in the Mountain Division of the Mountain West with a 6-2 league record following its 38-25 road win at New Mexico in its regular season finale. Offensively, USU is led by junior QB Jordan Love, who is 263-of-434 (.606) passing for 3,085 yards (257.1 ypg) with 17 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. Senior RB Gerold Bright leads the team in rushing with 827 yards on 161 carries (5.1 ypc/68.9 ypg) with eight touchdowns, and senior graduate transfer WR Siaosi Mariner has a team-best 56 receptions for 874 yards (15.6 ypr/72.8 ypg) and eight touchdowns. Defensively, junior LB David Woodward leads the team with 93 tackles, which includes 5.0 tackles for loss, while junior S Troy Lefeged Jr. has 90 tackles, which includes 5.5 tackles for loss. As a team, USU is averaging 28.2 points and 425.1 yards of total offense (275.9 passing, 149.2 rushing), and allowing 29.0 points and 431.4 yards (233.7 passing, 197.8 rushing).
 
UTAH STATE WINS SEVEN GAMES FOR 26TH TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY
• Utah State has won at least seven games six times in the past nine years and 26 times in school history. USU also finished Mountain West play with a 6-2 record, marking the fourth time in its seven years in the league that it has won at least six league games, joining the 2013 (7-1), 2014 (6-2) and 2018 (7-1) teams. Overall, it is just the sixth time in school history that USU has won six conference games, joining the 1936 (6-0), 2012 (6-0), 2013 (7-1), 2014 (6-2) and 2018 (7-1) teams.
 
• With a victory in its bowl game, Utah State will finish the season with eight or more wins for the fifth time in the past eight years, joining the 2012 (11 wins), 2013 (9 wins), 2014 (10 wins) and 2018 (11) teams, and for just the 14th time in school history as the 1953, 1962, 1963, 1965, 1971 and 1974 teams all won eight games, the 1960, 1961, 1972 and 2013 teams all won nine games, the 2014 team won 10 games, and the 2012 and 2018 teams won a school-record 11 games. In fact, its eight wins this season would be tied for the eighth-most in school history.
 
UTAH STATE 3-1 ON THE SEASON IN ONE-SCORE GAMES
• Utah State is 3-1 on the season in one-score games after posting back-to-back wins against Fresno State (37-35) and Wyoming (26-21). USU also notched a 23-17 road win at San Diego State and had a 38-35 loss at Wake Forest. Those three one-score wins this year are the most by USU since the 2011 team was 5-4 in such games. Under Andersen, USU is 13-11 in one-score games.
 
UTAH STATE MILESTONES THAT EQUAL SUCCESS
• Utah State has won 34 of its last 40 games when it has a 100-yard rusher, including a 4-1 record this year, and 38 of its last 41 contests when rushing at least 40 times in a game, including a 5-0 record this year. USU has also won 54 of its last 58 games when scoring at least 30 points, including a 5-1 record this season.
 
UTAH STATE BOWL HISTORY
• Utah State has a 5-8 bowl record all-time as it lost to San José 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; defeated UTEP, 21-6, in the 2014 Gildan New Mexico Bowl; lost to Akron, 23-21, in the 2015 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl; lost to New Mexico State, 26-20 in overtime, in the 2017 NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl; and defeated North Texas, 52-13, in the 2018 New Mexico Bowl.
 
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2020
• Heading into the 2020 season, Utah State will return 14 starters (O-8, D-6) and 44 letterwinners (O-21, D-21, S-2) from this year's team. USU will lose eight starters (O-3, D-5) and 14 letterwinners (O-5, D-7, S-2).
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State has won or shared 12 league titles in school history (1921, 1935, 1936, 1946, 1960, 1961, 1978, 1978, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2012).
 
SCOUTING KENT STATE
• Kent State is 6-6 on the season and finished tied for second place in the East Division of the Mid-American Conference with a 5-3 record after winning each of its final three league games to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2012. The Golden Flashes are led by junior QB Dustin Crum, who is 196-of-287 (.683) passing for 2,336 yards (194.7 ypg) with 18 touchdowns and two interceptions. Crum also leads the team in rushing with 560 yards on 145 carries (3.9 ypc/46.7 ypg) with five touchdowns, and sophomore WR Isaiah McKoy has caught a team-best 50 passes for 769 yards (15.4 ypr/76.9 ypg) with seven touchdowns. Defensively, junior LB Mandela Lawrence-Burke has a team-best 94 tackles, which includes 4.0 sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss, while fellow junior LB Cepeda Phillips has 85 tackles, which includes 2.0 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss. As a team, Kent State is averaging 27.4 points and 393.6 yards of total offense per game (212.6 passing, 181.0 rushing), and allowing 31.1 points and 470.8 yards of total offense (221.4 passing, 249.3 rushing). Kent State returns 15 starters (O-9, D-6) and 36 lettermen (O-15, D-18, S-3) from last year's team that went 2-10 overall and 1-7 in MAC play to finish sixth in the East Division. Sean Lewis is 8-16 in his second season as Kent State's head coach.
 
AGGIES AND GOLDEN FLASHES SERIES HISTORY
• Utah State is 1-1 all-time against Kent State. The first game played between the two teams was on Oct. 27, 1973, in Logan, with KSU posting a 27-16 road win. USU then posted a 27-24 road win the following season.
 
CONNECTIONS BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND KENT STATE
• Utah State defensive ends coach Bojay Filimoeatu was on staff at San José State with Kent State offensive coordinator Andrew Sowder during the 2017 season. USU senior DT Devon Anderson attended Dodge City (Kan.) CC, as did Kent State junior DL Sekou Diaby. 
 
UTAH STATE VERSUS THE STATE OF OHIO IN BOWL GAMES
• Utah State will be facing a team from the state of Ohio in a bowl game for the fifth time as it played Cincinnati in the 1997 Humanitarian Bowl (Boise, Idaho), Ohio in the 2011 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Boise, Idaho), Toledo in the 2012 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Boise, Idaho) and Akron in the 2015 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Boise, Idaho). 
 
• Utah State is 5-4 all-time against teams from Ohio, including a 2-0 record against Bowling Green, a 1-0 record against Toledo, a 1-1 record against both Kent State and Ohio, and an 0-1 record against both Akron and Cincinnati. 
 
UTAH STATE VERSUS THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE IN BOWL GAMES
• Utah State 3-2 against current members of the Mid-American Conference in bowl games and its six matchups against teams from the MAC are the most against any league. In 1993, USU posted a 42-33 win against Ball State in the Las Vegas Bowl II. In 2011, USU lost to Ohio in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, 24-23. In 2012, USU notched a 41-15 win over Toledo in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. In 2013, USU defeated No. 24 Northern Illinois, 21-14, in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl. And in 2015, USU lost to Akron in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, 23-21.
 
• Overall, Utah State is 9-3 against current members of the Mid-American Conference with 2-0 records against Bowling Green and Northern Illinois, 1-0 records against Ball State, Toledo and Western Michigan, 1-1 records against Kent State and Ohio, and an 0-1 record against Akron.
 
THE MOUNTAIN WEST VERSUS THE MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE IN BOWL GAMES
• The Mountain West is 6-5 all-time against teams from the Mid-American Conference in bowl games. In the 2018 Frisco Bowl, Ohio defeated San Diego State, 27-0. In the 2017 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Wyoming defeated Central Michigan, 37-14. In the 2015 San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl, Boise State defeated Northern Illinois, 55-7. In the 2015 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Akron defeated Utah State, 23-21. In the 2014 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Air Force defeated Western Michigan, 38-24. In the 2013 San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl, Utah State defeated No. 24 Northern Illinois, 21-14. In the 2013 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, San Diego State defeated Buffalo, 49-24. In the 2011 Military Bowl, Toledo defeated Air Force, 42-41. In the 2011 New Mexico Bowl, Temple defeated Wyoming, 37-15. In the 2006 Poinsettia Bowl, TCU defeated Northern Illinois, 37-7. And in the 1999 Motor City Bowl, Marshall defeated BYU, 21-3.
 
AGGIES FROM THE STATE OF OHIO
• Utah State has two players on its roster from the state of Ohio in junior safety Cash Gilliam (Dayton/Wayne HS/Arizona Western JC) and junior DE Jaylin Bannerman (Pickerington/Pickerington Central HS/Arizona Western JC).
 
AGGIES FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS
• Utah State has four players on its roster from the state of Texas in senior DE Tipa Galeai (Euless/Trinity HS/TCU), redshirt junior OL Mohelika Uasike (Euless/L.D. Bell HS), freshman WR Ajani Carter (Houston/North Shore HS) and freshman CB Cam Lampkin (Mesquite/Poteet HS). 
 
FROM THE RECORD BOOKS
• Utah State set a school record with its 88 rushing attempts against Kent State in 1974. USU also set a school record with 24 first downs via the run in that game.
 
• Utah State's 358 rushing yards against Kent State in 1974 are the 19th-most in school history.
 
• Louie Giammona set a school record with his 45 rushing attempts against Kent State in 1974. 
 
• Louie Giammona's 212 rushing yards against Kent State in 1974 are the 17th-most in school history. 
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State has 38 players in its program from the state of Utah, while Kent State has 35 players on its roster from the Buckeye State.
 
• Gary Andersen will be facing Kent State for the first time as a head coach. Andersen is also 1-1 all-time against teams from the Mid-American Conference in bowl games with a 24-23 loss to Ohio and a 41-15 win against Toledo in the 2011 and 2012 Famous Idaho Potato Bowls, respectively.
 
• Utah State will be playing on natural grass for the third time this season (at San Diego State, at LSU).
 
• Utah State will be playing a football game in the state of Texas for the first time since Oct. 27, 2012, when it posted a 48-17 Western Athletic Conference road win at UTSA. 
 
• Utah State is playing a 13th game for the eighth time in the past nine seasons after not playing in more than 12 games prior to its current run. The school record for games played in a season is 14 set in 2013 and 2014.
 
SERIES NOTABLES BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND KENT STATE
• The team that scores first is 2-0 in the series, while the team that leads at the half is 0-2 in the series.
 
• The team with more rushing yards and more total yards of offense is 2-0 in the series. 
 
• Utah State has had just one turnover (fumble) in the series, while Kent State has had seven turnovers, including five lost fumbles in the 1974 meeting and two interceptions in the 1973 meeting. 
 
• Both teams have had a pair of 100-yard rushers in the series as Kent State had one in each meeting, while Utah State had two in the 1974 meeting. In fact, USU had a 200-yard rusher and 100-yard rusher in that game. Neither team has had a 100-yard receiver or 300-yard passer in series history.
 
AGGIES WITH BOWL GAME EXPERIENCE
• Utah State has 16 players who have played in multiple bowl games, including 15 players who have played in each of its last two bowl games (2018 New Mexico Bowl, 2017 NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl) in senior DT Devon Anderson, senior DE Dalton Baker, senior RB Gerold Bright, senior PK Dominik Eberle, senior CB Cameron Haney, senior DE Jacoby Wildman, junior OL Demytrick Ali'ifua, junior TE Logan Lee, junior QB Jordan Love, junior LB Kevin Meitzenheimer, junior WR Jordan Nathan, junior WR Savon Scarver, junior TE Carson Terrell, junior LB David Woodward and redshirt sophomore LB Maika Magalei. Furthermore, redshirt senior P Aaron Dalton played in the 2017 NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl and the 2015 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
 
• Utah State has 17 other players who have played in one bowl game. The following 15 players saw their first bowl game experience in last year's New Mexico Bowl: senior DE Tipa Galeai, senior DT Fua Leilua, senior CB DJ Williams, junior DT Caden Andersen, junior TE Travis Boman, junior WR Taylor Compton, junior DT Ritisoni Fata, junior RB Chase Nelson, junior LS Brandon Pada, sophomore QB Henry Colombi, sophomore OL Alfred Edwards, sophomore CB Andre Grayson, sophomore CB Jarrod Green, sophomore CB Zahodri Jackson and sophomore WR Deven Thompkins. Furthermore, senior DT Christopher Unga and redshirt junior DE Justus Te'i both appeared in their first bowl games in the 2017 NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl, but did not play in the 2018 New Mexico Bowl. 
 
• Of the 33 players listed above, two players have started in each of the last two bowl games in Anderson and Love. Utah State has seven other players that have started in one bowl game as Unga, Haney and Te'i each started in the 2017 NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl, while senior CB Williams, Woodward, Edwards and Jackson each started in the 2018 New Mexico Bowl. 
 
• Galeai also appeared in two bowl games during his freshman and sophomore campaigns at TCU. In the 2016 AutoZone Liberty Bowl, Galeai recorded two tackles, including 1.0 sacks, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery. In the 2015 Alamo Bowl, Galeai had one tackle.
 
• Utah State has four other players that have played in the postseason at other schools in senior graduate transfer RB Riley Burt, senior graduate transfer WR Siaosi Mariner, senior graduate transfer TE Caleb Repp, and junior graduate transfer DE Nick Heninger. Burt carried the ball 13 times for a career-high 110 yards and one touchdown for BYU in the 2018 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Mariner had four receptions for 38 yards for Utah in the 2018 Holiday Bowl, and played in the 2017 Heart of Dallas Bowl. Repp played in three bowl games for Utah, as he had one tackle in the 2017 Heart of Dallas Bowl, and did not record any stats in the 2018 Holiday Bowl and in the 2015 Las Vegas Bowl. And Heninger played in both the 2018 Holiday Bowl and 2017 Heart of Dallas Bowl for Utah. 
 
STATS FOR CURRENT AGGIES IN MULTIPLE BOWL GAMES
• Senior LB Tipa Galeai has 10 tackles, including 3.0 sacks and 4.0 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in three games. Senior graduate transfer TE Caleb Repp has one tackle in three games. Senior DT Devon Anderson has three tackles in two games. Senior DE Dalton Baker has one tackle in two games. Senior RB Gerold Bright has rushed for 151 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries (5.6 ypc), to go along with four receptions for 32 yards (8.0 ypc) and one kickoff return for seven yards, in two games. Senior P Aaron Dalton has punted 15 times for 668 yards (44.5 ypp), including a career-long 69-yarder against Akron in the 2015 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, and has had eight punts downed inside the 20-yard line in two games. Senior PK Dominik Eberle is 3-of-7 on field goals, to go along with 12 kickoffs for 700 yards (58.3 ypk) and seven touchbacks, in two games. Senior CB Cameron Haney has recorded four tackles in two games. Senior DE Jacoby Wildman has one tackle in two games. Junior QB Jordan Love is 46-of-87 (.529) passing for 613 yards and four touchdowns, to go along with one interception, in two games. He has also rushed for four yards and one touchdown on 13 carries. Junior LB Kevin Meitzenheimer has four tackles, including 1.0 tackles for loss, in two games. Junior WR Jordan Nathan has caught two passes for 12 yards, rushed one time for minus two yards and returned seven punts for 16 yards in two games. Junior WR Savon Scarver has returned three kickoffs for 122 yards (40.7 ypr) and one touchdown – a 96-yarder against New Mexico State in the 2017 Arizona Bowl. Junior LB David Woodward has 10 tackles, two interceptions and four pass breakups in two games. And, redshirt sophomore LB Maika Magalei has two tackles in two games.
 
FIRST MEETING vs. KENT STATE
LOGAN, Utah - Greg Kokal, a starter on Kent State's 1972 team that played in the Tangerine Bowl, passed for 177 yards and two touchdowns to help the Golden Flashes rally for a 27-16 win over Utah State in front of 8,703 fans at Romney Stadium on Oct. 27, 1973.
               
Kokal's 8-yard touchdown pass to Mike Mauger with 8:39 remaining in the fourth quarter gave Kent State the lead for good at 20-16. Mauger tacked on an insurance touchdown with nine seconds left when he scored on a 12-yard run.
               
Utah State took a 16-13 lead with 11:57 to go when Archie Gibson scored on an 11-yard run. Gibson ended with 99 yards rushing on 21 carries as Utah State gained 356 total yards on the day. Quarterback Tom Wilson was 13-of-26 passing for 183 yards and one touchdown, a 57-yarder to Craig Clark midway through the second quarter.
               
The Aggies led 9-7 at halftime after Al Knapp converted on a 25-yard field goal with 26 seconds left in the quarter.
               
Kokal threw an 8-yard touchdown pass to give the Golden Flashes a 13-9 lead with 9:51 to go in the third quarter. Kent State finished with 406 yards of total offense and two turnovers. Conversely, the Aggies turned it over once on the day. Brian Longuevan and Alan McMurray led Utah State with 10 tackles apiece. 
               
Jack Lambert, selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round of the 1974 NFL Draft, racked up a game-high 14 tackles and a pass breakup for the Golden Flashes.
               
Current Alabama head coach Nick Saban played with Lambert at Kent State and was an assistant coach for the Golden Flashes from 1973-76.
 
LAST MEETING vs. KENT STATE
KENT, Ohio - Al Knapp kicked a 42-yard field goal with 1:44 remaining in the game to lift Utah State to a 27-24 victory over Kent State in front of 9,722 fans at Dix Stadium on Oct. 19, 1974.
               
Knapp also kicked a 20-yard field goal for the Aggies and made all three of his extra points in the win.
               
Louie Giammona, who set a school-record with 45 carries in the game, rushed for 212 yards and two touchdowns on the day, while Jerry Cox added 135 yards and a touchdown of his own on 33 carries. As a team, Utah State racked up 358 yards rushing on a school-record 88 carries. All 24 of the Aggies' first downs in the game came via the rush, which is also a school record.
               
James Whiting racked up 31 tackles for Kent State, while Steven Maughan had a game-best 11 stops for the Aggies. Two other Golden Flashes finished with 20 and 18 tackles, respectively.
               
Kent State put the ball on the turf eight times during the game and five different Aggies – Jim Boccio, Ronnie McCloud, Joel Watson, Brian Longuevan and Orlando Nelson – recovered fumbles.
               
Giammona scored on touchdown runs of 4 and 2 yards, respectively, while Cox scored on a 2-yard plunge.
 
LOVE DECLARES FOR 2020 NFL DRAFT
• Utah State junior QB Jordan Love announced Tuesday, Dec. 10, that he will forgo his final season of eligibility and declare for the 2020 NFL Draft. Love, who will receive his bachelor's degree from Utah State this month in exercise science, will play in the Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl against Kent State on Friday, Dec. 20, in Frisco, Texas. Love will begin combine training in January. Some future dates of importance are the NFL Combine, which will be held Feb. 23-March 2 in Indianapolis, USU's Pro Day in March and the NFL Draft, which will take place April 23-25 in Las Vegas.
 
• Utah State is averaging 36.7 points in Love's 31 career starts and that scoring average ranks sixth in the nation among active quarterbacks, while his 31 career starts ranks eighth in the nation among active quarterbacks. 
 
EBERLE NAMED ALL-AMERICAN FOR THIRD TIME IN HIS CAREER
• Senior PK Dominik Eberle has been named an honorable mention All-American by ProFootballFocus (PFF), marking his third-career All-American honor, as he was also named a Phil Steele's Magazine Third-Team All-American and an SB Nation Honorable Mention All-American following his sophomore season in 2017.
 
UTAH STATE HAS 10 PLAYERS NAMED ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST
• Utah State had 10 football players earn various all-Mountain West accolades, including senior PK Dominik Eberle, junior KR Savon Scarver and junior LB David Woodward, who all garnered first-team honors. USU also had two players earn second-team all-MW accolades in senior DE Tipa Galeai and senior graduate transfer WR Siaosi Mariner, while five Aggies garnered honorable mention honors in senior RB Gerold Bright, senior graduate transfer TE Caleb Repp, senior DT Christopher Unga, junior S Shaq Bond and junior QB Jordan Love. 
 
UTAH STATE FIFTH IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST IN ALL-CONFERENCE HONORS
• Utah State had four offensive, four defensive and two special team players recognized for a total of 10 all-conference awards, to rank as the fifth-most in the league. Boise State led the Mountain West with 19 all-conference honorees, followed by Air Force (14), San Diego State (14), Hawai'i (11), Utah State (10), Wyoming (8), San José State (7), Colorado State (6), Fresno State (6), Nevada (6), UNLV (6) and New Mexico (5).
 
SIX AGGIES HAVE NOW EARNED MULTIPLE ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST ACCOLADES
• Six of the 10 Utah State players honored by the Mountain West are multiple recipients of postseason recognition from the conference, highlighted by senior PK Dominik Eberle, who earned all-MW honors for the third time in his career as he was also named to the first team as a sophomore in 2017, along with being named to the honorable mention team last year. Junior WR Savon Scarver has earned first-team honors in each of the past two seasons, while senior DE Tipa Galeai and senior DT Christopher Unga have been named to the second- and honorable mention-teams in each of the last two seasons, respectively. Furthermore, junior QB Jordan Love and junior LB David Woodward were both named to the second team a season ago.
 
EBERLE AND SCARVER TWO-TIME FIRST-TEAM ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST PLAYERS
• Senior PK Dominik Eberle and junior KR Savon Scarver both earned first-team all-Mountain West honors for the second time in their careers to become the 37th and 38th Aggies in school history to be a multiple first-team all-conference selection, including the first since DE Kyler Fackrell and LB Nick Vigil following the 2015 campaign.
 
EBERLE INVITED TO PLAY IN EAST-WEST SHRINE GAME
• Senior PK Dominik Eberle is the 33rd Aggie dating back to 1937 invited to play in the 95th East-West Shrine Game, which will be held on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2020. The game, which will be broadcast live on the NFL Network, will be played at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla., and kick off at 1 p.m. (MT).  
 
BRIGHT INVITED TO PLAY IN HULA BOWL
• Senior RB Gerold Bright has been invited to play in the Hula Bowl, which will be held on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020. The game, which will be broadcast live on CBS Sports Network, will be played at  Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, and kick off at 8:30 p.m. (MT). Bright will be the 11th Aggie all-time to play in the Hula Bowl and first since Donald Penn in 2006. The Hula Bowl is making its return after a 12-year absence.
 
UTAH STATE FIFTH IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST IN TOTAL OFFENSE
• Utah State is fifth in the Mountain West and 51st in the nation in total offense (425.1 ypg), fourth in the MW and 32nd in the nation in passing offense (275.9 ypg), fifth in the MW and 34th in the nation in sacks allowed with 19 (1.58 pg), sixth in the MW and 68th nationally in scoring offense (28.3 ppg), seventh in the MW and 57th in the nation in completion percentage (.613), seventh in the MW and 84th in the nation in rushing offense (149.2 ypg), and seventh in the MW and 90th in the nation in passing efficiency (127.3).  
 
• Utah State's offense also ranks fifth in the Mountain West and 16th in the nation with an average of 4.67 tackles for loss allowed per game, fourth in the MW and 31st in the nation in fumbles lost with six, and fourth in the MW and 38th in the nation in third downs with a conversion percentage of 42.4 (78-of-184).
 
AGGIE DEFENSE FIFTH IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST IN POINTS ALLOWED
• Utah State is fifth in the Mountain West and 76th in the nation in scoring defense (29.0 ppg), fifth in the MW and 55th in the nation in passing efficiency defense (130.1), sixth in the MW and 82nd nationally in passing defense (233.7 ypg), sixth in the MW and 83rd in the nation in sacks with 22 (1.83 pg), sixth in the MW and 93rd in the nation in tackles for loss (5.3 pg), ninth in the MW and 96th in the nation in total defense (431.4 ypg), and 10th in the MW and 103rd in the nation in rushing defense (197.8 ypg). USU's defense also ranks second in the MW and sixth in the nation with a fourth down conversion percentage of 31.3 (5-16).
 
UTAH STATE 20TH IN THE NATION IN PUNT RETURNS
• Utah State is second in the Mountain West and 20th in the nation in punt returns (12.6 ypr), fourth in the MW and 22nd in the nation in kickoff returns (23.5 ypr), seventh in the MW and 78th in the nation in kickoff return defense (21.2 ypr), and 10th in the MW and 113th in the nation in net punting (36.0 ypp). USU is also tied for sixth in the nation in special teams touchdowns with three (two kickoff returns, one punt return).
 
• Utah State finished last season first in the nation in kickoff returns at 30.3 yards per return. Junior WR Savon Scarver highlighted this area as he ranked first nationally in kickoff returns (33.7 ypr) and tied for second nationally with his two kickoff returns for touchdown. 
 
AGGIES 12TH IN THE NATION IN TURNOVERS FORCED
• Utah State has forced 23 turnovers (12 fumbles, 11 interceptions) this season to rank first in the Mountain West and 12th in the nation. USU also ranks first in the MW and ninth nationally with its 12 fumble recoveries (0.9 pg), and fourth in the MW and 32nd in the nation with its 11 interceptions. USU led the nation last season with 32 turnovers forced (22 interceptions, 10 fumbles). Overall, USU has forced three or more turnovers in 26 of its last 75 games.  
 
UTAH STATE 30TH IN THE NATION WITH ITS TWO DEFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS
• Utah State has scored two defensive touchdowns (Shaq Bond and David Woodward) this season to rank fourth in the Mountain West and 30th in the nation. Overall, USU has scored 24 defensive touchdowns in its last 84 games. Last season, USU was second in the MW and third in the nation with its six defensive touchdowns. 
 
AGGIES IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST AND NCAA RANKINGS IN 2019
• Junior WR Savon Scarver is first in the Mountain West and second nationally in kickoff returns for touchdown with two (0.18 pg), and is first in the MW and fifth in the nation in kickoff return yards (29.3 ypr). Redshirt junior DE Justus Te'i is first in the MW and fifth in the nation with three fumble recoveries (0.25 pg). Senior PK Dominik Eberle is first in the MW and 37th in the nation in scoring (8.1 ppg), second in the MW and 14th in the nation in field goal percentage (.864) as he is 19-of-22 on the season, third in the MW and 19th in the nation in field goals made per game (1.58), and eighth in the MW in points responsible for per game (8.1). Sophomore WR Deven Thompkins is second in the MW and third in the nation with his one punt return for touchdown (0.09 pg). Junior QB Jordan Love is third in the MW and 25th in the nation in passing yards (257.1 ypg), third in the MW and 28th in the nation in total offense (270.3 ypg), fourth in the MW and 17th in the nation in completions (21.9 pg), fourth in the MW and 57th in the nation in passing touchdowns with 17 (1.42 pg), fifth in the MW and 80th in the nation in passing efficiency (125.9), fifth in the MW in points responsible for (8.5 pg), sixth in the MW and 75th in the nation in yards per pass attempt (7.11), and seventh in the MW and 61st in the nation in completion percentage (.606). Senior graduate transfer WR Siaosi Mariner is third in the MW and 35th in the nation in receiving touchdowns with eight (0.67 pg), fourth in the MW and 46th in the nation in receiving yards (72.8 ypg), ninth in the MW and 80th in the nation in receptions (4.7 pg), and 10th in the MW and 89th in the nation in yards per reception (15.6). Junior S Troy Lefeged Jr. is fourth in the MW and 27th in the nation with two fumble recoveries (0.17 pg), and 11th in the MW and 87th in the nation in tackles (7.5 pg). Senior CB Cameron Haney is fifth in the MW and 23rd in the nation in passes defended with 12 (1.2 pg), and fifth in the MW with two forced fumbles (0.20). Senior DE Tipa Galeai is sixth in the MW in sacks with five (0.45 pg). Senior RB Gerold Bright is seventh in the MW and 76th in the nation in rushing touchdowns with eight (0.7 pg), seventh in the MW and 81st in the nation in yards per carry (5.1), eighth in the MW and 88th in the nation in rushing yards (68.9 ypg), ninth in the MW in total touchdowns with nine (0.75 ypg), and ninth in the MW in all-purpose yards (92.8 ypg). And, junior S Shaq Bond is eighth in the MW and 60th in the nation with his three interceptions (0.25 pg).  
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State ranks third in the Mountain West and 37th in the nation in fewest penalty yards per game (48.3), and fifth in the MW and 52nd in the nation in fewest penalties per game (5.83).
 
TEAM NOTABLES FROM ITS LAST GAME AT NEW MEXICO
• Utah State improved to 4-1 on the season and has now won nine of its last 12 games under head coach Gary Andersen following a loss. Utah State is now 28-13 in its last 41 games played during the month of November. Utah State improved to 10-6 in its last 16 road games, including a 9-3 Mountain West road record. Utah State's 24 second-quarter points are its most in a half this year and most since it had 24 second-quarter points against North Texas in the 2018 New Mexico Bowl.
 
AGGIES SCORE TOUCHDOWNS ON ALL FIVE OF ITS RED ZONE TRIPS vs. NEW MEXICO
• Utah State scored touchdowns on all five of its red zone trips in its last game at New Mexico. Ironically, USU entered the game ranking last in the nation as it had scored just 15 touchdowns on 41 red zone trips during its first 11 games of the season.
 
UTAH STATE IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST
• Utah State is 36-20 (.643) all-time in the Mountain West and has won 47 of its last 67 (.701) league games dating back to 2011. In fact, USU is 15-4 (.789) in its last 19 MW games and 18-7 (.720) in its last 25 games against all opponents. 
 
• Utah State is 163-182-8 (.473) all-time against current members of the Mountain West with a 40-26-4 record vs. Wyoming, a 35-39-2 record vs. Colorado State, a 17-7 record vs. UNLV, an 18-20-1 record vs. San José State, a 13-17-1 record vs. Fresno State, a 13-13 record vs. New Mexico, a 10-6 record vs. Hawai`i, a 7-18 record vs. Nevada, a 5-19 record vs. Boise State, a 3-5 record vs. Air Force, and a 2-12 record vs. San Diego State.
 
• Utah State is in its seventh year as a member of the Mountain West in 2019 and has been a Division I-A/Bowl Championship Series football playing school in each of its 122 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.
 
UTAH STATE PLAYED EIGHT TEAMS THAT QUALIFIED FOR BOWL GAMES IN 2019
• Of the 12 teams Utah State face on its 2019 schedule, eight will play in bowl games and USU was 3-5 against those eight opponents. USU's wins against 2019 bowl teams were at San Diego State (W, 23-17), vs. Nevada (W, 36-10) and vs. Wyoming (W, 26-21). USU's five losses against 2019 bowl teams were at Wake Forest (L, 38-35), at No. 5 LSU (L, 42-6), at Air Force (L, 31-7), vs. BYU (L, 42-14) and vs. No. 20 Boise State (L, 56-21).
 
ANDERSEN FIFTH ALL-TIME IN SCHOOL HISTORY WITH 33 WINS
• Utah State head coach Gary Andersen ranks fifth all-time in school history with his 33 wins, while his .532 winning percentage (33-29) ranks as the eighth-best. Andersen is also one of just four head coaches in school history to lead the Aggies to multiple bowl games.
 
• Utah State is 23-8 (.742) in its last 31 games under Andersen. USU is also 17-2 (.895) in its last 19 conference games under Andersen, which includes a 6-2 record in the Mountain West this season and 11 straight wins in the Western Athletic Conference during the 2011-12 seasons.
 
AGGIES IN OVERTIME
• Utah State is 6-6 all-time in overtime, winning three of its last five. USU is 4-3 in single overtime, 2-2 in double overtime, and 0-1 in triple overtime. USU's last overtime game was a 26-20 loss against New Mexico State in the NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl on Dec. 29, 2017.
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• With its 23-17 road win at San Diego State on Sept. 21 and its 37-35 win at Fresno State on Nov. 9, Utah State became the first team ever to record road wins at both SDSU and FS in the same season since the Mountain West began divisional play in 2013. Overall, USU is 18-4 (.818) all-time against teams from the West Division of the MW, which is the best record by any team in the conference.
 
ANOTHER DID YOU KNOW? 
• Utah State has made 174 straight extra points to rank as the second-longest active streak in the nation, trailing only Georgia (286). The last time USU missed an extra point was against San Diego State on Oct. 28, 2016. 
 
AND ANOTHER DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State has 47 freshmen, which includes 16 redshirts, on its 2019 roster. Those 47 freshmen represent 43.12 percent of its total roster, which ranks as the 29th-most in the nation.
 
AGGIES HAVE A PAIR OF BOWL MVP'S ON ROSTER
• Utah State enters its game against Kent State in the Tropical Smoothie Cafe Frisco Bowl with two players that have already garnered bowl MVP honors in their careers in senior CB DJ Williams and junior QB Jordan Love. Williams was named the Defensive MVP of the 2018 New Mexico Bowl after intercepting two passes against North Texas. Love was tabbed the Offensive MVP of the 2018 New Mexico Bowl after completing 21-of-43 passes for 359 yards and four touchdowns, to go along with three yards rushing and a touchdown, in the Aggies' 52-13 win over North Texas.
 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
• Utah State has nine players who have started every game this season in junior OL Demytrick Ali'ifua, junior S Shaq Bond, junior S Troy Lefeged Jr., junior QB Jordan Love, senior graduate transfer WR Siaosi Mariner, junior LB Kevin Meitzenheimer, redshirt freshman OL Karter Shaw, redshirt junior DE Justus Te'i and senior CB DJ Williams.
 
• Mariner has accounted for 28.2 percent of Utah State's explosive receptions, hauling in a team-leading 13 catches of 20-plus yards, including four that went for touchdowns.
 
• The 13 explosive receptions by Mariner are the most by an Aggie since Hunter Sharp also had a baker's dozen during the 2014 campaign.
 
• Meitzenheimer has recorded at least two tackles in every game this season, including a career-high 13 stops at No. 1 LSU. He also had 12 tackles at home against Wyoming.
 
• Te'i and senior DE Jacoby Wildman are the only two Aggie defensive linemen to have recorded at least one tackle in every game this season, while Bond, Lefeged and Williams, are the only players in Utah State's secondary to have at least one tackle in every game.
 
• The Aggies have had seven different players lead the team in tackles this year, including Woodward (team-best five times), Lefeged (twice), redshirt junior LB Eric Munoz (twice), Bond, (once), junior S Cash Gilliam (once), Meitzenheimer (once) and Williams (once).
 
• Fifteen of Utah State's 35 offensive touchdowns (42.9 percent) have been on explosive plays, with 10 through the air and five on the ground.
 
• The Aggies have had 12 scoring drives take less than one minute off of the clock, including two each against Stony Brook, No. 1 LSU, Nevada, Wyoming and New Mexico. Utah State has also had 12 scoring drives of at least 10 plays, including a season-long 15-play, 75-yard drive that resulted in a 30-yard field goal by senior PK Dominik Eberle at San Diego State.
 
• Utah State has scored five non-offensive touchdowns this year, including a pair of 100-yard kickoff returns by junior WR Savon Scarver, a 45-yard punt return by sophomore WR Deven Thompkins, a 48-yard interception return by Bond and an 8-yard fumble return by Woodward.
 
• Mariner, along with junior WR Jordan Nathan and senior RB Gerold Bright, are the only Aggies to have at least one reception each time out this season. Mariner has led the Aggies in receiving in five games.
 
• An eye-popping 34 of Mariner's team-leading 56 catches on the year (.607) have resulted in a first down. The majority of his catches have come in the first half alone as he has 37 during the first 30 minutes of play – 19 in the second quarter and 18 in the first. Mariner has caught eight third-quarter passes and 11 more in the fourth.
 
• Bright is the only Aggie with at least one rushing attempt in every game this year, and only has three games with fewer than nine attempts.
 
BRIGHT POSTS EIGHTH 100-YARD RUSHING GAME IN REGULAR-SEASON FINALE
• Senior RB Gerold Bright posted his eighth-career 100-yard rushing game, including his third this year, in the regular-season finale at New Mexico on Nov. 30, as he carried the ball 19 times for 113 yards with one touchdown.
 
• Bright's eight 100-yard rushing games are the most by an Aggie since Kerwynn Williams (2009-12) also had eight in his career.
 
• Bright also carried the ball 15 times for 126 yards and scored a season-high two touchdowns on runs of 67 and nine yards against Nevada on Oct. 19. His 67-yard touchdown run was a season long. Of his 15 carries, none were for negative yards.
 
• Bright's other 100-yard game this season was against Colorado State on Sept. 28, as he carried the ball 36 times for 179 yards - both career highs - and did not have a single negative rush in the game. Those 36 carries are the most by an Aggie since Emmett White carried the ball 38 times against Weber State in 2001, while the 179 rushing yards are the most by an Aggie since Devante Mays rushed for 208 yards against Weber State in 2016.
 
• Bright, who has four rushes and two receptions for at least 20 yards on the season, has scored a rushing touchdown in four of his last five games. During his last five games, he has carried the ball 72 times for 368 yards (5.0 ypc/71.6 ypg).
 
BRIGHT 10TH PLAYER IN SCHOOL HISTORY TO RUSH FOR 2,000 YARDS
• Senior RB Gerold Bright became the 10th player in school history to rush for 2,000 yards in a career as he posted his eighth-career 100-yard game in his last outing at New Mexico on Nov. 30, as he carried the ball 19 times for 113 yards. Overall, Bright has rushed for 2,051 yards to rank 10th all-time in school history. Bright also ranks ninth all-time at USU with a 6.0 yards per carry average.
 
• Overall, Bright is one of 32 players in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in a career.
 
BRIGHT SCORES 27TH-CAREER TOUCHDOWN 
• Senior RB Gerold Bright scored his 27th-career touchdown in the regular-season finale at New Mexico on Nov. 30, on a 1-yard run for his 21st-career rushing touchdown. Those 21 rushing touchdowns are tied for the eighth-most in school history, while his 27 overall touchdowns are tied for the ninth-most all-time at USU.
 
LOVE TIES SEASON HIGH WITH THREE TOUCHDOWN PASSES IN NEW MEXICO GAME 
• Junior QB Jordan Love tied his season high with three touchdown passes (5, 16, 10) in his regular-season final at New Mexico on Nov. 30, to give him 17 touchdown passes this season and 57 in his career. For Love, it was his fifth multi-touchdown passing game this year and the 15th of his career. It is also the eighth time in his career that he has had at least three touchdown passes in a game. Overall, Love has thrown multiple touchdown passes in three of his last four games.
 
LOVE SECOND QUARTERBACK WITH MULTIPLE 3,000-YARD PASSING SEASONS
• Junior QB Jordan Love is 263-of-434 (.606) passing for 3,085 yards this season with 17 touchdowns and is just the second quarterback in school history to have multiple 3,000-yard passing seasons, along with Jose Fuentes (1999-2002).
 
• Heading into the bowl game, Love is currently third all-time at Utah State with his 263 completions and needs five completions to pass last year's mark of 267 and 13 completions to set the single-season school record that is currently held by Chuckie Keeton, who completed 275 passes as a sophomore in 2012. Love also currently ranks fifth this season in pass attempts with 434, which is a career high, and needs 36 attempts to set the single-season school record that is currently held by Anthony Calvillo, who threw 469 passes as a senior in 1993.
 
• Love is also 16 passing yards shy of setting the school record for passing yards in a season by a junior, a record that is currently held by Fuentes, who passed for 3,100 yards as a junior in 2001. Love holds the school record for passing yards by a freshman (1,631) and sophomore (3,567), as his 3,567 yards last year also a single-season school record.
 
LOVE AMONG TOP 10 QUARTERBACKS IN SCHOOL HISTORY IN SIX CATEGORIES 
• Junior QB Jordan Love is 659-of-1,086 (.607) passing for 8,283 yards with 57 touchdowns and 28 interceptions during his career. In all, Love ranks second all-time in school history in passing yards and attempts, third in touchdown passes, completions and total offense (8,670 yards), and fourth in completion percentage. 
 
LOVE RECORDS SCHOOL-RECORD 11TH-CAREER 300-YARD PASSING GAME 
• Junior QB Jordan Love was named the College Sports Madness Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week as he recorded his school-record 11th-career 300-yard passing game in Utah State's 37-35 Mountain West road win at Fresno State on Nov. 9. Love was 30-of-39 passing for 388 yards and two touchdowns against the Bulldogs. Those 388 passing yards are his third-most this season and the fifth-most of his career. Love also completed 30 passes for the third time this year and fourth time in his career.
 
• With his 11th 300-yard passing game, Love broke the school record that was held by both Jose Fuentes (1999-2002) and Brent Snyder (1987-88), as both players had 10 career 300-yard passing games.
 
LOVE SETS ANOTHER SCHOOL RECORD IN WYOMING GAME 
• Junior QB Jordan Love completed an 80-yard touchdown pass against Wyoming. For Love, that was his school-record-setting fourth completion of at least 80 yards. The previous record was held by Jose Fuentes (1999-02), who completed three 80-yard passes during his Aggie career. 
 
LOVE SETS FIVE SCHOOL RECORDS IN 2018 
• Junior QB Jordan Love set five school records in 2018, including 32 touchdown passes, 3,567 passing yards, seven 300-yard passing games, 234 points responsible for and being named the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week five times. Love also tied the single-season school record with a pair of 400-yard passing games and tied the single-game school record for touchdown passes with five against both UNLV and San José State, becoming just the fifth quarterback in school history to accomplish the feat.
 
• Love is the fourth quarterback in school history to throw five touchdown passes in multiple games, along with Chuckie Keeton, who did it three times, and Anthony Calvillo and Tony Adams, who both did it twice. Overall, it is the 10th time in school history that an Aggie quarterback has thrown five touchdown passes in a game. 
 
MARINER POSTS THREE 100-YARD RECEIVING GAMES
• Senior graduate transfer WR Siaosi Mariner has had three 100-yard receiving games during the season, including back-to-back 100-yard games during Mountain West play. Mariner, a graduate transfer, began his Aggie career by catching eight passes for 118 yards and one touchdown against Wake Forest in the season opener. He then caught a career-high 11 passes for 103 yards and a career-best two touchdowns at Fresno State, and added four receptions for a career-high 123 yards, including a career-long 80-yard touchdown reception, which is tied for the 18th-longest pass play in school history, against Wyoming. 
 
• In his last five games, Mariner has caught 27 passes for 433 yards (16.0 ypr/86.6 ypg) with five touchdowns. Furthermore, six of his eight touchdown receptions have been in his last six games.
 
• Of his team-leading 56 receptions this season, 13 have been for at least 20 yards, with four of those being touchdowns.
 
NATHAN SECOND ON THE TEAM IN RECEIVING YARDS AND RECEPTIONS
• Junior WR Jordan Nathan has caught 47 passes for 510 yards (10.9 ypr/42.5 ypg) with one touchdown this season, to rank second on the team in both receptions and receiving yards. Nathan, who has 10 receptions of at least 20 yards this season to rank second on the team, had his first-career 100-yard receiving game against BYU on Nov. 2, as he caught a career-high seven passes for a career-best 133 yards.
 
• Nathan scored his first-career rushing touchdown at New Mexico on Nov. 30, as he carried the ball five times for 26 yards and scored on an 11-yard run, all of which are career highs.
 
• In his last five games, Nathan has caught 26 passes for 302 yards (11.6 ypr/60.4 ypg) and has had at least four receptions in each of those games.
 
REPP HAS TOUCHDOWN RECEPTIONS IN EACH OF HIS LAST TWO GAMES
• Senior graduate transfer TE Caleb Repp has caught touchdown passes in each of his last two games and ranks second on the team with his four touchdown receptions this year. Overall, Repp has caught 36 passes for 455 yards (12.6 ypr/37.9 ypg) as he ranks tied for third on the team in receptions and fourth on the team in receiving yards. Overall, Repp has seven receptions this year for at least 20 yards, which is the third-most on the team. Repp's four touchdowns this season are the most by an Aggie tight end since Kellen Bartlett had five touchdown catches in 2012.
 
• In his last five games, Repp has caught 18 passes for 244 yards (13.6 ypr/48.8 ypg) and two touchdowns, and has had multiple receptions in each of those games.
 
WARREN HAS TWO 100-YARD RUSHING GAMES THIS SEASON
• Junior RB Jaylen Warren began his Aggie career by rushing for 141 yards on 19 carries against Wake Forest in the season-opener and then rushed for 105 yards on nine carries against Stony Brook to become the first player ever to rush for 100 yards in an Aggie debut and in back-to-back games to start a career. Overall, Warren has a team-best five rushes of at least 20 yards.
 
• During his first three games of the season, Warren carried the ball 45 times for 324 yards (7.1 ypc/106.7 ypg) with four touchdowns.
 
THOMPKINS THIRD ON THE TEAM IN RECEIVING
• Sophomore WR Deven Thompkins has caught 36 passes for 485 yards (13.5 ypr/44.1 ypg) with three touchdowns to rank third on the team in all three categories. Thompkins, who has five receptions for at least 20 yards this year, has caught 10 passes for 192 yards (19.2 ypr/64.0 ypg) during his last three outings.
 
WRIGHT CATCHES SECOND-CAREER TOUCHDOWN IN NEW MEXICO GAME
• Junior WR Derek Wright caught his second-career touchdown on a 16-yard completion in his last game against New Mexico and had career highs with three receptions for 46 yards in his previous game against Boise State. In his last two games, he has caught four passes for 62 yards.
 
WILLIAMS TIES CAREER-HIGH WITH TWO INTERCEPTIONS IN NEW MEXICO GAME 
• Senior CB DJ Williams tied his career high with two interceptions in his last game at New Mexico on Nov. 30, to give him six interceptions in his career. Ironically, Williams also had a pair of interceptions against North Texas in the 2018 New Mexico Bowl to give him four career interceptions at Dreamstyle Stadium. Williams also had a pass breakup against the Lobos to give him seven pass breakups on the season and 18 in his career.
 
• Williams, who ranks second on the team with nine passes defended and fifth on the team with 71 tackles this year, recorded two double-digit tackle outings during the year with a career-high 14 stops at Air Force, to go along with 12 tackles at San Diego State. Williams also tied his career high with three passes defended against Stony Brook.
 
GALEAI TIES CAREER-HIGH WITH TWO SACKS IN NEW MEXICO GAME 
• Senior DE Tipa Galeai tied his career high with 2.0 sacks in his last game at New Mexico on Nov. 30, to give him a team-best 5.0 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss this season, and a team-best 15.5 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss in his career. In his last three games, Galeai has 15 tackles, which includes 3.0 sacks and 3.5 tackles for loss.
 
• In Utah State's 2018 New Mexico Bowl win against North Texas, Galeai had a career-high 2.0 sacks and a career-best 3.0 tackles for loss as part of his six total tackles in just one half of play.
 
MUNOZ NAMED MOUNTAIN WEST CO-DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK 
• Redshirt junior LB Eric Munoz was named the Mountain West Co-Defensive Player of the Week following his performance in Utah State's 26-21 home win against Wyoming on Nov. 16. Munoz, who was making his first-career start, posted his first-ever double-digit tackle game with a career-high 13 stops, which included 0.5 tackles for loss, to go along with one quarterback hurry. Munoz also intercepted the first two passes of his career, both of which were in the fourth quarter. His first was returned 51 yards and led to a USU field goal, while the second was in the final minute of the game at the USU 25-yard line to seal the win.
 
• Munoz, who was a walk-on and earned a scholarship after the Wyoming game, entered the game against the Cowboys having played in just seven career games, including three this season, and had nine career tackles, including three this season.
 
• During his last three games, all of which have been starts, Munoz has recorded 29 tackles (9.7 tpg), to go along with 1.0 tackles for loss and two interceptions.
 
LEFEGED JR. RANKS SECOND ON THE TEAM IN TOTAL TACKLES 
• Junior S Troy Lefeged Jr. has 90 tackles, including 2.0 sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss this season, to rank second on the team in total tackles, tied for third in sacks and fourth in tackles for loss. Lefeged is also second on the team with two fumble recoveries and tied for second with two forced fumbles, while his four pass breakups are the fifth-most.
 
• Lefeged, who has recorded at least seven tackles in each of his last six games, ranks second on the team with four double-digit tackle outings this year. He had a career-high 12 tackles, which included 1.0 sacks and 2.0 tackles for loss against Wyoming, and 11 tackles, which included 1.0 sacks and a career-high 3.0 tackles for loss against Colorado State. He also had 10 tackles against both Wake Forest and LSU. In his last six games, Lefeged has recorded 51 tackles (8.5 tpg), to go along with 1.0 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss.  
 
BOND LEADS THE TEAM WITH THREE INTERCEPTIONS THIS SEASON 
• Junior S Shaq Bond has a team-best three interceptions this season, including returning one 48 yards against San Diego State for his second-career interception return for touchdown. Bond also had interceptions against Nevada and Wyoming on the year. Bond also ranks fourth on the team with his 75 total tackles and is third with his eight passes defended. 
 
• Bond, who had a career-high 12 tackles at Air Force and a career-best two pass breakups at Wake Forest in the season opener, has recorded at least five tackles in each of his last six games as he is averaging 7.2 tackles per game during that stretch.
 
HANEY LEADS THE TEAM WITH 28 PASSES DEFENDED IN HIS CAREER 
• Senior CB Cameron Haney has a team-best 28 passes defended during his career, including a team-high 12 this season, which includes 11 pass breakups and one interception. Haney is also  tied for second on the team with two forced fumbles during the year. 
 
TE'I LEADS THE TEAM WITH FIVE FUMBLE RECOVERIES IN HIS CAREER 
• Redshirt junior DE Justus Te'i has a team-best three fumble recoveries this year and five in his career. Overall, Te'i ranks seventh on the team with 46 total tackles and is tied for fourth with his 5.5 tackles for loss. Te'i also posted his first-career safety in the Nevada game.  
 
UNGA LEADING UTAH STATE UP FRONT IN TACKLES 
• Senior DT Christopher Unga has 43 tackles on the season to rank first among defensive tackles on the team. Unga, who had his first-career fumble recovery in his last game at New Mexico on Nov. 30, has recorded multiple tackles in 11 of the 12 games he has played in this year. During his last six games, Unga has 29 total tackles (4.8 tpg).
 
WOODWARD STILL LEADS THE TEAM IN TACKLES DESPITE MISSING FIVE GAMES
• Junior LB David Woodward has a team-best 93 tackles this year, which includes 2.0 sacks and 5.0 tackles for loss, despite missing the past five games due to injury. Woodward also leads the team with four forced fumble on the season and has scored one of USU's two defensive touchdowns this year, as he returned a fumble eight yards for a touchdown against Colorado State.
 
• During his seven games this season, Woodward recorded double-digits in tackles six times, including a career-high 24 stops at Wake Forest as he was named the Chuck Bednarik National Defensive Player of the Week. He also had 1.0 sacks and a career-best 3.5 tackles for loss to go along with two forced fumbles against the Demon Deacons. Furthermore, those 24 tackles against Wake Forest are the most by any player at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level this season. 
 
• For his career, Woodward had a team best 256 tackles and has posted 15-career double-digit tackle games.
 
MEITZENHEIMER RANKS THIRD ON THE TEAM IN TOTAL TACKLES
• Junior LB Kevin Meitzenheimer ranks third on the team with his 84 tackles and he has recorded double-digit tackles in two games this season. Meitzenheimer had a career-high 13 tackles at No. 5 LSU and added 12 tackles against Wyoming. During his last three games, Meitzenheimer has recorded 27 total tackles (9.0 tpg). 
 
HENINGER LEADS THE TEAM IN SACKS
• Junior graduate transfer DE Nick Heninger has 27 tackles, which includes 3.0 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss on the season. Overall, Heninger ranks first on the team in sacks and is tied for second in tackles for loss. Heninger began his Aggie career by recording 1.0 sacks and 2.0 tackles for loss, as part of his four total tackles, at Wake Forest.
 
ANDERSON PLAYING WELL DOWN THE STRETCH FOR UTAH STATE
• Senior DT Devon Anderson has played well down the stretch for Utah State as he has recorded 10 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss, in his last three games. In his last game at New Mexico on Nov. 30, Anderson had four tackles, which included 1.0 tackles for loss, to go along with his fourth-career forced fumble, including his second this season.
 
• On the season, Anderson has 35 tackles, which includes 2.0 sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss, which is tied for the second-most on the team. Anderson has also forced two fumbles this season, which is also tied for the second-most on the team. 
 
WILDMAN BLOCKS SECOND-CAREER KICK IN NEW MEXICO GAME
• Senior DE Jacoby Wildman blocked his second-career kick in his last game at New Mexico on Nov. 30, on an extra point. Wildman's first-career block was also in Dreamstyle Stadium as he blocked a punt against North Texas in the 2018 New Mexico Bowl. 
 
• On the season, Wildman ranks ninth on the team with his 41 tackles, which includes 2.0 sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss, which is tied for the fourth-most on the team. During his last six games, Wildman has 23 tackles (3.8 tpg).
 
SCARVER SETS SCHOOL RECORD WITH FIFTH-CAREER KICKOFF RETURN FOR TD
• Junior WR Savon Scarver returned his fifth-career kickoff for a touchdown against Nevada on Oct. 19, 2019, to set the school record that was held by Kevin Robinson (2004-07), who returned four kickoffs for touchdowns during his career. Scarver, who has three-career 100-yard kickoff returns, also had a kickoff return for touchdown against Colorado State this season.
 
• Scarver's five kickoff returns for touchdown are tied for the second-most in Mountain West history with New Mexico's Carlos Wiggins (2012-15). The MW record is seven kickoff returns for touchdown set by San Diego State's Rashaad Penny (2014-17). Furthermore, Scarver's two kickoff returns for touchdown this season and last season are tied for the fourth-most in a single season in MW history as the record is three held by Penny (2015), Wiggins (2013) and Hawaii's Mike Edwards III (2012).
 
• The NCAA record for kickoff returns for touchdowns in a career is seven set by four players, while Scarver's five kickoff returns for touchdowns is tied for the ninth-most in NCAA history. 
 
• Scarver's 100-yard kickoff return against Nevada and Colorado State this season is tied for the third-longest in school history and marks the 22nd and 23rd time in Mountain West history that a kickoff has been returned 100 yards.
 
• Of his five kickoff returns for touchdowns, three have been from 100 yards, while the others were from 99 and 96 yards, respectively.
 
BARTOLIC PUNTING WELL FOR UTAH STATE
• Junior P Christopher Bartolic has 10 punts this season of at least 50 yards and two punts of at least 60 yards. Bartolic also has 13 punts downed inside the 20-yard line on the season. Overall, Bartolic has punted 41 times for an average of 42.0 yards per punt. 
 
EBERLE NAMED MOUNTAIN WEST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK AGAIN 
• Senior PK Dominik Eberle was named the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week three times this season and has won the award five times in his career. In fact, Eberle's five MW Player of the Week honors are the second-most in school history by a special teams player, trailing Brad Bohn (1997-2000), who was named the Big West Conference Special Teams Player of the Week seven times.
 
• Eberle's first Mountain West Player of the Week honor this season came following USU's 23-17 road win at San Diego State, as he was 3-of-4 on field goals and scored 11 points. Eberle's second honor came following USU's 37-35 road win at Fresno State, as he made the game-winning 30-yard field goal as time expired. Eberle also made field goals from 25 and 39 yards against the Bulldogs as he was a perfect 3-of-3 on field goal attempts and 4-of-4 on extra points en route to scoring 13 points. Eberle's field goal was the first game-winner for Utah State since Bohn made a 30-yarder with five seconds to play to give the Aggies a 28-27 home win against North Texas in 1998. Eberle's third and final Player of the Week honor this season was against Wyoming, as he was 4-of-5 on field goal attempts and scored 14 points as he made field goals from 47, 44, 26 and 23 yards, while his lone miss was from 50 yards. 
 
EBERLE SETS UTAH STATE AND MOUNTAIN WEST FIELD GOAL RECORD 
• Senior PK Dominik Eberle is 62-of-79 (.785) on field goals in his career and ranks first all-time in both school and Mountain West history in field goals made. The previous school record was 59 field goals made by Brad Bohn (1997-2000), while the previous MW record was 57 field goals made by Utah's Louis Sakoda (2005-08). 
 
EBERLE SETS SCHOOL RECORD FOR POINTS SCORED 
• Senior PK Dominik Eberle has scored a school-record 348 career points, bettering the previous school record of 308 points scored by running back Robert Turbin (2007-09, '11). Eberle has also scored the third-most points in Mountain West history. TCU's Ross Evans (2008-11) holds the league record with 407 career points scored.
 
EBERLE SECOND IN SCHOOL HISTORY IN FIELD GOALS ATTEMPTED 
• Senior PK Dominik Eberle ranks first all-time in school history in field goals made (62) and is second all-time in field goals attempted (79). Brad Bohn (1997-2000) was 59-of-89 on field goals in his career. Eberle also ranks second all-time in school history in field goal percentage (.785). Russ Moody (1988-89) holds the school record at 84.6, as he was 22-of-26 all-time on field goal attempts.
 
• Eberle is 1-of-1 in his career from 10-19 yards, 23-of-26 in his career from 20-29 yards, 17-of-19 in his career from 30-39 yards, 17-of-26 in his career from 40-49 yards, and 4-of-7 in his career from 50+ yards. Eberle is the only kicker in school history to have four or more 50-yard field goals in a career.
 
EBERLE EXTENDS SCHOOL RECORD FOR CONSECUTIVE EXTRA POINTS MADE 
• Senior PK Dominik Eberle is a perfect 162-for-162 on extra points in his career, which is a school record. The previous record for consecutive PATs made was 64 by Willie Beecher (1981-84). Overall, Eberle ranks first all-time in school history in extra points made and attempted.
 
• Those 162 extra points are also the fifth-most in Mountain West history. TCU's Ross Evans holds the conference record with 239 PATs made.
 
EBERLE TIES TWO NCAA RECORDS
• Senior PK Dominik Eberle tied two NCAA records in Utah State's 60-13 home win against New Mexico State last year. First, Eberle tied the NCAA record for points scored in a game by a kicker with 24, a record that was set by Western Michigan's Mike Prindle in 1984. Eberle also tied an NCAA record with his three 51-yard field goals, becoming just the sixth player ever to kick three 50-plus yard field goals in a game. 
 
• Eberle also set school and Mountain West records with his six made field goals, while his six field goal attempts tied his own school record that was set in 2017. In all, Eberle made field goals from 44, 32, 51, 21, 51 and 51 yards, as those six made field goals are tied for the third-most in a single-game in NCAA history.
 
EBERLE IN THE SINGLE-SEASON RECORD BOOKS
• Senior PK Dominik Eberle ranks among the top-10 all-time in school history in every kicking category this year as he is second in field goal percentage (.864), third in field goals made (19), sixth in extra points made (40), eighth in extra points attempted (40) and 10th in field goals attempted (22).  
 
• Eberle set single-season school records for points scored (141), extra points made (75) and attempted (75), and field goal attempts (28) in 2018. In fact, Eberle has two of the top seven scoring seasons in school history, as he also scored 101 points as a sophomore to rank as the seventh-most in school history.
 
• Eberle has posted three of the top five seasons in school history in field goals made with 22 in 2018 to rank second, 19 this year to rank third and 18 in 2017 to rank fifth. Eberle also ranks among the top-10 all-time in school history in field goals attempted three times, among the top-10 in field goal percentage twice, and among the top-10 in both extra points made and attempted three times.
 
WHAT'S RETURNING IN 2019
• Utah State returns nine starters (O-2, D-7) as part of 31 letterwinners (O-13, D-16, S-2), including two All-Americans and eight players that earned various all-Mountain West honors, from last year's team that ended the 2018 season ranked 21st in the final Amway Coaches poll and 22nd in the final Associated Press poll as it tied the school record for wins and best record with an 11-2 mark following its 52-13 win against North Texas in the New Mexico Bowl. USU also tied for first place in the Mountain Division of the Mountain West with a 7-1 record. 
 
• Highlighting Utah State's returners in 2019 are two players who earned All-America honors a season ago in junior WR Savon Scarver and junior LB David Woodward. Scarver, who is just the third consensus All-American in school history, was named a first-team All-American from the Walter Camp Football Foundation, the Football Writers Association of America and Phil Steele's Magazine, and earned second-team All-American honors from the American Football Coaches Association as a kick returner, while Woodward was named a first-team All-American by ProFootballFocus.com and a third-team All-American by The Associated Press. Six other returning Aggies earned various all-Mountain West honors a year ago as senior DE Tipa Galeai and junior QB Jordan Love were both named to the second team, while senior PK Dominik Eberle, senior DT Fua Leilua, senior DT Christopher 'Unga and senior CB DJ Williams all garnered honorable mention honors. Additionally, Utah State returns three other starters in senior DT Devon Anderson, junior S Shaq Bond and sophomore OL Alfred Edwards.
 
WHAT UTAH STATE MUST REPLACE FROM 2018
• Utah State must replace 11 starters, including 10 players who earned various all-Mountain West honors in 2018, including OL Quin Ficklin, who earned first-team honors and OL Roman Andrus, S Jontrell Rocquemore and RB Darwin Thompson, who were all named to the second team, while DE Adewale Adeoye, OL Rob Castaneda, S Gaje Ferguson, TE Dax Raymond, WR Ron'quavion Tarver and OL Sean Taylor were all named to the honorable mention team. USU also must replace LB Chase Christiansen to graduation.
 
FINAL NOTES FROM 2018 SEASON
• Utah State's 11 wins and 11-2 record tied the 2012 team for the most wins and best record in school history, while its seven conference wins tied the 2013 team for the most league wins ever. Overall, it is just the third time that USU has won 10 or more games, along with the 2014 team that posted a 10-4 record.
 
• Utah State concluded the 2018 season ranked 21st in the Amway Coaches poll and 22nd in The Associated Press (AP) poll. For USU, it is just the fourth time in school history that it has ended a season nationally ranked, joining the 1961 team that finished its season 10th in the final AP and United Press International (UPI) polls, the 1972 team that ended its year 19th in the final UPI poll, and the 2012 team that finished its year 16th in the AP poll, 17th in the coaches poll and 22nd in the BCS standings.
 
• Utah State won its fifth bowl game in 13 appearances with its 52-13 victory against North Texas in the 2018 New Mexico Bowl, which was its seventh bowl game in the last eight seasons. USU's other bowl wins are its 42-33 victory against Ball State in the 1993 Las Vegas Bowl II, its 41-15 win against Toledo in the 2012 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, its 21-14 win against No. 24 Northern Illinois in the 2013 San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl, and its 21-6 win against UTEP in the 2014 Gildan New Mexico Bowl. 
 
• Utah State's average margin of victory last year was 25.3 points (618-289), which was the third-highest in the nation behind Clemson at 31.2 points (664-197) and Alabama at 27.5 points (684-271).
 
• Utah State was one of just 14 teams in the nation with at least 11 wins last season, joining Alabama (15), Clemson (14), Ohio State (13), Fresno State (12), Oklahoma (12), Notre Dame (12), UCF (12), Appalachian State (11), Army (11), Cincinnati (11), Georgia (11), UAB (11) and Washington State (11).
 
• Utah State scored 618 points in 13 games during the 2018 season to set the Mountain West record, which was previously held by BYU, which scored 608 points in 14 games in 2001.
 
• Utah State's 10-1 start to the 2018 season was its best in school history, topping Merlin Olsen's 1961 team that finished with a 9-1-1 record. USU also won 10 straight games for the first time in school history last year, topping Olsen's 1960 team that won its first nine games.
 
• Utah State finished the 2018 season ranking among the top 20 teams in the nation in 24 statistical categories and led the nation in five of those, including scoring drives under one minute (29), turnovers forced (32), passes intercepted (22), kickoff returns (30.30 yards per return) and three-and-outs forced (5.69 per game). USU was also second in the nation in scoring (47.5 points per game) and non-offensive touchdowns (10), third in average margin of victory (25.3 points per game), turnover margin (+1.08) and defensive touchdowns (6), and fourth in sacks allowed with 10 (0.77 per game).
 
• Utah State set 36 school records and tied six others during the 2018 season.
 
UTAH STATE HAS EIGHT PLAYERS ON ITS ROSTER THAT WERE WALK-ONS
• Utah State has eight players on its current roster that began their careers as walk-ons and went on to earn scholarships in senior PK Dominik Eberle, junior TE Travis Boman, junior WR Taylor Compton, redshirt junior LB Eric Munoz, junior RB Chase Nelson, junior LS Brandon Pada, junior DE Jake Pitcher and redshirt freshman OL Karter Shaw. Furthermore, junior P Christopher Bartolic, junior graduate transfer DE Nick Heninger and junior WR Derek Wright are currenlty walk-ons for the Aggies. 
 
AGGIES WHO HAVE SERVED LDS CHURCH MISSIONS 
• Utah State has 18 players on its 2019 roster who have served two-year LDS Church Missions in senior DE Braden Harris, senior DE Jacoby Wildman, redshirt junior OL Mohelika Uasike, junior DT Caden Andersen, junior WR Taylor Compton, junior DT Ritisoni Fata, junior TE Logan Lee, junior TE Mosese Manu, junior RB Chase Nelson, sophomore RB Sione Fehoko, sophomore LB Daniel Langi, sophomore OL Wade Meacham, redshirt freshman LB Dustin Mathews, redshirt freshman TE Bryce Mortenson, freshman DT Josh Bowcut, freshman OL Sione Lasike, freshman OL Logan Wood and freshman WR Kyle Van Leeuwen. 
 
AGGIES WHO ARE MARRIED 
• Utah State has seven players on its 2019 roster who are married in senior DE Dalton Baker, senior DE Braden Harris, senior DT Fua Leilua, senior DE Jacoby Wildman, redshirt junior OL Mohelika Uasike, junior WR Derek Wright and sophomore LB Daniel Langi.
 
POSITION CHANGES AND NUMBER CHANGES 
• Utah State had a number of players change positions and/or numbers from last season. Senior RB Gerold Bright has changed from No. 8 to No. 1. Bright began his career at No. 25 and was also a wide receiver to begin his collegiate career before moving to running back late in his sophomore season. Redshirt junior Mohelika Uasike changed positions from the defensive line to the offensive line and has changed from No. 99 to No. 66. Junior S Shaq Bond has changed from No. 25 to No. 4. Junior S Braxton Gunther has changed from No. 32 to No. 8. Junior Logan Lee changed positions from defensive end to tight end. Junior Chase Nelson changed positions from safety to running back. Junior WR Savon Scarver has changed from No. 81 to No. 11. Sophomore CB Andre Grayson has changed from No. 30 to No. 21. Sophomore CB Jarrod Green has changed from No. 37 to No. 25. Sophomore WR Deven Thompkins has changed from No. 19 to No. 13. And, redshirt freshman Sam Lockett changed positions from wide receiver to safety.
 
ACADEMICALLY SPEAKING
• Utah State had two players in senior DE Jacoby Wildman and junior LB David Woodward that earned CoSIDA Academic All-District first-team honors in 2019.
 
• Utah State earned the 2018 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Academic Achievement Award, which is presented by the Touchdown Club of Memphis.
 
• Utah State's football team has a Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of 92 percent to rank first in the Mountain West. The Aggies also rank first among the other football programs in the Beehive State.  
 
• Over the past nine seasons, USU has had 184 players earn academic all-league honors and 181 players have graduated from Utah State. 
 
• Utah State has 16 players on its roster who have already graduated with their bachelor degrees. Those that have graduated from Utah State University include senior DE Devon Anderson (interdisciplinary studies with a business minor), senior DE Dalton Baker (agricultural science with a business entrepreneurship minor), senior RB Gerold Bright (general studies emphasizing in human services with a sociology minor), redshirt senior P Aaron Dalton (business marketing and a leadership management minor), senior PK Dominik Eberle (dual degrees in business marketing and international business), senior DE Tipa Galeai (interdisciplinary studies emphasizing in sociology), senior CB Cameron Haney (integrated studies), senior DE Braden Harris (biology with a sociology minor), senior DT Fua Leilua (general studies emphasizing in human services), senior DT Christopher Unga (sociology with a criminal justice minor), senior graduate student DE Jacoby Wildman (sociology; will complete his master's in business administration this spring) and senior CB DJ Williams (sociology with a criminal justice minor). Those players that have earned their bachelor's degree from another institution include senior graduate transfer RB Riley Burt (exercise and wellness from BYU; pursuing his master's in physical education), senior graduate transfer WR Siaosi Mariner (sociology from Utah; pursuing his master's in physical education), senior graduate transfer TE Caleb Repp (sociology from Utah; pursuing his master's in sports education) and junior graduate transfer DE Nick Heninger (business scholars from Utah).
 
HEAD COACH GARY ANDERSEN
Gary Andersen (hired on Dec. 9, 2018) makes his return to Utah State after serving as USU's head coach for four seasons (2009-12). Andersen is the first of 27 coaches in USU history to serve as head coach multiple times. 
               
In all, Andersen is entering his 10th season as a Division I head coach, including his fifth at Utah State, and has 30 years of coaching experience. He has been involved in 12 bowl games, including four New Year's Day bowls.
               
As a head coach, he led Utah State to the 2012 Western Athletic Conference Championship and Wisconsin to the 2014 Big Ten Conference West Division title and has coached 16 NFL Draft picks, including six at USU.
               
During his career, Andersen was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award at Utah State in 2012, along with being named the WAC Coach of the Year, and a semifinalist for the Maxwell Coach of the Year Award (2013) and George Munger Coach of the Year Award (2013, 2014) as the head coach at Wisconsin. He was also a finalist for the Frank Broyles Award at Utah in 2008, which is given to the top assistant in college football. 
               
Academically, three of Andersen's teams finished in the top-10 nationally in Academic Progress Rate, in addition to 160 academic all-conference honorees.
               
During his four-year tenure with the Aggies from 2009-12, Andersen posted a 26-24 overall record, including the school's first back-to-back winning seasons (7-6 in 2011 and 11-2 in 2012) since 1979-80. He was also the first head coach since Phil Krueger (1973-75) to notch an overall winning record.
               
When initially hired by Utah State on Dec. 4, 2008, Andersen inherited a football program that had suffered through 11 straight losing seasons and only had two winning campaigns in 28 years. Fast forward six years since his departure, and Andersen is inheriting a program that has now appeared in seven bowl games in the past eight years after playing in just four bowl games prior to his arrival.
               
In just his third year at Utah State, Andersen's 2011 club became the first Aggie team to win seven games since 1993 and the first USU team to play in a bowl game in 14 years. The following season, Andersen led USU to its best season ever with a school-record 11 wins, going undefeated in the WAC and capturing its first outright league title since 1936. USU also won just its second-ever bowl game that season with a 41-15 victory against Toledo in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. USU finished the 2012 campaign with an 11-2 record and was one of just two teams in school history at the time, along with the 1961 club, to finish the season nationally ranked as it was 16th in the final Associated Press poll, 17th in the final Coaches poll and 23rd in the final BCS standings.
               
During his four years as Utah State's head coach, Andersen built an Aggie football program that set numerous school records, including wins (11), points scored (454), total offense (6,108 yards) and yards per game (469.8) in 2012, and touchdowns (60), rushing yards (3,675) and rushing touchdowns (37) in 2011. The 282.7 rushing yards per game in 2011 ranked sixth in the nation that year and are the second-most in school history. Furthermore, the 34.9 points per game scored in 2012 were the second-most in school history at the time, while that team's defense allowed just 322.1 yards and 15.4 points per game, its fewest at USU since the 1960s. Furthermore, those 15.4 points allowed per game in 2012 ranked seventh nationally.
               
During his final two seasons at Utah State, Andersen led the Aggies to an 18-8 record, including an 11-2 conference mark.
               
While at Utah State, Andersen coached six Aggies who went on to earn All-American honors (Will Davis, Kerwynn Williams, Tyler Larsen, Nevin Lawson, Zach Vigil and Kyler Fackrell) and 10 Aggies who played in the NFL, including current Seattle Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner, who was selected in the second round of the 2012 NFL Draft. Furthermore, Andersen coached 27 players that earned various all-conference honors during his time in Logan, including running back Robert Turbin, who was named the WAC's Offensive Player of the Year in 2011 and has spent the past seven seasons in the NFL.
               
Andersen comes back to Utah State after spending the 2018 season as the associate head coach and defensive line coach at the University of Utah, where the Utes posted a 9-4 record and advanced to the Pac-12 Championship game after winning the Pac-12 South. At Utah, Andersen helped coach 10 defensive starters to all-conference honors, including all three of his starters on the defensive line.
               
In all, Andersen spent 12 years on staff at Utah during three different stints, including helping the Utes to undefeated seasons in 2004 and 2008 as they played in the Fiesta Bowl and Sugar Bowl, respectively. During his time at Utah, Andersen coached two All-Americans, two conference defensive Most Valuable Players, 22 first-team all-conference honorees and 16 NFL draft picks.
               
Following his four years as Utah State's head coach, Andersen spent two seasons as the head coach at Wisconsin (2013-14) and three years as the head coach at Oregon State (2015-17). At Wisconsin, he led the Badgers to a 19-7 record, a Big Ten divisional championship in 2014 and appearances in the Capital One Bowl and Outback Bowl.
               
During his two years at Wisconsin, Andersen coached five All-Americans and had seven players selected in the NFL Draft. In 2013, Chris Borland was named a first-team All-American, and the Big Ten Conference Linebacker and Defensive Player of the Year. In 2014, Andersen coached Melvin Gordon, the nation's leading rusher and scorer in 2014, to the Big Ten Conference Offensive Player of the Year Award and a runner-up finish for the Heisman Trophy.
               
And at Oregon State, Andersen had three players drafted into the NFL in Isaac Seumalo, Sean Harlow and Treston Decoud, and coached two Freshman All-Americans in Xavier Crawford and Gus Lavaka and 12 all-league player.
               
Andersen's coaching career began in 1988 as the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Southeastern Louisiana, where he coached for one season before going to Ricks College from 1989-92 as the offensive line coach. His other coaching stints include Idaho State (1992-94, defensive line), Park City HS (1994-95, head coach) and Northern Arizona (1995-96, assistant head coach/defensive line/special teams). Andersen also spent the 2003 season as the head coach at Southern Utah.       
               
A 1986 graduate of Utah, Andersen earned his bachelor's degree in political science. He played center for Utah from 1985-86 after garnering first-team juco All-America honors in 1984 at Ricks College.
               
Andersen is married to the former Stacey Lambert, and they have three grown children: Keegan (Jen), and twins Chasen (Marquelle) and Hagen (Kaitlin), one grandson (Raylen), and one granddaughter (Baylor).