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AGGIES HOSTS MOUNTAIN WEST-FOE SAN JOSÉ STATE ON SENIOR DAY
Game will be televised live on Fox Sports 1 on Saturday, Nov. 19, at 7:45 p.m. 
 
SAN JOSÉ STATE (6-3, 4-2 MW) vs. UTAH STATE (5-5, 4-2 MW)
Saturday, Nov. 19, 2022 • 7:45 p.m. (MT) • Logan, Utah • Maverik Stadium (25,100)
 
GAME 11 INFORMATION
TV: Fox Sports 1 
• Play-by-Play: Dan Hellie
• Analyst: Petros Papadakis
• Xfinity (Utah): Ch. 265/691 HD
• DISH: Ch. 150
• DirecTV: Ch. 219
 
RADIO: Aggie Sports Network
• Play-by-Play: Scott Garrard 
• Analyst: Kevin White
• National: Sirius XM 387 / SXM App 977
• Online: kslsports.com/kslsportszone
 
SOCIAL MEDIA: #AGGIESALLTHEWAY
• Twitter/Instagram: @USUFootball
• Facebook: USUFootball
• YouTube: UtahStateFootball
• Live Stats: UtahState.Statbroadcast.com
 
KICKOFF COVERAGE
• Utah State (5-5, 4-2 MW) continues Mountain West play this weekend as it hosts San José State (6-3, 4-2 MW) on Saturday, Nov. 19, at 7:45 p.m., on Fox Sports 1 (Xfinity Ch. 265/691 HD, DISH Ch. 150, DirecTV Ch. 219) with Dan Hellie (play-by-play) and Petros Papadakis (analyst) on the call.    
 
• Utah State will honor 10 seniors prior to the game in QB Logan Bonner, WR Brian Cobbs, PK Connor Coles, OL Chandler Dolphin, OL Alfred Edwards, CB Andre Grayson, WR Justin McGriff, S Hunter Reynolds, OL Jacob South and RB Calvin Tyler Jr. USU is 70-41-3 (.614) all-time on Senior Day.  
 
• With a win against San José State, Utah State will be bowl eligible for the 10th time in the last 12 years after playing in just six bowl games in its first 119 years. USU played in five-straight bowl games from 2011-15 and won three-straight from 2012-14, both of which are school records. 
 
• Redshirt freshman S Ike Larsen was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week and the MW Freshman of the Week as he had six tackles, which included 1.0 sacks and 2.0 tackles for loss, to go along with two interceptions, one of which he returned for his first-career touchdown, last weekend at Hawai'i. It is the second time this season that Larsen has been named the MW Freshman of the Week.
 
• Utah State is 47-29 (.618) all-time in Mountain West play, including a 25-14 (.641) home record. USU is also 158-115 (.579) all-time inside Maverik Stadium, including a 45-19 (.703) record in its last 64 home games.   
 
• Utah State (47-29) has the third-best record in Mountain West games since it joined the league in 2013, behind Boise State (65-15) and San Diego State (57-21). San José State has the ninth-best record (33-45). USU is also 22-8 (.733) against teams from the West Division of the MW, which is the second-best record by any school. SJSU is 12-17 (.414) against teams from the Mountain Division of the MW.
 
• Utah State has had 38 players make at least one start this season, which is tied for the 13th-most in the nation, and has had 21 players make their first-career start this year, while 30 players have made their Aggie debut. USU has also had 14 starters miss a combined 41 games this year due to injury. 
 
• Utah State is the defending Mountain West Champion after winning the Mountain Division with a 6-2 record and posting a 46-13 win at No. 19 San Diego State in the 2021 MW Championship Game.
 
HEAD COACH BLAKE ANDERSON
• Blake Anderson (hired on Dec. 12, 2020) concluded his first year as Utah State's head coach in 2021 and is the 29th head coach in program history. He has a 67-45 overall record, including a 48-22 conference mark. He has posted a 16-8 record at USU, including a 10-4 conference mark.
 
• Anderson has 29 years of coaching experience and has been part of six conference championships. He has also coached in 11 bowl games and won a national championship at the junior college level.
 
• In his first season at Utah State, Anderson led the Aggies to their first-ever Mountain West Championship with a 46-13 win at No. 19 San Diego State, their sixth bowl win in school history with a 24-13 victory against Oregon State in the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl, and a school-record-tying 11 wins as USU was picked to finish fifth in the Mountain Division of the MW in the preseason polls.
 
• Under Anderson, Utah State tied for the best turnaround in the nation in 2021 as the Aggies became the first FBS program ever to go from zero or one win to 11 wins the following season. 
 
• During the 2021 season, Utah State set 10 school records, including 4,248 passing yards and 41 touchdown passes, and tied four more as it became the first FBS program in eight years to go 7-0 on the road. USU also ranked 15th in the nation in passing offense (303.4 ypg) and 23rd in total offense (445.6 ypg), and was top three in the MW in passing offense, total offense and scoring offense (32.6 ppg).
 
• Anderson, who was named the AFCA Region 5 Coach of the Year in 2021 at Utah State, mentored a pair of Aggies that broke several single-season school records in quarterback Logan Bonner and wide receiver Deven Thompkins. Bonner set school records in passing touchdowns (36) and passing yards (3,628), while Thompkins set school records for receptions (102) and receiving yards (1,704). 
 
• Overall, Anderson saw nine of his players earn all-Mountain West honors, including Thompkins, who was named a third-team All-American by The Associated Press.   
 
• Anderson came to Utah State after spending seven years as the head coach at Arkansas State, leading ASU to six-consecutive winning seasons and six-straight bowl games from 2014-19, including a 31-13 win against UCF in the 2016 Cure Bowl and a 34-26 win against FIU in the 2019 Camellia Bowl. ASU also won back-to-back Sun Belt Conference Championships under Anderson in 2015 and 2016, and competed for another in 2017.
 
• During that six-year stretch, the Red Wolves broke 12 school records, including 494.8 yards of total offense per game, 4,106 passing yards and 38 touchdown passes in 2017, 520 points scored and 69 total touchdowns in 2015, and 6,174 yards of total offense and 1,024 total plays in 2014.
 
• The Red Wolves won at least seven games, including at least five league games, six-straight years under Anderson, including a nine-victory campaign in 2015 and eight-win seasons in 2016, 2018 and 2019. In all, Anderson posted a 51-37 (.580) record at ASU, including a 38-18 (.679) mark in the Sun Belt Conference. Those 51 wins, 40 of which were by double digits, are tied for the third-most in school history.
 
• Statistically, Arkansas State annually ranked as one of the top offensive teams in the nation under Anderson. In 2020, the Red Wolves led the Sun Belt Conference and ranked 15th nationally in total offense at 489.7 yards per game. ASU also led the Sun Belt in total offense in 2018 (466.2 ypg), 2017 (494.8 ypg) and 2014 (476.5 ypg), and ranked second in 2015 (438.5 ypg). Furthermore, the 2017 team ranked 10th in the nation in total offense, while the 2018 team was 17th and the 2014 team was 20th nationally.
 
• As for passing offense, Arkansas State led the Sun Belt Conference and ranked third in the nation in 2020 at 364.4 yards per game. In 2019, the Red Wolves finished second in the conference and 10th in the nation with 312.1 passing yards per game. ASU also led the Sun Belt in passing offense in both 2017 and 2018 with 342.2 and 281.5 passing yards per game, respectively. The 2017 team also ranked fifth nationally in that category, while the 2018 team was 21st in the nation.
 
• Arkansas State also led the Sun Belt Conference in scoring offense three times under Anderson as the 2017 team averaged 37.8 points per game to rank 13th nationally, while the 2015 team averaged 40.0 points per game to rank 12th in the nation, and the 2014 team averaged 36.7 points per game to rank 18th nationally. In fact, six of Anderson's seven Red Wolves' teams averaged over 30 points per game.
 
• Overall, each of Anderson's first six squads at Arkansas State ranked among the top-45 teams in the nation in at least 23 combined offensive, defensive and special teams categories, including the 2018 team that led the nation in punt return defense (-1.9 yards per return), the 2016 team that led the nation in tackles for loss (9.6 per game) and the 2015 squad that led the nation in both defensive touchdowns (8) and passes intercepted (26).
 
• Following the 2019 campaign, Anderson received the Capital One Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award and was named the Grant Teaff Coach of the Year, presented annually by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, as he guided the Red Wolves to an 8-5 record and Camellia Bowl championship after his wife, Wendy, passed away prior to the start of the season following a courageous battle with cancer. 
 
• A two-year letterwinner at wide receiver for Sam Houston State from 1990-91, Anderson was named Southland Conference all-academic as a senior. He also played for two years as a quarterback and receiver at Baylor (1988-89). Anderson graduated with his bachelor's degree in kinesiology from SHSU in 1992. He also attained his master's degree in sports administration from Eastern New Mexico in 1994.
 
SCOUTING SAN JOSÉ STATE
• San José State is 6-3 on the season and 4-2 in Mountain West play following its 43-27 loss at San Diego State last weekend. The Spartans are led by junior QB Chevan Cordeiro, who is 196-of-327 (.599) passing for 2,420 yards (268.9 ypg) with 14 touchdowns and three interceptions. Senior RB Kairee Robinson has carried the ball 107 times for 479 yards (4.5 ypc/53.2 ypg) and nine touchdowns. And, graduate senior WR Elijah Cooks has 46 receptions for 737 yards (16.0 ypr/81.9 ypg) and five touchdowns. Defensively, graduate senior LB Kyle Harmon has 74 tackles, which includes 3.0 sacks and 5.0 tackles for loss. As a team, SJSU is averaging 27.1 points and 353.4 yards of offense per game (271.0 passing, 82.4 rushing), and allowing 19.3 points and 328.9 yards (204.4 passing, 124.4 rushing). San José State returns 15 starters (O-4, D-11) from last year's team that went 5-7 overall and finished tied for fourth place in the West Division with a 3-5 league mark. Brent Brennan is 26-40 in his sixth season as SJSU's head coach.  
 
AGGIES AND SPARTANS SERIES HISTORY
• Utah State trails in the all-time series against San José State, 19-20-1, which includes an 11-8 record at home. The first game played between the two teams was on Sept. 30, 1940, in Logan, with SJSU winning, 19-0. In fact, SJSU won the first five games played in the series before USU won four straight from 1962-66. USU has also won the last nine games played between the two teams, including a 48-17 road win last year and a 62-24 home win in 2018, which is the last time the two teams played one another in Logan. USU has won four-straight home games in the series and the last time the Spartans defeated USU was on Oct. 11, 2008, in San Jose, 30-7. Furthermore, SJSU's last win in Logan was on Sept. 22, 2007, by a score of 23-20.  
 
AGGIES vs. SPARTANS SERIES FIFTH-LONGEST IN SCHOOL HISTORY
• Utah State and San José State will be meeting for the 41st time for the fifth-most played series in school history, trailing Utah (112), BYU (91), Colorado State (78) and Wyoming (72). 
 
COACHING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND SAN JOSÉ STATE
• Utah State running backs coach Chuckie Keeton was on staff at Oregon State in 2016 and 2017, with San José State head coach Brent Brennan, SJSU associate head coach and defensive coordinator Derrick Odum, SJSU offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Kevin McGiven and SJSU offensive line coach Josh Oglesby. Odum also spent three years (2000-03) at Utah State as the secondary coach, while McGiven spent three years (2009, '13-14) at USU as its offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.
 
UTAH STATE AND SAN JOSÉ STATE AS CONFERENCE FOES
• Utah State and San José State have spent 35 years as league foes as both schools joined the Mountain West on July 1, 2013. The two schools began their conference affiliation as members of the Big West Conference from 1978-95 and were foes in the Western Athletic Conference from 2005-12. As members of the Big West, SJSU held a 10-4-1 series advantage against USU, while the series record as WAC members was 5-3 in favor of the Aggies. USU is 5-0 against the Spartans as members of the Mountain West.
 
UTAH STATE VERSUS THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
• Utah State is 64-73-2 (.468) all-time against teams from California, including a 41-27 (.603) home record. Overall, USU is 21-7 versus Pacific, 19-20-1 against San José State, 13-18-1 versus Fresno State, 8-6 against Cal State Fullerton, 3-13 versus San Diego State, 1-0 against Cal State Northridge, 0-6 versus USC, and 0-1 against Stanford, St. Vincent's and UCLA.
 
AGGIES FROM THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
• Utah State has 19 players in its program from the state of California, which is the second-most on the team behind the 33 players in the program from Utah. Aggie players from the Golden State include graduate senior CB Andre Grayson (Rancho Cucamonga/Etiwanda HS), graduate senior OL Alfred Edwards (Redlands/Redlands Senior HS), redshirt senior CB Xavion Steele (Hemet/Orange Lutheran HS), senior CB Michael Anyanwu (Covina/Charter Oak HS), senior DT Aurion Peoples (Compton/Lancaster HS), graduate junior DE Daniel Grzesiak (Los Angeles/Crenshaw HS), redshirt junior S Dominic Tatum (Culver City/Culver City HS), junior DE Rock Gonzalez (Chula Vista/Olympian HS), junior OLB Omari Okeke (Bellflower/Bellflower HS), junior WR Terrell Vaughn (Oxnard/Westlake HS), junior RB Jordan Wilmore (Inglewood/Lawndale HS), redshirt sophomore WR Quinton Hadnot (San Marcos/Mission Hills HS), sophomore LS Jacob Garcia (Anaheim/Servite HS), sophomore DE John Ward (Palmdale/Palmdale HS), redshirt freshman OL Elia Migao (Temecula/Chaparral HS), redshirt freshman DE Enoka Migao (Temecula/Chaparral HS), freshman WR Josh Davis (Carlsbad/Carlsbad HS), freshman WR Malachi Keels (Escondido/Orange Glen HS) and freshman DT Adam Tomczyk (Los Alamitos/Los Alamitos HS).
 
UTAH STATE IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST
• Utah State is 175-191-8 (.479) all-time against current members of the Mountain West with a 40-28-4 record vs. Wyoming, a 37-39-2 record vs. Colorado State, an 18-8 record vs. UNLV, a 19-20-1 record vs. San José State, a 16-13 record vs. New Mexico, a 13-18-1 record vs. Fresno State, a 12-6 record vs. Hawai`i, a 7-19 record vs. Nevada, a 5-21 record vs. Boise State, a 5-6 record vs. Air Force, and a 3-13 record vs. San Diego State.
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Former Utah State head coach John Ralston (1959-62) spent four years as San José State's head coach (1993-1996). At USU, Ralston compiled a 31-11-1 (.733) record, ranking first all-time in winning percentage and fifth all-time in wins. 
• The Aggies and Spartans set a then-NCAA record for the highest scoring tie, 48-48, in Spartan Stadium to open the 1979 season.
• San José State defeated Utah State 20-0 in the 1947 Raisin Bowl in Fresno, California, on New Year's Day. It was both program's first-ever bowl appearance.
• Utah State has 33 players in its program from the state of Utah, while San José State has 99 players on its roster from the state of California.
 
SERIES NOTABLES BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND SAN JOSÉ STATE 
The following are series notables between Utah State and San José State. 
• Utah State has outscored San José State 397-173 (44.1-19.2) during its current nine-game winning streak, including 301-97 (50.2-16.2) in its last six meetings. In fact, USU has won each of the last six games in the series by at least 22 points. 
• Utah State has had more rushing yards in each of its last nine wins in the series and had rushed for at least 200 yards in each of its last eight games prior to last year's meeting. USU has also held SJSU to under 60 yards rushing in each of the last two games in the series. 
• Utah State has scored at least 40 points against San José State in each of the last six meetings, and at least 30 points in each of its last eight meetings. 
• Utah State has had at least 400 yards of offense in each of the last nine games in the series, and at least 500 yards in five of its last eight games, while holding San José State to under 165 yards of total offense in two of the last three meetings. 
• In the last four games in the series, Utah State has converted 50.7 of its third downs (34-of-67), while San José State has converted just 16.4 percent of its third downs (9-of-55). 
• The winning team has scored at least 20 points in 37 of the 40 meetings and at least 30 points in 22 of those games. 
• Utah State has led at the half in eight of the last nine games, winning all nine contests. 
• Utah State has had a 100-yard rusher in seven of its last nine meetings with San José State. During the last 13 games in the series, the Spartans have had just one 100-yard rusher. 
• Utah State has had just one 300-yard passer and just two 100-yard receivers in each of the last 13 games in the series. Conversely, San José State has had six 300-yard passers and six 100-yard receivers in the last 13 games, but is just 3-10 in those contests. 
• The team that has more total yards has won 12 of the last 13 games in the series. The team that has more rushing yards has won 11 of the last 13 games. And, the team that has more first downs has won 10 of the last 13 games in the series. 
• Utah State has controlled time of possession in each of the last three games, in four of the last five, and in six of the last nine games overall.
• Time of possession has not been a deciding factor in the series as the team who controls the ball is just 7-6 in the last 13 games.
• In its 40 games against San José State, Utah State has had 14 100-yard receivers, 10 100-yard rushers and six 300-yard passers.
 
FROM THE RECORD BOOKS
Here is a look at some of the top Utah State team and individual statistical performances against San José State.
• Utah State set a school record with 804 yards of total offense, which is the third-most in Mountain West history, in its 2018 meeting against San José State. USU also had 510 passing yards in that game, the third-most in school history.  
• Utah State recorded its 18th-largest margin of victory in school history with a 61-10 road win at San José State in 2017. That 51-point victory is the third-largest road win in school history.
• Utah State set single-game school records as nine Aggies recorded 13.0 sacks and 15.0 tackles for loss at San José State in 2012. 
• Utah State held San José State to 119 yards in 1966, the 15th-fewest in school history. USU also held SJSU to negative 15 rushing yards in 1985, four rushing yards in 2012 and 12 rushing yards in 2021, which ranks as the sixth-, 16th- and 19th-fewest in school history. 
• Utah State passed for 412 yards against San José State in 1988 and 384 yards in 1987, which ranks as the 14th- and 26th-most in school history. 
• Utah State rushed for 381 yards against San José State in 2009, which is the 18th-most in school history. 
• Jordan Love passed for 491 yards against San José State in 2018, which ranks as the third-most in school history. Love also completed an 88-yard pass to Darwin Thompson against SJSU in 2018, which is the sixth-longest pass play in school history.
• Danilo Robinson set the school record with 5.0 sacks and 6.0 tackles for loss against San José State in 1995. 
• Louie Aguiar set the school record with an 85-yard punt against San José State in 1988, while Guy McClure had a 73-yard punt against the Spartans in 1978, which is the ninth-longest in school history. 
• Dene Garner made a 58-yard field goal against San José State in 1985, which is the second-longest in school history. Garner also attempted and made five field goals against SJSU in 1985 to set the school record at the time in both categories.  
• Brent Snyder passed for 412 yards against San José State in 1998 and 384 yards in 1987, which ranks as the 11th- and 21st-most in school history, respectively. 
• Bob Gagliano passed for 366 yards against San José State in 1980 and Eric Hipple passed for 364 yards against the Spartans in 1979, which ranks as the 27th- and 28th-most in school history. 
• Kendal Smith had 208 receiving yards against San José State in 1998, which is the 13th-most in school history. 
• Kevin Robinson had an 87-yard punt return against San José State in 2005, which is the fourth-longest in school history.  
• Kerwynn Williams had an 86-yard run against San José State in 2012, which is tied for the eighth-longest in school history.
• Dominik Eberle set a then-school record with 19 points scored by a kicker at San José State in 2017, which now ranks second all-time. His 52-yard field goal was also a career long and tied for the 10th-longest in school history.
 
PLAYER CONNECTIONS BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND SAN JOSÉ STATE
• There are 13 connections between Utah State and San José State players. USU graduate senior CB Andre Grayson and SJSU freshman DL Dejon Roney both attended Etiwanda HS in Rancho Cucamonga, California. USU graduate senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. and SJSU senior LB Matthew Tago both began their collegiate careers at Oregon State. USU senior CB Michael Anyanwu, SJSU senior WR Jermaine Braddock and SJSU senior WR Isaiah Hamilton all attended Charter Oak HS in Covina, California. USU graduate junior DE Daniel Grzesiak, SJSU graduate senior WR Elijah Cooks, SJSU sophomore WR Justin Lockhart and SJSU sophomore WR Charles Ross all began their collegiate careers at Nevada. USU redshirt junior S Dominik Tatum and Ross both attended Culver City (California) HS. USU junior OL Nikita Iuferov and SJSU junior DL Noah Lavulo both began their collegiate careers at the College of San Mateo in California. USU junior RB Jordan Wilmore and SJSU sophomore CB Mikale Greer both attended Lawndale (California) HS. USU sophomore WR Kyrese Rowan and SJSU redshirt sophomore OL Marist Talavou both began their collegiate careers at Utah. USU sophomore DE John Ward, SJSU graduate senior LB Rahyme Johnson and SJSU redshirt junior DB Elisha Guidry all began their collegiate careers at UCLA. 
 
LAST MEETING vs. SAN JOSÉ STATE
SAN JOSE, California - Graduate junior QB Logan Bonner was 20-of-33 passing for 263 yards and a career-high-tying four touchdowns and senior WR Deven Thompkins caught five passes for a game-high 127 yards as Utah State rolled to a 48-17 Mountain West win at San Jose State on Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021. 
 
For Bonner, he became the first quarterback in school history to throw at least four touchdowns in three-straight games, while Thompkins tied Kevin Curtis' 2001 school record for most consecutive 100-yard receiving games at six. 
 
After the Aggies spotted the defending Mountain West champion Spartans a 14-0 lead, Utah State (8-2, 5-1 MW) outscored the hosts 48-3 the rest of the way. The double-digit comeback victory was the sixth of the season for USU, including its fifth straight on the road. 
 
Utah State finished the game with 410 yards of total offense (263 passing, 147 rushing) and held the Spartans (5-6, 3-4 MW) to just 150 yards, including 12 on the ground, which tied a season low and is tied for the 19th-fewest in school history. It is also the fewest yards allowed by USU since Weber State's 138 in 2013. The Aggies also notched a pair of sacks and finished the game with 8.0 tackles for loss. 
 
Junior OLB Ajani Carter highlighted Utah State's efforts on defense as he recorded four tackles, including a strip sack that he recovered to set up a touchdown. He also intercepted a pass and returned it 45 yards, and had one pass breakup.
 
Graduate senior ILB Justin Rice led the Aggies with eight tackles, while junior CB Michael Anyanwu tied his career high with six tackles.
 
Senior WR Derek Wright had three receptions for 50 yards and a career-high-tying two touchdowns, while graduate senior WR Brandon Bowling had three catches for 25 yards and a score. Graduate junior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. led all rushers in the game with 61 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries, and sophomore RB Elelyon Noa added 41 yards and another score on the ground. In all, eight different Aggies caught at least one pass in the game. 
 
The Spartans took a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter when Kenyon Reed intercepted a pass by Bonner and returned it 58 yards for a touchdown. It marked the first time since 2019 that an opponent has had a pick-six against the Aggies. 
 
On the very next series, Bonner fumbled after being sacked and the Spartans recovered the ball on Utah State's 38-yard line. Three plays later, SJSU doubled its lead when Tyler Nevens scored on a 1-yard touchdown run, making it 14-0 early in the second quarter. 
 
The Aggies answered San Jose State's touchdown with their first score the next time they touched the ball. Bonner threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to senior WR Savon Scarver to pare the deficit to 14-7 with 12:40 remaining in the half. 
 
Utah State's defense set up the Aggies' next touchdown when Carter sacked SJSU quarterback Nick Nash. Carter also knocked the ball loose and recovered it at the Spartans' 4-yard line. 
 
Two plays later, Bonner hooked up with Wright from four yards out and the game was knotted at 14-apiece with 9:50 showing on the clock. 
 
The Aggies kept the pedal to the metal as Noa scored on a 3-yard touchdown run, while graduate senior PK Connor Coles kicked a 32-yard field goal to send Utah State into the locker room with a 24-14 lead. 
 
Utah State then outscored San José State 24-3 in the second half as Bowling, Wright and Tyler all had touchdowns, while Coles added another field goal. 
 
LAST HOME MEETING vs. SAN JOSÉ STATE
LOGAN, Utah - Sophomore QB Jordan Love passed for a career-high 491 yards and a school-record-tying five touchdowns in three quarters of work as No. 14 Utah State (9-1, 6-0 MW) cruised to a 62-24 Senior Day victory against San José State (1-9, 1-5 MW) on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2018, on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium. 
 
The Aggies have won nine straight and remain in first place in the conference's Mountain Division. Utah State's nine-game winning streak is tied with the 1960 team for the longest in school history. 
 
Love completed 32-of-42 passes, helping the Aggies rack up a school-record 804 yards of total offense, the third-most by any team in the nation this year, the third-most in Mountain West history, and just the 17th time ever in college football. The native of Bakersfield, Calif., threw touchdown passes of 42, 24, 7, 37 and 88 yards, respectively, while his 32 completions are tied for the second-most in a game in school history. 
 
Utah State finished with 510 yards passing, the second-most by the Aggies this season and third-most in school history, to go along with 294 yards rushing. San José State posted 400 yards of total offense, including 344 passing. 
 
Love's 88-yard touchdown pass to junior RB Darwin Thompson with 4:33 left in the third quarter was the sixth-longest pass play in school history. The score gave Utah State a 59-17 lead. 
 
Thompson became the first Aggie since Kerwynn Williams in 2012 to have both a 100-yard rushing and 100-yard receiving day. Thompson rushed for 140 yards and one touchdown on 15 carries (9.3 ypc) for his fifth 100-yard rushing game of the season, to go along with a career-high 115 yards receiving and a career-best two receiving touchdowns on a career-high four receptions, against the Spartans. Thompson's 255 all-purpose yards are the most by an Aggie since Hunter Sharp had 227 against Air Force in 2014. 
 
San José State opened the game's scoring when Tre Jenkins returned a punt 49 yards for a touchdown, giving the Spartans a 7-0 lead with 11:09 left in the first quarter. 
 
Utah State answered right back on the ensuing possession as Love threw his first touchdown pass of the day, a 42-yarder to sophomore WR Jordan Nathan. The Aggies added a 26-yard field goal from junior PK Dominik Eberle on their next series to take the lead for good, 10-7, with 5:24 to go in the first. 
 
The Aggies took control of the game in the second quarter as they scored touchdowns on four consecutive possessions. Junior RB Gerold Bright had two of those scores on a 24-yard pass from Love and a 29-yard run. Love scored on a 1-yard run and Thompson put an exclamation point on the quarter with a seven-yard touchdown pass from Love, helping Utah State open a 38-10 lead at the break. 
 
Thompson opened the second half by scoring on a 59-yard run just 31 seconds into the quarter. Love threw two more touchdown passes in the third, a 37-yard strike to senior WR Jalen Greene and the 88-yarder to Thompson. 
 
Senior WR Ron'quavion Tarver had eight receptions for 74 yards and was one of 12 Aggies to catch a pass on the day.
 
Sophomore LB David Woodward led the Aggies with seven tackles, including 3.0 tackles for loss. Utah State forced three turnovers on the afternoon as sophomore DE Logan Lee recovered a fumble that was forced by sophomore S Baron Gajkowski, while junior LB Tipa Galeai and senior CB Deante Fortenberry each had an interception. 
 
GAME 10 RECAP vs. HAWAI'I
HONOLULU, O'ahu - Junior QB Cooper Legas had a career-high 238 passing yards and a career-best three touchdowns, graduate senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr., had 163 all-purpose yards and two scores, and redshirt freshman S Ike Larsen intercepted a career-high two passes, returning one for a touchdown, in Utah State's 41-34 Mountain West win at Hawai'i on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022. 
 
Legas was 16-of-24 passing and threw all three of his touchdowns in the first half as Utah State held a 24-10 lead at the break. 
 
Tyler posted his fifth 100-yard rushing game of the season and the ninth of his career as he gained 113 yards on 25 carries and scored on a 4-yard run in the third quarter to give the visitors a 31-17 lead. Tyler also had a career-high-tying three receptions for a career-best 50 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown in the second quarter. 
 
Utah State finished the game with 374 yards of total offense (136 rushing, 238 passing), but managed just 74 yards in the second half, including negative four yards in the fourth quarter. Graduate senior WR Brian Cobbs led USU with 74 receiving yards on five catches. 
 
Hawai'i had 541 yards of offense (235 rushing, 306 passing), including 275 yards in the fourth quarter alone. However, the Rainbow Warriors committed four turnovers in the game with three interceptions and a fumble, and were penalized 10 times for 115 yards. 
 
The Aggies (5-5, 4-2 MW) took less than 30 seconds to score in their first drive of the game as Legas connected with junior TE Josh Sterzer on a 68-yard touchdown with 10:44 to go in the first quarter. 
 
A 21-yard field goal from graduate senior PK Connor Coles with just under two minutes left in the period extended the USU lead to 10-0. 
 
Hawai'i (2-9, 1-5 MW) scored a touchdown in the opening minute of the second quarter, to trim the margin to 10-7. However, Legas connected with yet another tight end, finding redshirt sophomore Broc Lane in the end zone for the 16-yard touchdown on its next drive. 
 
With just over a minute and a half to play in the second quarter, Legas connected with Tyler on fourth-and-two for the 35-yard touchdown that gave Utah State the 24-10 lead heading into the half. 
 
Hawai'i forced a three-and-out on the Aggies opening drive of the third quarter before making it a one-score game with a four-yard touchdown run to trim the USU lead to 24-17. 
 
Utah State responded by scoring on both of its next two drives as Tyler scored on a four-yard run and Coles booted a 42-yard field goal to give the Aggies the 34-17 lead. 
 
A Hawai'i touchdown early in the fourth trimmed the margin to 34-24. 
 
Larsen then intercepted his second pass of the game and returned it 36 yards for his first-career touchdown to give the visitors a 41-24 lead with 4:33 to play. 
 
The Rainbow Warriors scored twice more on a 69-yard rushing touchdown and 19-yard field goal, but USU held on for the 41-34 win. 
 
Defensively, graduate senior S Hunter Reynolds had a team-high nine tackles and an interception. Larsen finished with six tackles, including a game-high 2.0 tackles for loss, one of which was a sack, and two interceptions. And, senior CB Michael Anyanwu had seven tackles. Junior CB Jamie Nance recovered his third fumble in as many games, all via muffed punts, which led to a USU field goal. 
 
UTAH STATE WINNERS OF FOUR OF ITS LAST FIVE GAMES 
• After starting the season with a 1-4 record, including four-straight losses, Utah State has won four of its last five games. The main reason for Utah State's success in its last five games has been turnovers. During its first five games of the year, USU was minus eight in turnovers as it committed 15 turnovers and forced seven. During its last five games, USU is plus six in turnovers as it has committed just four turnovers and has forced 10.
 
• In its last two games, both wins, Utah State has forced six turnovers on defense and has zero turnovers on offense. In fact, the last time USU had zero turnovers in consecutive games was during the 2019 campaign.  
 
UTAH STATE SCORES SEASON-HIGH 41 POINTS IN WIN AT HAWAI'I 
• Utah State scored a season-high 41 points this past weekend in its Mountain West win at Hawai'i, as the Aggies have now won seven straight games against the Rainbow Warriors, including four straight on the road. Overall, it was the first time this season that USU had scored a touchdown in every quarter of a game.
 
• Under head coach Blake Anderson, Utah State is now 9-3 in road games, which includes a 7-1 road record against Mountain West opponents. 
 
UTAH STATE SCORES DEFENSIVE TOUCHDOWN IN BACK-TO-BACK GAMES 
• Utah State scored a defensive touchdown for the second time in as many games in its last outing at Hawai'i, as redshirt freshman S Ike Larsen returned an interception 36 yards for the score. In its previous game against New Mexico, graduate senior S Hunter Reynolds returned a fumble 55 yards for a touchdown. Prior to this season, the last time USU had a defensive touchdown was in 2020 against New Mexico, and the last time USU had defensive touchdowns in consecutive games was during the 2019 season against San Diego State and Colorado State.
 
UTAH STATE FORCES SEASON-HIGH FOUR TURNOVERS AGAINST HAWAI'I 
• Utah State forced a season-high four turnovers in its last game at Hawai'i, with three interceptions and one fumble. The last time USU forced four turnovers was against Wyoming in 2019, and the last time USU had three interceptions was against Weber State this season.
 
• Utah State has now won the turnover battle five times this year and is 4-1 in those games. Overall, it is the fifth time this year that USU has forced multiple turnovers (3 vs. UConn, 3 vs. Weber State, 2 vs. Air Force, 2 vs. New Mexico, 4 vs. Hawai'i).
 
UTAH STATE WINS 10TH STRAIGHT ONE-SCORE GAME OF THE SEASON
• Utah State improved to 3-0 on the season in one-score games following its 41-34 victory at Hawai'i last weekend. In fact, USU has won seven straight one-score games under head coach Blake Anderson and 10 straight overall as its last loss in a one-score game was at Wake Forest (L, 35-38) to begin the 2019 campaign.
 
UTAH STATE HAS FOUR COME-FROM-BEHIND WINS THIS SEASON 
• Utah State has had to come-from-behind to win four of its five games this year as it trailed UConn 14-0 in the first quarter before posting a 31-20 win, trailed Air Force 24-20 in the fourth quarter before scoring 14 of the final 17 points to post a 34-27 win, scored 10 of the final 13 points to defeat Colorado State 17-13, after trailing 10-7 at halftime, and scored the final 20 points to post a 27-10 home win against New Mexico, after trailing 10-7 at halftime.
 
• Overall, Utah State has won 11 games under head coach Blake Anderson when it has trailed at some point in a game, which includes rallying from double-digit deficits in seven games.
 
UTAH STATE'S DEFENSE LIMITING POINTS FOLLOWING TURNOVERS
• In its last eight games, Utah State's defense has given up 12 points (3 by Weber State, 3 by UNLV, 6 by Colorado State) following 15 turnovers. WSU and BYU did, however, return interceptions for scores. On the season, USU's opponents have scored 29 points on 19 turnovers. If you take away the two pick-sixes, USU's defense has allowed just 15 points on 17 turnovers.
 
AGGIES IN OVERTIME 
• Utah State is 6-6 all-time in overtime, winning three of its last five. USU is 4-3 in one 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?
• Utah State has scored a touchdown on its second offensive play in each of its last two games. In its last outing at Hawai'i, USU scored on a 68-yard touchdown pass on its second play of the game. And in its previous outing against New Mexico, USU scored on a 38-yard touchdown pass on its second play of the game.
 
• Overall, Utah State has scored a touchdown on its opening drive of the game in four of its last six outings, after starting the season by punting on its opening drive in each of its first four games. Defensively, USU has allowed just one field goal (Colorado State) on its opponent's first drive in its last five games.
 
TYLER POSTS NINTH-CAREER 100-YARD RUSHING GAME AGAINST HAWAI'I
• Graduate senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. recorded his fifth 100-yard rushing game of the season and the ninth of his career in his last outing at Hawai'i, as he carried the ball 25 times for 113 yards and one touchdown, which was his third rushing touchdown this season and the 12th of his career. Tyler also tied his career high with three receptions for a career-best 50 yards, including a career-long reception of 35 yards, for his first receiving touchdown this year and the second of his career.
 
• Tyler's five 100-yard rushing games this year are the most by an Aggie since Darwin Thompson also had five during the 2018 season. The last Aggie to have more than five 100-yard rushing games in a season is Joey DeMartino, who had seven 100-yard rushing games in 2013. 
 
• Tyler's five 100-yard rushing games this year are tied for the second-most in the Mountain West as Brad Roberts (Air Force) has eight, while George Holani (Boise State), Avery Morrow (Colorado State and Tyler all have five 100-yard rushing games this season.
 
• Tyler, who rushed for 100 yards in three-straight games earlier this season against BYU (104), Air Force (109) and Colorado State (129), is the first Aggie running back to post three-straight 100-yard rushing games since Kerwynn Williams did so during the 2012 season.
 
TYLER 13TH ALL-TIME AT UTAH STATE IN RUSHING
• Graduate senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. has rushed for 1,737 yards on 385 attempts (4.51 ypc) and 10 touchdowns in his Utah State career, which ranks 13th all-time in school history. Overall, Tyler is one of 33 Aggies to rush for 1,000 yards in a career and one of 14 Aggies to rush for 1,500 yards.
 
• During his collegiate career, which includes four years at Oregon State, Tyler has now rushed for 1,861 yards on 415 carries (4.48 ypc) and 12 touchdowns.
 
TYLER CLOSING IN ON 1,000 RUSHING YARDS FOR THE SEASON
• Graduate senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. has rushed for 853 yards on 189 attempts (4.5 ypc) and three touchdowns this year and is 147 yards shy of becoming just the 19th player in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, and the first to do so since Darwin Thompson gained 1,044 yards in 2018.
 
LEGAS HAS CAREER OUTING IN HAWAI'I GAME
• Junior QB Cooper Legas had his best statistical game as an Aggie in his last outing at Hawai'i, as he was 16-of-24 passing for a career-high 238 yards and a career-best three touchdowns. Overall, it was his second-career 200-yard passing game and the fourth time in his career he has thrown multiple touchdowns in a game. 
 
• In five games as USU's starting quarterback, Legas is 75-of-117 (.641) passing for 875 yards with nine touchdowns and four interceptions. He has also rushed for 171 yards on 60 carries (2.9 ypc) and two touchdowns.
 
• In the only other game where Legas saw significant playing time, he was 11-of-20 passing for 171 yards with two touchdowns (62, 5) and one interception in Utah State's 24-13 win against Oregon State in the 2021 Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl. Against the Beavers, Legas became the first FBS quarterback ever to throw a touchdown on his first collegiate pass in a bowl game.
 
AGGIE TIGHT ENDS CATCH TWO TOUCHDOWNS IN HAWAI'I GAME
• Utah State had two tight ends catch touchdowns in its last game at Hawai'i, as junior Josh Sterzer caught his first-career touchdown on a career-long 68-yard reception on USU's second play of the game. Redshirt sophomore Broc Lane also had his first-career touchdown catch on a 16-yard completion, which is his career-long reception. Those two touchdowns were the first this year by Aggie tight ends.
 
• The last time Utah State had two touchdown catches from the tight end position in one game was during the 2018 season, when Carson Terrell and Dax Raymond both had a touchdown reception against New Mexico. 
 
COBBS HAS TWO 100-YARD RECEIVING GAMES THIS SEASON
• Graduate senior WR Brian Cobbs has two 100-yard receiving games this year as he had eight receptions for a career-high 136 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown, against Air Force (10/8), and eight receptions for 108 yards and a touchdown against UConn (8/27). Cobbs also had a career-high 10 receptions for 96 yards and a career-high two touchdowns (14, 27) at No. 19 BYU (9/29). In his last seven games, Cobbs has 41 catches for 489 yards (11.9 ypr/69.9 ypg) and three touchdowns.
 
• Cobbs' two 100-yard receiving games this year are tied for the fourth-most in the Mountain West this year as Tory Horton (Colorado St.) has four 100-yard receiving games, Elijah Cooks (San José St.) and Nikko Remigio (Fresno St.) both have three 100-yard receiving games, and Tyrell Shavers (San Diego State), Jalen Moreno-Cropper (Fresno State) and Cobbs all have two 100-yard receiving games this season.
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State RB Robert Briggs was named the Mountain West Freshman of the Week after setting the school record for rushing yards by a true freshman in their first-ever game, as he gained a season-high 85 yards on 10 carries, including a 23-yard touchdown, against UConn (8/27).
 
LARSEN NAMED MOUNTAIN WEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK 
• Redshirt freshman S Ike Larsen was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week and the MW Freshman of the Week following his performance at Hawai'i last weekend as he had six tackles, which included a career-high-tying 1.0 sacks and a career-best 2.0 tackles for loss, to go along with a career-high two interceptions, one of which he returned 36 yards for his first-career touchdown. Larsen is the first Aggie to have two interceptions in a game since Shaq Bond did so at UNLV last year, and he is the first USU player to return an interception for a touchdown since Bond did so at San Diego State in 2019. 
 
• In his last two games as a starter, Larsen has recorded 14 tackles.
 
• Larsen was also named the MW Freshman of the Week after recording a then-career-high seven tackles, to go along with an interception, and his first-career blocked punt at No. 1 Alabama.
 
NANCE HAS RECOVERED MUFFED PUNTS IN EACH OF HIS LAST THREE GAMES
• Junior CB Jamie Nance has recovered muffed punts in each of his last three games against Hawai'i (11/12), New Mexico (11/5) and Wyoming (10/22), and all three of those recoveries have led to points as USU scored a touchdown following the muffed punt at Wyoming, and converted field goals following the muffed punt against both New Mexico and Hawai'i.        
 
DEFENSIVE NOTABLES FROM HAWAI'I GAME
• Junior OLB Kaleo Neves had 1.0 tackles for loss to give him 5.5 TFLs this season and in his career. Junior OLB Omari Okeke tied his career high with 1.0 tackles for loss to give him 2.0 TFLs this season. Junior DT Poukesi Vakauta tied his career high with 1.0 tackles for loss, the first of the season, to give him 5.5 TFLs in his career. Sophomore DT Tavian Coleman tied his career high with 1.0 tackles for loss to give him 3.5 TFLs on the season and in his career. Senior CB Michael Anyanwu had one pass breakup to give him eight PBUs on the season and 10 in his career. Graduate senior CB Andre Grayson had one pass breakup to give him two PBUs on the season and 13 in his career. And, redshirt freshman DT Bo Maile had a career high two tackles. 
 
ALFORD NAMED MOUNTAIN WEST FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK 
• Freshman ILB Max Alford was named the Mountain West Freshman of the Week following his performance against New Mexico two weeks ago as he had a career-high eight tackles, which included a career-best 1.5 tackles for loss. 
 
UTAH STATE HAS HAD 14 STARTERS MISS A COMBINED 41 GAMES THIS YEAR
• Utah State has had 14 starters miss a combined 41 games this season due to injury in graduate senior DT Phillip Paea (7), junior WR Kyle Van Leeuwen (7), graduate senior QB Logan Bonner (6), redshirt freshman DT Seni Tuiaki (6), senior CB Ajani Carter (3), junior QB Cooper Legas (2), junior ILB MJ Tafisi (2), junior DE Byron Vaughns (2), graduate senior OL Alfred Edwards (1), graduate senior OL Jacob South (1), senior CB Michael Anyanwu (1), senior DT Hale Motu'apuaka (1), junior TE Josh Sterzer (1) and junior DT Poukesi Vakauta (1).  
 
DID YOU KNOW? 
• Utah State has had six different players recognized by the Mountain West this year as graduate senior PK Connor Coles and junior P Stephen Kotsanlee have both been named the MW Special Teams Player of the Week, while true freshman ILB Max Alford, redshirt freshman S Ike Larsen, freshman RB Robert Briggs and freshman QB Bishop Davenport have all been named the MW Freshman of the Week.
 
AGGIE TO KEEP YOUR EYES ON
#27 | Hunter Reynolds | S | 6-0 | 200 | G-SR | South Orange, New Jersey | Michigan
• Was named a ProFootballFocus Mid-Season Second-Team All-American this fall.
• Had nine tackles, including a career-high-tying 1.0 tackles for loss, in his last game at Hawai'i, to go along with an interception and pass breakup.
• Tied his season high with 10 tackles two weeks ago against New Mexico, to go along with his first-career touchdown, as he returned a fumble 55 yards for the score. Overall, it was his second double-digit tackle outing of the season and the third of his career.
• Has started all 10 games this year and ranks tied for third in the Mountain West and tied for 24th in the nation with three interceptions, which ranks second on the team lead. Is also second on the team with seven pass breakups and 73 tackles.
• Has recorded at least four tackles in every game this season, including a season-high 10 stops against Weber State (9/10) and New Mexico (11/5). Also had a career-high two pass breakups against Air Force on Oct. 8. 
• Played in all 14 games, making 12 starts, in his first season at Utah State in 2021 and was second on the team with 83 tackles.
• Spent four years at Michigan (2017-20) and appeared in 20 games as he recorded 22 tackles.
 
 COLES NAMED MOUNTAIN WEST SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK  
• Graduate senior PK Connor Coles was named the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week for the first time this year and third time in his career as he scored a career-high-tying 15 points in Utah State's 27-10 Mountain West home win against New Mexico (11/5). Coles, who was 2-of-3 on field goals (49, 27) and 3-for-3 on extra points, scored his first-career touchdown on a 6-yard run on a fake field goal.
• Coles was also named the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week against New Mexico in 2020 and against Washington State in 2021.
 
COLES IN THE UTAH STATE RECORD BOOKS  
• Graduate senior PK Connor Coles is 10-of-14 this season and 33-of-46 (.717) in his career on field goals and ranks fifth all-time in career field goal percentage. Coles, who is eighth all-time at USU in field goals made and ninth in field goals attempted, is 87-of-90 (.967) all-time in extra points and that percentage ranks as the eighth-best all-time in school history. He is also fifth all-time in both extra points made and attempted.
 
KOTSANLEE NAMED TO RAY GUY AWARD "RAY'S 8"  
• For the second time this season, junior P Stephen Kotsanlee was named to the Ray Guy Award "Ray's 8" list following his performance against Wyoming (10/22), as he punted eight times for 405 yards (50.6 ypp), including a career-high five 50-yard punts (56, 53, 53, 52 and 59), to go along with three punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
• In his previous game at Colorado State (10/15), Kotsanlee was named the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week for the first time in his career as he punted five times for an average of 47.2 yards with three 50-yard punts (58, 55, 59), to go along with one punt being downed inside the 20-yard line.
• Kotsanlee has 22 punts this year and 35 in his career of at least 50 yards, to go along with 20 punts this year and 56 in his career that have been downed inside the 20-yard line. 
• Overall, Kotsanlee has punted 145 times in his career for an average of 42.7 yards, which is the fourth-best average in school history. Last season, Kotsanlee punted 53 times for an average of 42.5 yards, which is the ninth-best single-season average in school history.
• As a freshman in 2020, Kotsanlee earned honorable mention all-Mountain West honors as he punted 37 times for an average of 40.7 yards.
 
LARSEN BLOCKS SECOND PUNT OF THE SEASON IN UNLV GAME
• Utah State S Ike Larsen blocked his second punt of the season against UNLV, which resulted in a safety for the Aggies. Larsen also blocked a punt at No. 1 Alabama as he was named the Mountain West Freshman of the Week after recording a career-high seven tackles, to go along with his second interception in as many games, and his first-career blocked punt.
 
VAUGHN SCORES FIRST-CAREER TOUCHDOWN ON KICKOFF RETURN  
• Junior WR Terrell Vaughn returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown against Weber State (9/10), which is the first of his career, and tied for the third-longest in school history. It is also one of eight kickoff returns in school history that have gone at least 100 yards.   
 
AGGIES WHO HAVE SERVED LDS CHURCH MISSIONS 
•  Utah State has 11 players on its 2022 roster who have served missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in senior OL Wade Meacham, junior TE Josh Sterzer, junior WR Kyle Van Leeuwen, redshirt freshman CB Ty Barnett, redshirt freshman DT Johnson Hansen, redshirt freshman ILB Sione Moa, redshirt freshman DT Seni Tuiaki, redshirt freshman WR Timm Van Leeuwen, freshman P Ryan Marks, freshman ILB Bronson Olevao and freshman OL Adam Pond.
 
AGGIES WHO ARE MARRIED 
• Utah State has three players on its 2022 roster who are married in senior OL Wade Meacham, junior TE Josh Sterzer and sophomore OL Cole Motes.
 
ACADEMICALLY SPEAKING
• Utah State has 11 players on its roster that have already received their bachelor's degree in senior QB Logan Bonner, senior WR Brian Cobbs, senior PK Connor Coles, senior OL Alfred Edwards, senior OL Chandler Dolphin, senior CB Andre Grayson, senior OL Wade Meacham, senior DT Phillip Paea, senior S Hunter Reynolds, senior OL Jacob South, senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. and junior DE Daniel Grzesiak.
 
UTAH STATE 61ST IN THE NATION IN RUSHING 
• Utah State's offense is fifth in the MW and 61st in the nation in rushing (159.5 ypg), fifth in the MW and 71st in the nation in sacks allowed with 22 (2.20 pg), sixth in the MW and 106th in the nation in completion percentage (.567), seventh in the MW and 102nd in the nation in total offense (344.7 ypg), seventh in the MW and 105th in the nation in scoring offense (22.1 ppg), seventh in the MW and 115th in the nation in passing offense (185.2 ypg), and eighth in the MW and 111th in the nation in passing efficiency (116.1).        
 
• Utah State's offense is also fifth in the MW and 52nd in the nation in fourth down conversions at 53.9 percent (14-of-26), and sixth in the MW and 67th in the nation in tackles for loss allowed with 56 (5.60 pg).   
 
UTAH STATE 22ND IN THE NATION IN PASSING DEFENSE
• Utah State is third in the Mountain West and 22nd in the nation in passing defense (190.4 ypg), second in the MW and 21st in the nation in passing efficiency defense (117.5), second in the MW and 30th in the nation in tackles for loss with 66 (6.6 pg), ninth in the MW and 93rd in the nation in sacks with 17 (1.70 pg), ninth in the MW and 95th in the nation in scoring defense (29.4 ppg), 11th in the MW and 92nd in the nation in total defense (399.0 ypg), and 11th in the MW and 121st in the nation in rushing defense (208.6 ypg).   
 
UTAH STATE HAS TWO DEFENSIVE TOUCHDOWNS ON THE SEASON
• Utah State has scored two defensive touchdowns on the season, both coming in its last two games, as it ranks first in the Mountain West and 17th in the nation with its two defensive scores.
 
UTAH STATE HAS FORCED 17 TURNOVERS ON THE SEASON
• Utah State has forced 17 turnovers (11 interceptions, 6 fumbles) this year to rank third in the Mountain West and 33rd in the nation. USU is also second in the MW and 21st in the nation with 11 interceptions (1.1 pg), and fourth in the MW and 58th in the nation in fumbles recovered with six (0.60 pg). Conversely, USU is fourth in the MW and 33rd in the nation in fumbles lost with five (0.560 pg), and 12th in the MW and 126th in the nation in interceptions thrown with 14 (1.40 pg).
 
UTAH STATE NINTH IN THE NATION WITH TWO BLOCKED PUNTS
• Utah State has blocked punts against both Alabama and UNLV this season, and is tied for 11th in the nation with its two blocked punts on the year. Overall, USU is one of 21 teams in the nation that has blocked two or more punts on the season. In all, USU has blocked four punts in its last 12 games dating back to the 2021 season.
 
• Utah State is first in the Mountain West and 23rd in the nation in kickoff returns (22.4 ypr), third in the MW and 48th in the nation in punt return defense (6.1 ypr), fourth in the MW and 62nd in the nation in net punting (38.8 ypp), sixth in the MW and 76th in the nation in punt returns (6.8 ypr), and eighth in the MW and 51st in the nation in kickoff return defense (19.0 ypr).
 
AGGIES IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST AND NCAA RANKINGS
• Junior WR Terrell Vaughn is tied for first in the nation with his one kickoff return for touchdown (0.10 pg), and is first in the Mountain West and seventh in the nation in kickoff returns (27.7 ypr), fourth in the MW in receiving touchdowns with four (0.40 pg), and seventh in the MW in receptions (3.8 pg). Junior CB Jamie Nance is first in the MW and second in the nation in fumbles recovered with three (0.30 pg). Redshirt freshman S Ike Larsen is first in the MW and third in the nation with two blocked kicks (0.20 pg), and second in the MW and 10th in the nation with four interceptions (0.40 pg). Graduate senior S Hunter Reynolds is third in the MW and 24th in the nation with three interceptions (0.30 pg). Junior P Stephen Kotsanlee is third in the MW and 27th in the nation in punting (44.1 ypp). Senior CB Ajani Carter is third in the MW and 30th in the nation in forced fumbles with two (0.29 pg). Senior RB Cooper Jones is third in the MW and 34th in the nation in punt returns (6.8 ypr). Graduate senior WR Brian Cobbs is third in the MW and 53rd in the nation in receptions (5.3 pg), fourth in the MW in receiving touchdowns with four (0.40 pg), and fourth in the MW and 82nd in the nation in receiving (64.7 ypg). Junior QB Cooper Legas is third in the MW and 92nd in the nation with nine passing touchdowns (1.3 pg). Junior ILB MJ Tafisi is fourth in the MW and 43rd in the nation in tackles (8.6 pg). Graduate senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. is fifth in the MW and 37th in the nation in rushing (85.3 ypg), sixth in the MW and 76th in the nation in all-purpose yards (97.2 ypg), and eighth in the MW and 99th in the nation in rushing yards per carry (4.5). Graduate senior PK Connor Coles is fifth in the MW and 82nd in the nation in scoring (6.8 ppg), eighth in the MW and 78th in the nation in field goal percentage (.714), ninth in the MW and 60th in the nation in field goals made with 10 (1.1 pg), and ninth in the MW in points responsible for (6.8 pg). Senior WR Justin McGriff is sixth in the MW in yards per reception (14.4). Senior ILB AJ Vongphachanh is seventh in the MW and 69th in the nation in tackles (8.0 pg). And, graduate junior DE Daniel Grzesiak is 10th in the MW and 84th in the nation in sacks with five (0.50 pg). 
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State is one of just 23 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams that has returned a kickoff for a touchdown thus far this season.
• Utah State finished the 2021 season with 114.0 tackles for loss, which tied for the second-most 
in the nation. In fact, those 114.0 tackles for loss tied the 2014 team for the second-most in school history and was one shy of the school record of 115.0 set in 1999.
 
BLAKE ANDERSON ENTERS SECOND SEASON AT UTAH STATE
• Blake Anderson is entering his second season as Utah State's head coach after leading the Aggies to their best-ever season in his first year in 2021 as USU tied the school record with 11 wins (11-3, 6-2 MW), won its first-ever Mountain West Championship with a 46-13 victory at No. 19 San Diego State, posted a 24-13 win against Oregon State in the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl and finished the season ranked 24th in the nation in both polls.
 
• Anderson was one of 19 first-year head coaches at the FBS level in 2021 and was the only one to win nine or more games. Anderson is also the only first-year head coach in school history to win double-digit games. The previous record was nine wins set by Matt Wells in 2013.  
 
• Anderson was named the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Region 5 Coach of the Year in 2021 and was a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award. 
 
• Anderson has won three conference championships as a head coach with two Sun Belt titles at Arkansas State (2015, 2016), along with one Mountain West title at Utah State (2021). Anderson coached in his seventh bowl game in eight seasons last year and has a 3-4 bowl record.
 
UTAH STATE RETURNS MAJORITY OF ITS COACHING STAFF  
• Utah State is returning eight of its 10 full-time assistants, as only cornerbacks coach Ray Brown (Washington State) and defensive line coach Al Lapuaho (Nevada) did not return. Those eight returning assistants are the most since the 2010 staff returned all nine of its assistant coaches from the previous season.
 
• Utah State is returning all three of its coordinators in Anthony Tucker (offense), Ephraim Banda (defense) and Nick Paremski (special teams) for the first time since 2013, when Kevin McGiven (offense), Todd Orlando (defense) and Dave Ungerer (special teams) were each in their second seasons, respectively.
 
• Utah State head coach Blake Anderson has four former Aggies on staff in running backs coach Chuckie Keeton (2011-15), tight ends coach DJ Tialavea (2010-13), defensive graduate assistant AJ Pataiali'i (2012-13) and director of player personnel Austin Albrecht (2014-16).
 
BANDA ONE OF TWO HISPANIC DEFENSIVE COORDINATORS IN THE NATION
• Utah State defensive coordinator and safeties coach Ephraim Banda is one of only two hispanic defensive coordinators in the nation at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level along with Penn State's Manny Diaz. Overall, Banda is one of 13 hispanic coaches at the FBS level, which includes five head coaches. 
• Banda was also named one of the top 25 recruiters in the nation in January of 2021, by Rivals.com.
 
CEFALO HAS COACHED THREE-STRAIGHT BILETNIKOFF SEMIFINALISTS
• Utah State passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach Kyle Cefalo has coached a Biletnikoff Award Semifinalist in each of his last three seasons. In his first year at USU in 2021, Cefalo coached Deven Thompkins, who set school records with 102 receptions for 1,704 yards. At Arkansas State, Cefalo coached Jonathan Adams in 2020 and Omar Bayless in 2019, as both players were named Sun Belt Conference Offensive Players of the Year.
 
UTAH STATE HAS MOST DIVERSE COACHING STAFF IN THE NATION
• For the second straight year, Utah State is the only staff in the nation that has minority coaches serving in the roles of offensive coordinator (Anthony Tucker), defensive coordinator (Ephraim Banda) and head strength and conditioning coach (Paul Jackson).
 
• Of Utah State's 10 full-time assistant coaches, six are minorities, which is tied for the fifth-most minorities on a staff in the nation behind Hawai'i (8), Miami, Fla. (8), Northern Illinois (7) and Virginia (7), and tied with Arizona State, Colorado, Florida, Florida State, Georgia State, Illinois, LSU, Michigan State, Missouri, Penn State, Rice and Texas A&M.
 
UTAH STATE HAS THE THIRD-YOUNGEST COACHING STAFF IN THE NATION
• Of Utah State's 10 full-time assistant coaches, two are in their 20s, five are in their 30s and three are in their 40s. The average age of those 10 assistants is 35.1 years, which ranks as the third-youngest staff in the nation behind Old Dominion (33.5) and Georgia State (35.0).
 
DID YOU KNOW? 
• For just the second time in program history, Utah State is returning its head coach, Blake Anderson, after finishing the previous season nationally ranked. John Ralston is the only other Aggie head coach to return as his 1961 team finished that season ranked 10th in the nation in both the AP and UPI polls with a 9-1-1 record. The three other times USU concluded a season nationally ranked, its head coach left for another head coaching position. Chuck Mills went to Wake Forest after the 1972 team went 8-3 record and was 19th in the final UPI poll. Gary Andersen went to Wisconsin after the 2012 team finished the year 16th in the AP poll and 17th in the Coaches poll as it went 11-2 and set the school record for wins. And, Matt Wells went to Texas Tech after the 2018 team finished the year 21st in the Coaches poll and 22nd in the AP poll as it went 11-2 and tied the school record for wins.