LOGAN, Utah - Utah State finished second in the Mountain West in total academic awards during 2019-20, as USU student-athletes earned 319 academic awards of some kind during the year.

USU student-athletes received 187 academic all-Mountain West honors and 132 Mountain West Scholar-Athletes accolades. In addition to the Mountain West honors, 12 Utah State gymnasts were recognized as academic all-Mountain Rim Gymnastics Conference.

Boise State led the Mountain West with 321 total academic honors, followed by Utah State (319) and New Mexico (308), each with more than 300 accolades. Fresno State was fourth with 280, ahead of Wyoming (272), UNLV (255), Nevada (238), Colorado State (224) and San José State (220). Air Force and San Diego State rounded out the list with 199 and 190 honors, respectively. 

To qualify for the all-conference academic teams, student-athletes must post a 3.0 cumulative grade point average and participate in at least 50 percent of the team's games. Some variance was adopted during the 2019-20 academic year, taking in account the COVID-19 pandemic. The Mountain West Scholar-Athlete Award is one of the highest academic honors bestowed by the conference. To be eligible for selection, student-athletes must have completed at least two academic terms at the member institution, while maintaining a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or better, and have participated in varsity competition in a Mountain West sponsored sport. Academic honors from the MRGC are awarded to gymnasts appearing on the squad list and carrying a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher during the year they participate.

The women's track & field team led the way for Utah State with 65 honors and was followed by the men's track & field team with 57. Football, soccer, women's cross country and men's cross country followed with 34, 30, 27 and 22, respectively. Volleyball was next with 20 as softball (18), gymnastics (12), women's basketball (12), men's basketball (12), women's tennis (11), men's tennis (8) and golf (7) rounded out the list of honors.

Utah State's student-athletes traditionally rank among the best in the Mountain West and had one of their best years during the 2019-20 academic calendar, earning a combined grade-point average of 3.36. During the spring semester, USU student-athletes combined for a 3.51 cumulative GPA, shattering the previous semester record of 3.32 set during the fall of 2019. The 2019-20 academic year also saw every team at Utah State earn a 3.0 or higher cumulative GPA.

For more on Utah State athletics, fans can follow the Aggies on Twitter (@usuathletics) or on Facebook by searching Utah State Athletics.

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