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AGGIES CONCLUDE NON-CONFERENCE PLAY AT BYU THURSDAY NIGHT
Game will be televised live on ESPN at 6 p.m. 
 
UTAH STATE (1-3, 0-1 MW) vs. #19 BYU (3-1)
Thursday, Sept. 29, 2022 • 6 p.m. • Provo, Utah • LaVell Edwards Stadium (63,725)
 
GAME 5 INFORMATION
TV: ESPN 
• Play-by-Play: Matt Barrie
• Analyst: Louis Riddick
• Sideline Reporter: Harry Lyles Jr.
• Xfinity (Utah): Ch. 35/668HD
• DISH: Ch. 140
• DirecTV: Ch. 206
 
RADIO: Aggie Sports Network
• Play-by-Play: Scott Garrard 
• Analyst: Kevin White
• National: Sirius XM 383 / SXM App 974
• Online: kslsports.com/kslsportszone
 
SOCIAL MEDIA: #AGGIESALLTHEWAY
• Twitter/Instagram: @USUFootball
• Facebook: USUFootball
• YouTube: UtahStateFootball
• Live Stats: UtahState.Statbroadcast.com
 
AGGIE RADIO NETWORK
• 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: KSL (1280 AM/97.5 FM)
• Logan: KBLU-LP (92.3 FM)
• Green River: KRPX (102.7 FM)
• Moab: KRPX (100.3 FM)
• Montpelier, Idaho: KVSI (1450 AM/104.5 FM)
• Orangeville: KRPX (95.9 FM)
• Price: KRPX (95.3 FM)
 
KICKOFF COVERAGE
• Utah State (1-3, 0-1 MW) concludes non-conference play at No. 19 BYU (3-1) on Thursday, Sept. 29, at 6 p.m., on ESPN (Xfinity Ch. 35/668HD, DISH Ch. 140, DirecTV Ch. 206) with Matt Barrie (play-by-play), Louis Riddick (analyst) and Harry Lyles Jr. (sideline reporter) on the call.
• Utah State is playing on Thursday for the first time since its 41-27 home win against New Mexico on Thanksgiving of 2020. Overall, USU is 20-34-4 (.379) all-time in known games played on Thursday. 
• Utah State has won two of its last three games at BYU, including a 45-20 victory in 2018. Overall, USU is 2-2 versus BYU in its last four games and 3-4 in its last seven games.
• Utah State is 10-10 (.500) against teams from the state of Utah since the 2010 season, which includes a 2-2 (500) record in its last four road games.
• Utah State had its seven-game road winning streak snapped at No. 1 Alabama on Sept. 3, 2022, but is still 17-9 (.654) in its last 26 road games dating back to the 2017 season. USU is 7-1 (.875) in road games under head coach Blake Anderson. 
• Utah State is 6-64 all-time against Associated Press-ranked teams, but has won five of its last 15 meetings, including its 46-13 win at No. 19 San Diego State last year in the Mountain West Championship game. USU's other wins against nationally-ranked opponents includes a 52-26 home win against No. 21 Boise State in 2015; a 35-20 win at No. 18 BYU in 2014, as the Cougars are the highest-ranked AP team the Aggies have ever defeated; a 21-14 win against No. 24 Northern Illinois in the 2013 San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl; a 48-41 overtime win at No. 19 Louisiana Tech in 2012; and, a 20-19 home win against No. 25 Fresno State in 1991.
• Anderson is 2-6 all-time versus AP-ranked teams, which includes a 1-2 record at Utah State. His two victories are a 35-3 road win at No. 25 Troy during the 2016 season and USU's win against No. 19 San Diego State last year.
• Utah State is 12-5 (.706) in its last 17 September games and has won four of its last six (.667) road games during the month. USU is also 7-5 (.583) in known games played on Sept. 29.
 
SCOUTING BYU
• BYU, which is ranked 19th in the latest Associated Press Poll, is 3-1 on the season following its 38-24 home win against Wyoming last weekend. The Cougars are led by junior QB Jaren Hall, who is 103-of-144 passing for 1,164 yards (291.0 ypg) with nine touchdowns and one interception. Senior RB Christopher Brooks has carried the ball 38 times for 204 yards (5.4 ypc/51.0 ypg) with three touchdowns, and freshman WR Chase Roberts has 15 receptions for 223 yards (14.9 ypr/55.8 ypg) and one touchdown. Defensively, sophomore LB Ben Bywater has a team-best 28 tackles, which includes 2.5 tackles for loss, while junior LB Max Tooley has 26 tackles. As a team, BYU is averaging 33.5 points and 457.5 yards of total offense per game (296.5 passing, 161.0 rushing), and allowing 26.5 points and 324.8 yards of total offense (172.5 passing, 152.3 rushing). BYU returns 19 starters (O-8, D-11) and 61 lettermen (O-24, D-32, S-5) from last year's team that went 10-3 and ended its season ranked 19th nationally following its 31-28 loss to UAB in the Independence Bowl. The Cougars are coached by Kalani Sitake, who is 51-30 in his seventh season as a collegiate head coach.
 
AGGIES AND COUGARS SERIES HISTORY
• Utah State trails in the all-time series against BYU, 37-50-3, which includes an 18-28-1 road record. The first game played in the series was on Oct. 7, 1922, in Provo, with USU winning 42-3. BYU won the last meeting 34-20 in Logan on Oct. 1, 2021, while USU won the last meeting in Provo, 45-20, on Oct. 5, 2018. In fact, USU has won two of its last three road games against BYU and three of the last seven overall in the series.
 
AGGIES AND COUGARS AS CONFERENCE FOES
• Utah State and BYU spent 37 years as conference foes as members of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference from 1922-37 and the Mountain States/Skyline Conference from 1938-61. As conference foes, USU was 21-13-3 (.608) against BYU.
 
MORE ON THE AGGIES AND COUGARS SERIES HISTORY 
• Utah State's 37 wins against BYU are the second-most in school history behind USU's 40 wins against Wyoming. The USU-BYU series is the second-most played in school history as this week's 91st meeting trails only USU's 112 games played against Utah.
 
BATTLE FOR THE OLD WAGON WHEEL 
• Utah State and BYU will be playing for possession of 'The Old Wagon Wheel,' the traveling trophy between the two schools, this week. The Old Wagon Wheel became part of the rivalry in 1948. Since its inception, BYU holds a 42-25 advantage in the series. 
 
UTAH STATE AND BYU SERIES MOVING FORWARD 
• Following this year's meeting between Utah State and BYU, there are no future games scheduled. The two schools were scheduled to face one another four more times through the 2026 season, but the contract contained language that would void the existing agreement based on conference affiliation with BYU.
 
UTAH STATE VERSUS FBS INDEPENDENTS
• Utah State is 72-58-3 all-time against current Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) Independents with a 37-50-3 record against BYU, a 32-8 record against New Mexico State, a 2-0 record against UConn and a 1-0 record against Army.
 
CONNECTIONS BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND BYU 
• BYU's stadium namesake, LaVell Edwards, is a 1952 Utah State alum, and was a three-year letterman for the Aggies from 1949-51, collecting unanimous all-Skyline Six Conference honors in 1950 at linebacker. Edwards was inducted into USU's Athletics' Hall of Fame in 2011. BYU defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Ilaisa Tuiaki spent three seasons (2009-11) at USU as the running backs and special teams coach. BYU linebackers coach Kevin Clune spent six years at USU as he was the linebackers coach for five seasons (2009-13) and one season as the defensive coordinator (2015).
 
INSIDE THE ROSTERS
• Utah State has 34 players in its program from the Beehive State, while BYU has 64 players on its roster from Utah.
• BYU sophomore RB Enoch Nawahine and sophomore CB Jakob Robinson both began their careers at Utah State. Nawahine played in 10 games for the Aggies as a freshman in 2019 and carried the ball 16 times for 53 yards, to go along with two special teams tackles. Robinson played in four games with one start as a freshman in 2020 and had eight tackles.
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• This is the 15th time that BYU has been nationally ranked in series history and the Cougars are 13-1 in those games, including an 8-1 home record. That one loss was a 35-20 road win for the Aggies in 2014, when BYU was ranked 18th in the nation. In fact, that BYU team is the highest-ranked opponent USU has ever defeated. 
 
FROM THE RECORD BOOKS
Here is a look at some of the top Utah State statistical individual and team performances against BYU over the years. 
• Anthony Calvillo tied the USU single-game record for touchdown passes with five against BYU in 1993. Calvillo also set single-game school records for total offensive plays (72), total offensive yards (537), points responsible for (42), pass attempts (57) and pass attempts without an interception (57) in that 1993 game. Calvillo also threw for 472 yards against BYU in 1993, which ranks as the fourth-most in school history.
• Jalen Davis intercepted three passes and returned two of them for touchdowns against BYU in 2017, both of which are single-game school records.
• Tom Larscheid returned a kickoff 102 yards against BYU in 1960, which ranks as the second-longest in school history.
• Aubrey Thompson set the USU single-game record for receptions by a tight end with 12 for 122 yards against BYU in 1993.
• Roger Fernandez set the USU single-game record for kickoff return yards with 219 on seven attempts against BYU in 2001.
• Hunter Sharp set the USU single-game record for yards per reception (34.6) at BYU in 2014, as he caught five passes for 173 yards. 
• Aaron Jones had 195 receiving yards against BYU in 1999, which ranks 18th all-time at USU.
• Nakia Jenkins had 194 receiving yards against BYU in 1997, the 19th-most in school history. 
• Jerome Dennis had a 75-yard interception return against BYU in 2002, which is tied for the 12th-longest interception return in USU history.
• Robert Turbin had an 80-yard run against BYU in 2011, which is tied for the 13th-longest run in school history.
• James Samuel had a 73-yard run against BYU in 2002, to rank as the 18th-longest in school history.
• Jeff Crosbie hit Aaron Jones on an 87-yard pass against BYU in 1999, to rank as the seventh-longest pass play in school history. 
• Diondre Borel hit Xavier Martin on a 79-yard pass against BYU in 2010, which is tied for the 25th-longest pass play in school history. 
• Rusty Carlsen had a 70-yard punt against BYU in 1989, which is tied for the 12th-longest in USU history. 
• Brad Bohn kicked a 55-yard field goal against BYU in 1999, the fifth-longest in school history. 
• Utah State's 654 yards of total offense against BYU in 1993 ranks seventh all-time in school history, while its 578 yards against BYU in 1972 ranks 27th all-time.
• Utah State's 472 passing yards against BYU in 1993 ranks fifth all-time in school history, while its 380 yards in 1997 ranks 26th all-time.
• Utah State's 383 rushing yards against BYU in 1961 ranks 16th all-time in school history.
• Utah State limited BYU to just 51 yards of total offense in 1961, which ranks second all-time in school history, 83 yards in 1963, which is tied for the fourth-fewest, and 106 yards in 1960, which ranks as the ninth-fewest in USU history. USU also limited BYU to just 25 passing yards in 1961 to rank as the 11th-fewest in school history.
 
SERIES NOTABLES BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND BYU
The following are series notables between Utah State and BYU.
• Utah State has won two of the last four games in the series, including consecutive wins for the first time in 44 years in 2017 and 2018. USU has also won three of the last seven games played in the series, including two of the last three in Provo. Prior to the last seven games, BYU won 23 of 25 games in the series.
• Utah State has scored 30-plus points against BYU in each of its last five wins in the series, including 40-plus points in each of its last two wins. In USU's last 10 losses in the series, it has not scored more than 28 points and has been held below 20 points seven times.
• Utah State's last four wins against BYU have all been by double digits with an average margin of victory of 17.8 points. 
• In the last 22 meetings, Utah State is 4-5 when leading at the half, while BYU is 13-0. USU is also 4-7 when scoring first, while BYU is 10-1 with its only loss coming in 2014. USU has scored first in eight of the last 12 games and has led at the half in five of the last 11 games. USU has also rushed for more yards in five of the last 11 meetings.
• Utah State has gained more yards in three of the last seven meetings and controlled the time of possession in four of the last seven meetings. Prior to that, BYU had more yards in 14 of the previous 15 meetings and controlled the time of possession in 11 of the previous 15 meetings.
• The 2019 meeting between Utah State and BYU marked just the third time in the last 21 games that both teams had over 500 yards of total offense (1993, 1997, 2019) and BYU won all three of those games.
• The 2019 game was the first time in the last 13 meetings that either team has recorded 500 yards of total offense. 
• The team with fewer turnovers has won 17 of the last 22 games. Furthermore, USU's five turnovers in 2019 are its most in the last 22 meetings and the second-most by either team, trailing BYU's seven turnovers in 2017.
• In the last 22 meetings, BYU has had a 300-yard passer seven times, a 100-yard rusher eight times, with three of those players rushing for 200 yards, and a 100-yard receiver 15 times. USU has had a 300-yard passer five times in the last 22 meetings, a 100-yard rusher four times and a 100-yard receiver nine times.
• In USU's 58-56 win in 1993, BYU tied the NCAA record at the time for most points scored by a losing team, tying Purdue's 56 points against Minnesota that same season.
• The winning team in the Utah State vs. BYU series has scored at least 27 points in 31 of the last 32 meetings, with the only exception being BYU's 6-3 win in Provo in 2012, which was the lowest scoring game in series history since a 0-0 tie in 1939 in Logan.
 
PLAYER CONNECTIONS BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND BYU
• There are 49 connections between Utah State and BYU football players. USU graduate senior OL Chandler Dolphin and junior ILB MJ Tafisi both attended Alta HS in Sandy, Utah, as did BYU sophomore OL Brayden Keim and freshman TE Samisoni Peaua. Tafisi and BYU junior WR Puka Nacua both began their collegiate careers at Washington. USU graduate senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. and BYU senior DB Kaleb Hayes both began their collegiate careers at Oregon State. USU senior RB Cooper Jones and BYU redshirt freshman OL Tyler Little both began their collegiate careers at Butte College in Oroville, California. USU senior RB Pailate Makakona attended Hunter HS in West Valley City, Utah, as did BYU senior DL Lorenzo Fauatea and sophomore DL Logan Lutui. USU junior QB Cooper Legas and freshman QB Chase Tuatagaloa both attended Orem (Utah) HS, as did BYU sophomore CB Jakob Robinson, redshirt freshman DL Joshua Singh, redshirt freshman S Ethan Slade, redshirt freshman OL Kinglsey Suamataia, freshman OL Vae Soifua and Nacua. USU junior OLB Kaleo Neves and junior WR Kyle Van Leeuwen both attended Timpview HS in Provo, Utah, as did BYU junior LB Keenan Pili, freshman DL Logan Fano, freshman OL Sonny Makasini and freshman LB Logan Pili. USU junior OLB Omari Okeke and BYU junior RB Hinckley Ropati both began their collegiate careers at Cerritos College in Norwalk, California. USU junior DE Addison Trupp and redshirt freshman DT Seni Tuiaki both attended East HS in Salt Lake City, Utah, as did BYU senior OL Joe Tukuafu. USU junior DT Poukesi Vakauta and BYU sophomore WR Keanu Hill both attended Trinity HS in Euless, Texas. USU sophomore OL Kingsley Holliday attended Corner Canyon HS in Draper, Utah, as did BYU sophomore LB Josh Wilson and freshman LB Micah Wilson. Holliday began his collegiate career at Snow College in Ephraim, Utah, as did BYU senior S Matthew Criddle and BYU junior OL Lisala Tai. USU sophomore WR Kyrese Rowan and BYU freshman WR Parker Kingston both attended Roy (Utah) HS. USU redshirt freshman CB Ty Barnett and redshirt freshman ILB Sione Moa both attended Weber HS in Ogden, Utah, as did BYU freshman DL Aisea Moa. Barnett and Lutui both began their collegiate careers at Weber State. USU redshirt freshman S Ike Larsen and BYU sophomore DB Caleb Christensen both attended Sky View HS in Smithfield, Utah. USU redshirt freshman DT Bo Maile and freshman OL Weylin Lapuaho both attended Bingham HS in South Jordan, as did BYU junior WR Brayden Cosper and freshman S Isaiah Glasker. USU freshman OL Teague Andersen attended Lehi (Utah) HS, as did BYU junior TE Dallin Holker and redshirt freshman WR Kade Moore. And, USU freshman S Bronson Olevao and BYU junior CB Jacob Boren both attended Highland HS in Salt Lake City, Utah. 
 
STATS FOR AGGIES WITH MULTIPLE GAMES PLAYED vs. BYU
•  The following is a look at what current Utah State players have done against BYU in at least two games played. Graduate senior OL Alfred Edwards has started three games. Graduate senior CB Andre Grayson has four tackles in two games. Senior CB Ajani Carter has six tackles in two games. Senior DT Hale Motu'apuaka has two tackle, including 1.0 tackles for loss, and one quarterback hurry in two games. Senior OL Jacob South has played in two games, with one start. And, senior ILB AJ Vongphachanh has four tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss, in two games.
 
ON THIS DATE IN AGGIE FOOTBALL HISTORY
• Utah State senior CB Jalen Davis intercepted a career-high three passes and returned two of them for touchdowns, both of which are school records, as USU posted a 40-24 home win over BYU on Friday, Sept. 29, 2017, at Maverik Stadium. Senior QB Kent Myers was 16-of-27 passing for 176 yards and two touchdowns, to go along with 33 yards rushing, including a 19-yard touchdown run that gave the Aggies a 33-21 lead with 14:52 to go in the fourth quarter. USU rallied from 14 points down, which was its largest deficit overcome since rallying from 20 points down (27-7) against Nevada in 2015. Davis' three interceptions were a part of seven takeaways by the Aggies. Junior WR Ron'quavion Tarver led all receivers in the game with six receptions for 76 yards, including a 36-yard touchdown pass from Myers that tied the game at 21-all with 1:11 remaining in the first half. Senior RB LaJuan Hunt led Utah State's ground game with 65 yards on 18 carries. Junior LB Suli Tamaivena recorded a career- and game-high 13 tackles for the Aggies, while fellow junior LB Chase Christiansen added a career-best 10 stops, including 1.0 tackles for loss,
and a forced fumble.
 
LAST MEETING vs. BYU
LOGAN, Utah - Utah State closed out the home non-conference portion of its schedule with a 34-20 home loss to No. 13 BYU on Friday, Oct. 1, 2021, on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium. 
 
The Cougars (5-0) scored the first 10 points of the game and held off every comeback-bid the Aggies (3-2) threw at them. 
 
Graduate junior QB Logan Bonner completed 21-of-41 passes for 276 yards and two touchdowns, to go along with an interception. His 28-yard touchdown pass to senior WR Deven Thompkins pulled the Aggies to within 27-20 with 9:52 to go in the game. Thompkins finished with a career-high-tying nine receptions for 125 yards and the lone touchdown. Overall, it was his third 100-yard receiving game this season and of his career. 
 
Bonner also threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to junior WR Justin McGriff midway through the second quarter to cut BYU's lead to 17-10. Both teams would score again as BYU took a 24-13 lead into halftime. 
 
BYU outgained USU 466-336, averaging 7.1 yards per play, as the Cougars rushed for 221 yards and passed for 245. Baylor Romney was 15-of-19 passing for 187 yards and a touchdown, while Tyler Allgeier rushed for 218 yards and three touchdowns for the Cougars, including scoring runs of 22 and 59 yards, along with another carry of 67 yards to set up BYU's final touchdown of the game. 
 
Utah State could never establish its run game against BYU as the Cougars limited the Aggies to a season-low 22 yards rushing on 35 carries. USU also passed for 314 yards as junior QB Andrew Peasley was 5-of-7 for 38 yards with an interception. 
 
Utah State was 11-of-21 on third down and 2-of-3 on fourth down conversions, while BYU went 6-of-12 on its third downs. BYU also finished the game with a slight advantage in time of possession, 31:28 to 28:32, and the Cougars won the turnover battle as the Aggies threw two interceptions, while BYU did not commit a turnover. Both teams also punted four times in the game. 
 
Senior WR Derek Wright had a career-high five receptions for 52 yards, while graduate senior WR Brandon Bowling caught four passes for 60 yards. Sophomore WR Kyle Van Leeuwen also had his best night as an Aggie, as he caught a career-high three passes for a career-best 28 yards. 
 
Senior PK Connor Coles was a perfect 2-for-2 on field goals as he kicked a career-long 52-yarder, to go along with a 45-yarder, as he scored eight points for the Aggies. 
 
Graduate senior DT Marcus Moore had a career-high nine tackles for Utah State, which included a career-high-tying 2.5 tackles for loss. Graduate junior S Hunter Reynolds had his first-career sack and finished the game with eight tackles and one pass breakup. Graduate senior DE Nick Heninger added 1.0 sacks and 2.0 tackles for loss as part of his four tackles to go along with a forced fumble, while senior ILB Kevin Meitzenheimer also had four tackles, which included a career-high 2.0 tackles for loss. Junior DE Byron Vaughns added a season-high five tackles and junior ILB AJ Vongphachanh had a career-best 1.5 tackles for loss as part of his four tackles. 
 
Collectively, Utah State's defense finished the game with a season-high 11.0 tackles for loss. 
 
LAST ROAD MEETING vs. BYU
PROVO, Utah - Sophomore QB Jordan Love accounted for five total touchdowns and Utah State's defense scored its third touchdown of the year as the Aggies dominated in-state rival BYU from the get-go, beating the Cougars 45-20 on Friday, Oct. 5, 2018. 
 
Love completed 18-of-28 passes for 165 yards and a career-high four touchdowns for Utah State (4-1, 1-0 Mountain West), which scored the first 21 points of the night and never looked back. Love also scored on a 2-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter that gave the Aggies a 42-13 lead.
 
With the win, Utah State retained possession of The Old Wagon Wheel – the traveling trophy between the two schools. The Wheel became part of the rivalry in 1948. 
 
Love threw touchdown passes of 2, 6, 6 and 4 yards, respectively, to help Utah State win back-to-back games against BYU (3-3) for the first time in 44 years. The 25-point margin of victory is the fifth-largest in series history and largest since 1968. 
 
Senior WR Ron'quavion Tarver caught two of Love's touchdown passes, while fellow senior WR Jalen Greene and junior RB Gerold Bright each caught one. Greene led the Aggies, who finished with 388 total yards, with a career-best five catches for a career-high 53 yards. 
 
Junior RB Darwin Thompson led all rushers in the game with a career-high 109 yards on a career-best 17 carries. Bright added 61 yards on a career-high-tying 14 carries as Utah State tallied 223 yards on the ground as a team. 
 
BYU QB Tanner Mangum was 27-of-46 passing for 270 yards and two touchdowns, to go along with an interception. The pick was one of three turnovers the Aggies forced on the night. Utah State's defense limited the Cougars to just 39 yards rushing (2.4 yards per carry).
 
Junior DE Tipa Galeai set the tone early for the Aggies. BYU had the ball fourth-and-1 at the Utah State 39-yard line and elected to go for it. Galeai foiled the Cougars' plans by intercepting Mangum's pass and returning it 56 yards to the house, giving the Aggies a 7-0 lead with 7:35 to go in the first quarter.
 
After the defense forced BYU to go three-and-out on the ensuing possession, the Aggies took over on their own 29 following a punt and drove to the Cougars' 2-yard line, where they faced their own fourth-down situation. USU went for it and the decision paid off as Love threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Bright, making it 14-0 with 1:50 remaining in the first.
 
On BYU's next series, sophomore LB David Woodward forced a fumble by Dallin Holker that senior LB Chase Christiansen recovered just before it bounced out of bounds. 
 
The offense cashed in on the takeaway when Love connected with Tarver for a 6-yard touchdown pass to give the visitors a commanding 21-0 lead. BYU finally got on the board with 4:52 remaining in the second quarter, but missed a 43-yard field goal wide right as time expired on the half. 
 
Utah State opened the second half with the ball and marched 81 yards in 10 plays, capped by a 6-yard touchdown pass from Love to Greene to help the Aggies open a 28-7 lead.
 
Junior PK Dominik Eberle capped the scoring for USU in the fourth quarter when he drilled a 47-yard field goal to give the visitors their largest lead of the night, 45-13.
 
Woodward and sophomore CB Ja'Marcus Ingram led the Aggies with six tackles apiece, while Ingram added a career-best three pass breakups. Senior S Jontrell Rocquemore added four tackles, including the game's only sack as part of his 2.0 tackles for loss. On the sack of Mangum, Rocquemore forced a fumble and then recovered it. 
 
GAME 4 RECAP vs. UNLV
LOGAN, Utah - UNLV QB Doug Brumfield passed for one touchdown and ran for two others to lead the Rebels past Utah State 34-24 in the Mountain West opener for both teams on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022, on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium. 
 
Brumfield completed 21-of-31 passes for 217 yards and the one touchdown, to go along with touchdown runs of 4 and 1 yards, respectively. 
 
Utah State graduate senior QB Logan Bonner was 27-of-41 for a season-best 313 yards and a season-high-tying three touchdowns, to go along with five interceptions. Bonner's 39-yard touchdown pass to junior WR Terrell Vaughn pulled the Aggies (1-3, 0-1 MW) to within 34-24 with 6:15 remaining in the game, but that's as close as they would get the rest of the way.
 
Vaughn was one of three different Aggies to catch six passes in the game as he finished with a career-high 49 yards and a career-best two touchdowns on his career-high six receptions. Senior WR Justin McGriff had five receptions for 91 yards and one touchdown.
 
McGriff and the Aggies scored first when he hauled in a 12-yard touchdown pass from Bonner with 7:21 to go in the opening quarter.
 
However, Brumfield's two touchdown runs gave the Rebels (3-1, 1-0 MW) a 14-7 lead late in the first quarter. UNLV never trailed after that.
 
Redshirt freshman WR NyNy Davis also had a career-high six catches for Utah State as he finished with a career-high 49 yards, while graduate senior WR Brian Cobbs had six catches for 83 yards.
 
Redshirt sophomore TE Broc Lane, who was seeing his first significant action of the season after missing last year due to injury, caught a career-high three passes for a career-best 14 yards.
 
Utah State finished the game with 101 more yards of total offense as it had 421 yards (325 passing, 96 rushing) as compared to 320 (217 passing, 103 rushing) for UNLV, but USU committed six turnovers in the game with five interceptions and one fumble, while the Rebels did not turn it over once during the game. The Aggies also gave UNLV the ball at the USU 5-yard line following a bad snap on a punt as it failed to convert three of its five fourth-down attempts.
 
Jeff Weimer led the Rebels in receiving with five catches for 57 yards, while Aidan Robbins had 81 yards rushing and a touchdown on 28 carries.
 
Junior ILB MJ Tafisi and senior ILB AJ Vongphachanh led the Aggies on the defensive side of the ball with 10 tackles apiece.
 
Vongphachanh also had one catch for 12 yards on a fake punt, which led to a first down. Junior P Stephen Kotsanlee completed the pass to Vongphachanh.
 
Utah State senior DT Hale Motu'apuaka added seven tackles, including 2.0 sacks and 2.5 tackles for loss, for the Aggies, all of which were career highs.
 
The Aggie defense finished the game with a season-high 4.0 sacks and a season-best 12.0 tackles for loss, and tied its season high with four pass breakups.
 
Redshirt freshman S Ike Larsen also blocked his second punt of the season, which resulted in a safety for Utah State. 
 
UTAH STATE LOSES AT HOME TO UNLV
• Utah State lost its third-straight game with a 34-24 home loss to Mountain West-foe UNLV. USU had won six-straight games against the Rebels and the last time UNLV won a game in the series prior to last weekend was a 27-17 home win in 2008.
• With the loss, Utah State has now lost three-straight games for the first time under head coach Blake Anderson and is now 2-3 under Anderson following a loss. The last time USU lost four-straight games was during the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign. 
 
UTAH STATE COMMITS SIX TURNOVERS AGAINST UNLV
• Utah State committed six turnovers in its loss to UNLV as it threw five interceptions, to go along with one fumble. Those six turnovers are the most in a game for USU since it had six turnovers against Boise State in 2008, while its five interceptions are its most since it threw five picks at Texas Tech in 1996.
• Along with its five interceptions, Utah State also turned the ball over on downs at the USU 5-yard line following a bad snap on a punt and gave UNLV the ball two more times following failed fourth down attempts. 
 
UTAH STATE LOSES TO UNLV DESPITE HAVING 100 MORE YARDS OF OFFENSE
• Utah State lost to UNLV by 10 points (34-24) despite having 101 more yards of total offense as it finished the game with 421 yards (325 passing, 96 rushing) as compared to 320 yards (217 passing, 103 rushing) for the Rebels. 
• Utah State also had four plays of at least 20 yards against UNLV after having just one explosive against both Alabama and Weber State.
 
UTAH STATE'S DEFENSE PLAYED WELL IN UNLV LOSS
• Utah State's defense played well in its 34-24 Mountain West home loss to UNLV as it had a season-high 4.0 sacks and a season-best 12.0 tackles for loss, while its four pass breakups were tied for its most in a game this year (UConn). USU also blocked its second punt of the season, which resulted in a safety.
• Utah State limited UNLV to 320 yards of total offense, which was 159.7 yards below its season average of 479.7 yards per game, and to 103 rushing yards on 42 carries (2.5 ypc), which was 102.7 yards below its season average of 205.7 yards per game. UNLV entered the game averaging 5.4 yards per rush and 6.9 yards per play on the season, but was limited to just 2.5 yards per rush and 4.4 yards per play against USU.  
• And finally, Utah State's defense only gave up three points following the six turnovers by its offense.
 
UTAH STATE'S DEFENSE HAS BEEN SOLID ITS LAST TWO GAMES
• In its last two games, Utah State has limited its opponents to just 3.1 yards per rush attempt as Weber State and UNLV combined to rush 97 times for 302 yards. Against Weber State, the Wildcats rushed 55 times for 199 yards (3.6 ypc), and against UNLV, the Rebels rushed 42 times for 103 yards (2.5 ypc). 
• And, Utah State has only given up 13 points (10 by Weber State and 3 by UNLV) following its 10 turnovers during its last two games, and only 16 points on 12 turnovers this year. 
 
ELEVEN AGGIES HAVE MADE THEIR FIRST-CAREER START THIS SEASON
• Utah State has had 11 players make their first-career start this year. In its season opener against UConn, USU had seven players make their first-career start in graduate senior OL Wade Meacham (79), graduate senior DT Phillip Paea (90), senior CB Ajani Carter (12), graduate junior DE Daniel Grzesiak (9), junior ILB MJ Tafisi (2), junior WR Kyle Van Leeuwen (9) and freshman OL Weylin Lapuaho (61). Junior DT Poukesi Vakauta (96) made his first-career start against Weber State. And, graduate junior TE Ron Tiavaasue (11), junior WR Terrell Vaughn (0) and redshirt freshman DT Seni Tuiaki (48) all made their first-career start against UNLV. 
• Lapuaho is the first true freshman to start for Utah State since CB Jalen Davis in 2014, and the first true freshman to start on the offensive line since Derek Hoke in 2005. 
 
TWENTY-EIGHT PLAYERS HAVE MADE THEIR AGGIE DEBUT THIS SEASON
• Utah State has had 28 players make their Aggie debut this year. In its season opener against UConn, USU had 21 players make their Aggie debut in graduate senior WR Brian Cobbs (8), graduate senior S Gurvan Hall Jr. (6), graduate junior DE Daniel Grzesiak (9), graduate junior TE Ron Tiavaasue (11), graduate junior WR Xavier Williams (3), junior OLB Omari Okeke (5), junior ILB MJ Tafisi (2), junior WR Terrell Vaughn (0), junior RB Jordan Wilmore (23), sophomore DT Tavian Coleman (94), sophomore WR Jalen Royals (17), sophomore DE John Ward (42), sophomore QB Levi Williams (16), redshirt freshman WR NyNy Davis (6), redshirt freshman ILB Cole Joyce (20), redshirt freshman OL Elia Migao (73), redshirt freshman DE Enoka Migao (45), redshirt freshman ILB Sione Moa (40), freshman ILB Max Alford (33), freshman RB Robert Briggs (22) and freshman OL Weylin Lapuaho (61). USU had five more players make their Aggie debut at No. 1 Alabama in senior DT Aurion Peoples (99), redshirt freshman DT Bo Maile (44), freshman CB JD Drew (18), freshman DE Paul Fitzgerald (32) and freshman ILB Josh Williams (30). Sophomore WR Kyrese Rowan (26) made his Aggie debut against Weber State. And, redshirt freshman WR Ryder MacGillivray (84) made his Aggie debut against UNLV.
 
DID YOU KNOW? 
• 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.
 
VAUGHN HAS CAREER DAY AGAINST UNLV
• In his first-career start, Utah State junior WR Terrell Vaughn had a career game as he had a career-high six receptions for a career-best 74 yards and a career-high two touchdowns on receptions of 10 and 39 yards. Vaughn also returned one kickoff for 37 yards as he finished the game with 111 all-purpose yards.
 
McGRIFF CATCHES 10TH-CAREER TOUCHDOWN IN UNLV GAME
• Senior WR Justin McGriff caught his second touchdown of the season and the 10th of his career on a 12-yard reception in his last game against UNLV. McGriff finished the game with five receptions for 91 yards.
 
DAVIS AND LANE HAVE CAREER DAYS AGAINST UNLV
• Redshirt freshman WR NyNy Davis and redshirt sophomore TE Broc Lane both had career games against UNLV as Davis had a career-high six receptions for a career-best 49 yards, while Lane caught a career-high three passes for a career-best 14 yards.
 
BONNER THROWS THREE TOUCHDOWNS AGAINST UNLV
• Graduate senior QB Logan Bonner was 27-of-41 passing for a season-high 313 yards with three touchdowns and five interceptions against UNLV. It was the eighth time in his USU career and the 13th time in his collegiate career, that he has thrown at least three touchdown passes in a game. It was also his eighth-career 300-yard passing game, including his sixth at USU.
• With his three touchdown passes against UNLV, Bonner has now thrown 42 touchdowns in his Utah State career and 72 in his collegiate career, which included five seasons at Arkansas State. Those 42 touchdown passes at USU are the fifth-most in school history. 
 
BONNER IN SEVENTH AND FINAL YEAR OF COLLEGE FOOTBALL
• Graduate senior QB Logan Bonner is one of just 23 players at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level, and the only player from the Mountain West, that is in their seventh year of collegiate football. Bonner spent five seasons (2016-20) at Arkansas State and is in his second year at Utah State. At ASU, he redshirted in 2016 and received a medical redshirt in 2019, 
 
TYLER JR. NOW 27TH ALL-TIME AT UTAH STATE IN CAREER RUSHING YARDS
• Graduate senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. rushed for 54 yards on 15 carries in his last game against UNLV and has now rushed for 1,176 yards on 274 attempts (4.3 ypc) and seven touchdowns in his Utah State career, which ranks 27th all-time in school history. Overall, Tyler is one of 33 Aggies to rush for 1,000 yards in a career.
• During his collegiate career, which includes four years at Oregon State, Tyler has now rushed for 1,300 yards on 304 carries (4.3 ypc) and nine touchdowns.
 
TYLER JR. HAS CAREER DAY AGAINST UCONN
• Graduate senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. had a career day against UConn as he rushed for a career-high 161 yards on a career-best 33 attempts for his fifth-career 100-yard rushing game. Overall, it was the most rushing yards and attempts by an Aggie since Gerold Bright rushed for 179 yards on 36 attempts against Colorado State in 2019. It was also the most rushing yards by an Aggie in a season-opener since Devante Mays gained 208 yards on 18 carries against Weber State in 2016.
 
COBBS HAS CAREER GAME AGAINST UCONN
• Senior graduate transfer WR Brian Cobbs became just the fourth player in school history to record 100 receiving yards in his Aggie debut, as he caught a career-high eight passes for a career-best 108 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown, against UConn. In fact, it was Cobbs's first-ever 100-yard receiving game and his third-career touchdown reception. The only other Aggies to have 100 receiving yards in their first-ever USU game was Ken Thompson, who caught seven passes for 150 yards against San José State in 1979, Kevin Curtis, who caught 11 passes for 171 yards against Utah in 2001, and Siaosi Mariner, who caught eight passes for 118 yards at Wake Forest in 2019. 
 
BRIGGS NAMED MOUNTAIN WEST FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK
• 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 85 yards on 10 carries, including a 23-yard touchdown, against UConn. The previous record was set by QB Kent Myers, who rushed for 28 yards on three carries against UNLV in 2014.
 
VONGPHACHANH HAS DOUBLE-DIGIT TACKLES AGAINST UNLV  
• Senior ILB AJ Vongphachanh had 10 tackles for his second double-digit tackle outing of the season and the third of his career in his last outing against UNLV. He also tied his career high with 1.0 sacks and had a career-best 2.0 tackles for loss to give him 1.0 sacks and 4.0 TFLs on the season, and 6.0 sacks and 14.5 TFLs in his career. Vongphachanh also had his first pass breakup of the season and the second of his career against the Rebels.    
 
TAFISI TIES CAREER HIGH WITH 10 TACKLES AGAINST UNLV 
• Junior ILB MJ Tafisi tied his career high with 10 tackles for his third double-digit tackle outing of the season and his career. He also had 1.5 tackles for loss to give him 5.5 TFLs on the season and 7.0 TFLs in his career.     
 
MOTU'APUAKA HAS CAREER GAME AGAINST UNLV 
• Senior DT Hale Motu'apuaka had a career game in his last outing against UNLV as he had a career-high seven tackles, to go along with a career-best 2.0 sacks and a career-best 2.5 tackles for loss. Overall, he now has 4.5 sacks and 11.5 TFLs in his career.     
 
LARSEN BLOCKS SECOND PUNT OF THE SEASON IN UNLV GAME
• Utah State S Ike Larsen blocked his second punt of the season this past weekend against UNLV, which resulted in a safety for the Aggies. Larsen also blocked a punt earlier in the year 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.
• The last time a USU player blocked two punts in one season was in 2017, when DJ Nelson and Louy Compton both accomplished the feat.
 
OTHER DEFENSIVE NOTABLES FROM WEBER STATE GAME
• Senior S Gurvan Hall Jr. tied his career high with 1.0 tackles for loss to give him 1.5 TFLs on the season and 7.5 TFLs in his career. Junior OLB Omari Okeke had a career-high four tackles, which included his first-career tackle for loss. Senior CB Michael Anyanwu had a career-high two pass breakups to give him three PBUs on the season and five in his career. He also had 0.5 tackles for loss to give him 2.0 TFLs on the season and 3.0 TFLs in his career. Senior CB Ajani Carter had 0.5 tackles for loss to give him 3.5 TFLs in his career. Junior DE Patrick Joyner Jr. tied his career high with four tackles. Sophomore DT Tavian Coleman had a career-high three tackles. Redshirt junior S Dominic Tatum had his first-career sack, to go along with a career-high 2.0 tackles for loss to give him 3.0 TFLs in his career. Sophomore DE John Ward had 0.5 tackles for loss to give him 1.5 TFLs on the season and in his career. Junior OLB Kaleo Neves had his first-career pass breakup.    
 
VAUGHN SCORES FIRST-CAREER TOUCHDOWN ON KICKOFF RETURN  
• Junior WR Terrell Vaughn returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter against Weber State, 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.   
 
KOTSANLEE NAMED TO RAY GUY AWARD RAY'S 8  
• Junior P Stephen Kotsanlee was named to the Ray Guy Award "Ray's 8" following his performance against Weber State, as he punted seven times for an average of 45.7 yards, including three punts of at least 50 yards (51, 51, 58). He also had a career-high-tying five punts downed inside the 20-yard line.
• Kotsanlee now has nine punts this year and 22 in his career of at least 50 yards, to go along with 11 punts this year and 47 in his career that have been downed inside the 20-yard line. 
 
KOTSANLEE RANKS SEVENTH ALL-TIME AT UTAH STATE IN PUNTING  
• Junior P Stephen Kotsanlee has punted 114 times in his career for an average of 42.0 yards, which is the sixth-best 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 per punt with 17 of his punts downed inside the 20-yard line. He also had four punts of at least 50 yards, including a season long of 63 yards.
 
COLES IN THE UTAH STATE RECORD BOOKS  
• Graduate senior PK Connor Coles made a 45 yard field goal and was 4-for-4 on extra points against UConn, and is now 7-of-12 on field goals from 40-49 yards in his career. For his career, Coles is now 24-of-33 (.727) on field goals and ranks fifth all-time in career field goal percentage. Coles, who is 10th all-time in school history in field goals made, is 69-of-72 (.958) all-time in extra points and that percentage ranks as the ninth-best all-time in school history. He also ranks ninth all-time in school history in both extra points made and attempted.
• For his career, Coles has been named the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week twice, against New Mexico in 2020 and against Washington State in 2021.
 
UTAH STATE THIRD IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST IN SACKS ALLOWED 
• Utah State's offense has allowed four sacks (1.00 pg) this season to rank third in the Mountain West and 21st in the nation. USU is also fourth in the MW and 100th in the nation in passing offense (205.0 ypg), fourth in the MW and 102nd in the nation in total offense (345.0 ypg), sixth in the MW and 90th in the nation in rushing offense (140.0 ypg), ninth in the MW and 115th in the nation in completion percentage (.533), 10th in the MW and 120th in the nation in passing efficiency (105.7), and 11th in the MW and 123rd in the nation in scoring offense (15.5 ppg).      
 
• Utah State's offense is also second in the MW and 23rd in the nation in tackles for loss allowed with 15 (3.75 pg), sixth in the MW and 66th in the nation in fumbles lost with three (0.75 pg), fifth in the MW and 93rd in the nation in passing yards per completion (11.4), and eighth in the MW and 102nd in the nation in fourth down conversion percentage at 35.7 percent (5-of-14).
 
UTAH STATE SEVENTH IN THE NATION IN TACKLES FOR LOSS
• Utah State is first in the Mountain West and seventh in the nation in tackles for loss with 35 (8.8 pg), fourth in the MW and 48th in the nation in passing defense (204.8 ypg), fifth in the MW and 66th in the nation in passing efficiency defense (128.4), ninth in the MW and 100th in the nation in total defense (411.0 ypg), 10th in the MW and 110th in the nation in sacks with five (1.25 pg), 10th in the MW and 117th in the nation in scoring defense (36.0 ppg), and 11th in the MW and 118th in the nation in rushing defense (206.2 ypg).  
 
UTAH STATE HAS FORCED SEVEN TURNOVERS ON THE SEASON
• Utah State has forced seven turnovers (6 interceptions, 1 fumble) in four games this year, and is third in the Mountain West and 10th in the nation with six interceptions (1.50 pg), fourth in the MW and 36th in the nation with seven forced turnovers, and eighth in the MW and 99th in the nation in fumbles recovered with one (0.25 pg).
 
UTAH STATE FOURTH IN THE NATION WITH TWO BLOCKED PUNTS
• Utah State has blocked punts against both Alabama and UNLV this season, and is tied for fourth in the nation with its two blocked punts on the year. Overall, USU is one of just five teams in the nation that has blocked two or more punts on the season. In all, USU has blocked four punts in its last six games dating back to the 2021 season.
 
• Utah State is also first in the MW and 53rd in the nation in net punting (40.3 ypp), third in the MW and 69th in the nation in punt return defense (6.5 ypr), fifth in the MW and 29th in the nation in kickoff returns (25.0 ypr), eighth in the MW and 78th in the nation in punt returns (7.1 ypr), and eighth in the MW and 80th in the nation in kickoff return defense (21.0 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, second in the Mountain West and fourth in the nation in kickoff returns (35.4 ypr), and fourth in the MW and 85th in the nation in receiving touchdowns with two (0.50 pg). Redshirt freshman S Ike Larsen is first in the MW and second in the nation with two blocked kicks (0.50 pg), and fourth in the MW and 14th in the nation with two interceptions (0.50 pg). Junior ILB MJ Tafisi is second in the MW and 28th in the nation in tackles for loss (1.4 pg), and fifth in the MW and 56th in the nation in tackles (8.2 pg). Graduate junior DE Daniel Grzesiak is second in the MW and 16th in the nation in fumbles recovered with one (0.25 pg). Graduate senior QB Logan Bonner is second in the MW and 69th in the nation in passing touchdowns with six (1.50 pg), third in the MW and 61st in the nation in yards per completion (12.2), fourth in the MW and 93rd in the nation in passing (188.2 ypg), fourth in the MW and 98th in total offense (192.0 ypg), fifth in the MW and 95th in the nation in yards per pass attempt (6.85), fifth in the MW in passing efficiency (117.3), sixth in the MW and 92nd in the nation in completions per game (15.5), seventh in the MW in points responsible for (9.0 pg), and ninth in the MW in completion percentage (.564). Graduate senior S Hunter Reynolds is fourth in the MW and 14th in the nation with two interceptions (0.50 pg). Senior WR Justin McGriff is fourth in the MW and 85th in the nation in receiving touchdowns with two (0.50 pg), and seventh in the MW in yards per reception (16.0). Junior P Stephen Kotsanlee is fifth in the MW and 43rd in the nation in punting (42.7 ypp). Senior DT Hale Motu'apuaka is sixth in the MW and 59th in the nation with three sacks (0.67 pg). Graduate senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. is sixth in the MW and 61st in the nation in rushing (73.0 ypg), eighth in the MW in rushing  yards per carry (3.7), and 12th in the MW in all-purpose yards (81.8 ypg). Senior RB Cooper Jones is fourth in the MW and 48th in the nation in punt returns (7.1 ypr). Graduate senior WR Brian Cobbs is fifth in the MW and 96th in the nation in receptions (4.5 pg), seventh in the MW in receiving (60.2 ypg), and 10th in the MW in yards per reception (13.4). Senior CB Ajani Carter is eighth in the MW and 77th in the nation with one forced fumble (0.25 pg). And, senior ILB AJ Vongphachanh is eighth in the MW and 77th in the nation with one forced fumble (0.25 pg), and 11th in the MW and 96th in the nation in tackles (7.5 pg).               
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Through five weekends of the 2022 season, Utah State is one of just eight Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams that has returned a kickoff for a touchdown along with Coastal Carolina, Kentucky, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Texas, South Florida and Texas A&M. 
 
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 Virigina (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. 
 
AGGIES HAVE ALREADY LOST THREE STARTERS TO SEASON-ENDING INJURIES
• Just four games into the 2022 season, Utah State has already lost three starters to season-ending injuries in graduate senior DT Phillip Paea, junior WR Kyle Van Leeuwen and redshirt freshman DT Seni Tuiaki.
 
UTAH STATE HAS TWO QUARTERBACKS ON ITS ROSTER WITH BOWL WINS
• Utah State is one of just two Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs in the nation to have multiple quarterbacks on its roster with bowl wins, joining South Carolina. Ironically, for USU, neither of USU's quarterbacks with a bowl win is its starter as junior Cooper Legas led the Aggies to a 24-13 win against Oregon State in the 2021 Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl, while sophomore transfer Levi Williams led Wyoming to a 52-38 win against Kent State in the 2021 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl and to a 38-17 win against Georgia State in the 2019 Arizona Bowl. USU starter, graduate senior Logan Bonner, started the LA Bowl, but was hurt early in the game with USU trailing 7-0.
 
UTAH STATE HAS ONE OF THE MOST EXPERIENCED O-LINES IN THE NATION
• Utah State returns four of its starters along the offensive line from last season in graduate senior Alfred Edwards (GP-47, GS-46), graduate senior Jacob South (GP-27, GS-17), graduate senior Chandler Dolphin (GP-22, GS-14) and sophomore Cole Motes (GP-12, GS-9). Combined, this group has appeared in 108 career games with 86 starts.
 
• Overall, Utah State is one of just 19 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs to return at least four starts along the offensive line from last season, while its 76 combined career starts are tied for the 13th-most in the nation and its 95 combined games played are the 19th-most.
 
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.
 
UTAH STATE HAS ONLY RUSSIAN IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL AT FBS LEVEL
• Utah State has the only Russian on a roster at the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level in junior OL Nikita Iuferov, who transferred to USU from San Mateo (California) Junior College.
 
ACADEMICALLY SPEAKING
• Utah State has 14 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 S Gurvan Hall Jr., senior OL Wade Meacham, senior DT Phillip Paea, senior S Hunter Reynolds, senior OL Jacob South, senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr., junior DE Daniel Grzesiak and junior WR Xavier Williams.
 
UTAH STATE HAS SIX BOWL TEAMS ON ITS 2022 SCHEDULE
• Utah State has six teams on its 2022 schedule that played in a bowl game last season in Alabama (CFP Cotton Bowl, CFB National Championship), BYU (Independence Bowl), Air Force (First Responder Bowl), Wyoming (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl), Hawai'i (Hawaii Bowl) and Boise State (Arizona Bowl).
 
DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State is one of 16 teams that ended the 2021 season nationally ranked in The Associated Press poll to return both its head coach and starting quarterback in 2022. The others are Arkansas, Alabama, BYU, Clemson, Georgia, Houston, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Michigan State, North Carolina State, Ohio State, Oklahoma State, Wake Forest and Utah.
 
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 63-43 overall record, including a 44-21 conference mark. He has posted a 12-6 record at USU, including a 6-3 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.