Utah State Hosts Mountain West-Foe Boise State on Senior Night

Game will be televised live on CBS Sports Network on Saturday, Nov. 18, at 5 p.m.

Football 11/13/2023 9:15:00 AM

Utah State Game Notes | Utah State Media Guide | Boise State Game Notes | Mountain West Release | Watch Live | Listen Live | Live Stats | Tickets | Digital Game Program

UTAH STATE HOSTS MOUNTAIN WEST-FOE BOISE STATE ON SENIOR NIGHT
Game will be televised live on CBS Sports Network on Saturday, Nov. 18, at 5 p.m.

BOISE STATE (5-5, 4-2 MW) vs. UTAH STATE (5-5, 3-3 MW)
Saturday, Nov. 18, 2023 • 5 p.m. • Logan, Utah • Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium (25,100)

GAME 11 INFORMATION
TV: CBS Sports Network
• Play-by-Play: Rich Waltz
• Analyst: Aaron Taylor
• Reporter: Brandon Baylor
• Xfinity (Utah): Ch. 269/753HD
• DISH: Ch. 158
• DirecTV: Ch. 221

RADIO: Aggie Sports Network
• Play-by-Play: Scott Garrard
• Analyst: Kevin White
• Online: kslsports.com/kslsportszone

SOCIAL MEDIA: #AGGIESALLTHEWAY
• X/Instagram: @USUFootball
• Facebook: USUFootball
• YouTube: UtahStateFootball
• Live Stats: stats.statbroadcast.com

KICKOFF COVERAGE
• Utah State (5-5, 3-3 MW) continues Mountain West play as it hosts Boise State (5-5, 4-2 MW) on Saturday, Nov. 18, at 5 p.m., on CBS Sports Network (Xfinity Ch. 269/753HD, DISH Ch. 158, DirecTV Ch. 221) with Rich Waltz (play-by-play), Aaron Taylor (analyst) and Brandon Baylor (reporter) on the call.

• Utah State will honor 10 seniors prior to the game in CB Michael Anyanwu, RB Sione Finau, RB Cooper Jones, OL Calvin Knapp, OL Wade Meacham, DT Hale Motu'apuaka, CB Xavion Steele, ILB MJ Tafisi Jr., WR Terrell Vaughn and QB Levi Williams. USU is 71-41-3 (.630) all-time on Senior Day.

• With a win against Boise State, Utah State will be bowl eligible for the 11th time in the last 13 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.

• Utah State is 8-2 in the month of November under head coach Blake Anderson.

• Utah State runs a play on average every 21.3 seconds, which is tied for the fourth-fastest tempo in the nation. Jacksonville State leads the nation with a play every 20.3 seconds, followed by South Florida (20.7), TCU (21.0), USU and Tennessee (21.3).

• Utah State's 30 touchdown passes are tied with USC for the third-most in the nation, trailing only Oregon (32) and LSU (31), while its 46 total touchdowns are tied for the 18th most.

• Utah State is second in the Mountain West and 20th in the nation in scoring offense at 35.5 points per game. USU is also first in the MW and 22nd in the nation in total offense (448.3 ypg), and third in the MW and 32nd in the nation in passing offense (271.0 ypg).

• Utah State's defense is third in the Mountain West and 11th in the nation with its 19 forced turnovers, while also ranking third in the MW and ninth in the nation with nine fumble recoveries, and third in the MW and 32nd in the nation with 10 passes intercepted.

• Utah State and LSU are the only FBS teams in the nation that have two players with at least 10 touchdown catches this year and USU is the only team in the nation that has three players with at least six touchdown catches. Junior WR Jalen Royals is tied for third in the nation with 11 TDs, senior WR Terrell Vaughn is tied for seventh with 10 TDs and junior WR Micah Davis is tied for 43rd with six TDs. Collectively, the trio has caught 157 passes for 2,177 yards and 27 touchdowns on the year.

• Graduate senior ILB MJ Tafisi Jr. leads the Mountain West and ranks seventh in the nation with 108 tackles (10.8 pg). Tafisi has posted six-straight double-digit tackle games and has seven total this season, which is tied for the third-most in the nation.

SCOUTING BOISE STATE
• Boise State is 5-5 on the season and 4-2 in Mountain West play following its 42-14 home win against New Mexico last weekend. The Broncos are led by sophomore QB Taylen Green, who is 88-of-163 (.539) passing for 1,205 yards (120.5 ypg) with six touchdowns and six interceptions. Sophomore RB Ashton Jeanty leads the team in rushing with 921 yards on 157 carries (5.9 ypc/115.1 ypg) with 11 touchdowns. Jeanty also leads the team in receiving as he has 30 receptions for 396 yards (13.2 ypr/49.5 ypg) with four touchdowns. Defensively, sophomore LB Marco Notarainni has a team-best 53 tackles, which includes 4.5 tackles for loss, to go along with one forced fumble. As a team, BSU is averaging 31.2 points and 439.1 yards of offense per game (243.4 passing, 195.7 rushing), and allowing 27.4 points and 387.4 yards of offense (271.8 passing, 115.6 rushing). Spencer Danielson is coaching his first game as the interim head coach for the Broncos.

AGGIES AND BRONCOS SERIES HISTORY
• Utah State trails in the all-time series against Boise State, 22-5, which includes a 3-10 home record. USU has lost seven straight and 19 of the last 20 games in the series as its only win during that stretch was a 52-26 home win in 2015. The first game played in the series was on Oct. 15, 1975, in Boise, with USU winning 42-19. Last year, Boise State posted a 42-23 home win. And, the last time the two teams played in Logan, the Broncos notched a 27-3 win in 2021. This year's meeting will mark the fourth-straight year and seventh time (2005, 2013, 2017, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023) in the past 16 meetings, that the Broncos are not nationally ranked.

UTAH STATE AND BOISE STATE AS CONFERENCE FOES
• Utah State and Boise State have spent 22 years as league foes, including 11 seasons in the Mountain West as Boise State joined the league in 2011 and Utah State joined in 2013. Both schools were also members of the Big West Conference from 1996 to 2000 and members of the Western Athletic Conference from 2005 to 2010.

AGGIES vs. BRONCOS SERIES 13TH-LONGEST IN SCHOOL HISTORY
• Utah State and Boise State will be meeting for the 28th time in series history this weekend in what is the 13th-most played rivalry in school history.

COACHING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND BOISE STATE
• Tony Knap was the head coach for both Utah State and Boise State, compiling a 25-14-1 (.637) record at USU from 1963-66. In 1968, he succeeded Lyle Smith at BSU and led the Broncos to a 71-19-1 (.788) record in eight years, including three 10-win seasons.

PLAYER CONNECTIONS BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND BOISE STATE
• The following are connections between Utah State and Boise State players. USU senior S Omari Okeke and junior RB Davon Booth both attended Cerritos College in California, as did BSU junior S Milo Lopez. USU senior WR Kyle Van Leeuwen and redshirt freshman ILB Logan Pili both attended Timpview HS in Provo, Utah, as did BSU sophomore DT Braxton Fely. USU graduate junior WR Colby Bowman attended St. John Bosco HS in Bellflower, California, as did BSU senior RB George Holani and sophomore LB Andrew Simpson. USU junior RB Rahsul Faison, junior OL Sione Nomani and sophomore DE Ioholani Raass all attended Snow College in Ephraim, Utah, as did BSU senior DE Cortez Hogans. USU junior DT Siaosi Lauhingoa and BSU junior CB Kaonohi Kaniho both attended Kahuku (Hawaii) HS. USU junior WR Kyrese Rowan and BSU junior DE Tyler Wegis both began their collegiate careers at Utah. USU junior OL Jake Hellmann and junior DT Vaughn Mamea both began their collegiate careers at College of San Mateo in California, as did BSU redshirt sophomore OL Rick Moore. USU junior DE Cian Slone and sophomore S Teeg Slone both attended American River College in California, as did BSU sophomore OL Tyler Keinath. USU sophomore CB Al Ashford III and BSU sophomore WR Chase Penry both attended Cherry Creek HS in Denver, Colorado. USU sophomore S Simeon Harris and redshirt freshman WR Grant Page both began their collegiate careers at Colorado, as did Penry. USU sophomore ILB Gavin Barthiel began his collegiate career at Washington State, as did BSU senior OL Cade Beresford and sophomore TE Jack Beresford. And, USU freshman OL Jarvis Griffiths and BSU redshirt freshman QB Maddux Madsen both attended American Fork (Utah) HS.

UTAH STATE IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST
• Utah State is 51-33 (.607) all-time in Mountain West play, including a 28-15 (.651) home record. USU is also 49-21 (.700) in its last 70 home games, including a 10-7 (.588) record under third-year head coach Blake Anderson. USU is 162-117 (.581) all-time inside Maverik Stadium. On the road, USU is 23-18 (.561) in MW play, including an 11-7 (.611) record under Anderson. Overall, USU is 21-15 (.583) in its last 36 road games.

• Utah State (51-33) has the third-best record against Mountain West opponents since it joined the league in 2013. Boise State (71-17) has the best record during that time, while San Diego State (59-27) has the second-best record.

• Utah State is 179-195-8 (.479) all-time against current members of the Mountain West with a 40-28-4 record vs. Wyoming, a 38-39-2 record vs. Colorado State, a 20-21-1 record vs. San José State, an 18-8 record vs. UNLV, a 16-13 record vs. New Mexico, a 13-19-1 record vs. Fresno State, a 12-6 record vs. Hawai`i, an 8-19 record vs. Nevada, a 5-22 record vs. Boise State, a 5-7 record vs. Air Force, and a 4-13 record vs. San Diego State.

DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State has three players on its roster from the state of Idaho in redshirt freshman DE Paul Fitzgerald (Idaho Falls/Thunder Ridge HS), redshirt freshman WR Quentin Riley (Meridian/Meridian HS) and freshman DT Dalin Walker (Meridian/Owyhee HS).

• Utah State has 46 players on its roster from the state of Utah, while Boise State has 18 players on its roster from the Gem State.

• Utah State is 41-41-2 (.500) all-time against teams from the state of Idaho with a 20-17-2 record against Idaho, a 16-2 record against Idaho State and a 5-22 record against Boise State.

• Utah State is 8-2 (.800) in games played during the month of November under head coach Blake Anderson, and 8-3-1 (.708) all-time in known games played on Nov. 18.

SERIES NOTABLES BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND BOISE STATE
• Utah State has had more yards of total offense than Boise State in each of the last two meetings, both USU losses. In 2021, USU had 443 yards as compared to 435 for BSU, and in 2022, USU had 468 yards as compared to 428 for BSU. USU also had nine more first downs in last year's game.

• Boise State has scored at least 40 points in 13 of the last 18 meetings, and at least 50 points in seven of the last 18 meetings. USU has been held to less than 30 points in 15 of the last 17 meetings.

• Utah State has held Boise State to less than 400 yards of total offense in two of the last eight meetings. Prior to that, BSU had over 400 yards of total offense in 12 of the previous 13 meetings, and over 500 yards of offense in four of the previous 13 meetings.

• Boise State has rushed for more yards in 11 of the previous 16 meetings, and passed for more yards in 12 of the last 16 meetings.

• The two teams have combined for just 12 turnovers in the last seven meetings. Overall, Boise State has had fewer turnovers in 11 of the previous 13 meetings, including just two turnovers in its last seven games against USU.

• Boise State has scored first in 15 of the last 16 games in the series, and has led at the half in 18 of the last 19 meetings.

• Boise State has converted at least seven third downs in 10 of the last 16 meetings, and has recorded at least 20 first downs in 14 of the last 16 meetings.

• Boise State has had four 300-yard passers, six 100-yard receivers and 11 100-yard rushers in the past 16 meetings, while Utah State has had two 100-yard rushers, two 300-yard passers and three 100-yard receivers in the last 16 meetings.

• In 27 previous meetings with Boise State, Utah State has had nine 100-yard receivers, eight 100-yard rushers and four 300-yard passers.

• There has only been one shutout in series history, a 52-0 Boise State home win in 2007.

• Boise State has been nationally ranked nine times in the last 16 meetings, with the exceptions being in 2005, 2013, 2017, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.

• The 2018 matchup between No. 14 Utah State and No. 21 Boise State was the first Mountain West game with two nationally ranked Associated Press teams since 2010.

FROM THE RECORD BOOKS
Here is a look at some of the top Utah State team and individual statistical performances against Boise State over the years.
• Utah State tied the single-game school record with its eight forced turnovers against Boise State in 2015 (five fumbles, three interceptions), joining the 1971 team that forced eight turnovers against Idaho (seven interceptions, one fumble), the 1969 team that forced eight turnovers against Idaho (seven interceptions, one fumble), the 1968 team that forced eight turnovers against San Diego State (four interceptions, four fumbles) and the 1961 team that forced eight turnovers against New Mexico (seven fumbles, one interception).

• Utah State had 34 first downs against Boise State in 1996, which is tied for the second-most in school history.

• Utah State's 509 passing yards at Boise State in 2000 are the fourth-most in a single game in school history.

• Utah State's 595 yards of total offense against Boise State in 2000 are the 22nd-most in school history.

• Jose Fuentes passed for 509 yards against Boise State in 2000, which ranks second all-time in school history.

• Aaron Jones set a school record with 297 receiving yards on 10 receptions against Boise State in 2000.

• Demario Brown set a freshman school record with 166 rushing yards on 21 carries against Boise State in 1996. Brown also rushed for 239 yards against BSU in 1999, which ranks as the 10th-most in school history.

• Marwin Evans' 90-yard interception return against Boise State in 2015 is tied for the seventh-longest in school history.

• Dale Money had a 75-yard punt against Boise State in 1982, which is tied for the fourth-longest in school history.

• Jake Thompson made a 52-yard field goal against Boise State in 2015 and Brad Bohn made a 51-yard field goal against BSU in 1999, which are tied for the 11th-longest and 20th-longest in school history, respectively.

• Jordan Love's 83-yard touchdown pass to Gerold Bright against Boise State in 2018 is the 13th-longest pass play in school history.

LAST MEETING vs. BOISE STATE
BOISE, Idaho - Junior QB Cooper Legas passed for a career-high 306 yards, while junior WR Terrell Vaughn had a career-best 214 all-purpose yards and scored a pair of touchdowns in Utah State's 42-23 Mountain West loss at Boise State on Friday, Nov. 25, 2022.

Following a 41-yard pass from Legas to senior WR Justin McGriff, Utah State had it first-and-10 at Boise State's 15-yard line only down 28-23. A 4-yard run on first down by graduate senior RB Calvin Tyler Jr. moved the ball to the 11, but that's as close as the Aggies would get the rest of the way.

An incomplete pass on second down, followed by a loss of three yards on a quarterback keeper on third down, had Utah State facing a fourth-and-9 play with 1:33 to go. One play later, the drive ended when Legas was intercepted by Boise State's Gabe Hunter, giving the ball to the Broncos at their own 10 with 1:28 remaining.

The Broncos (9-3, 8-0 Mountain West) then proceeded to score two touchdowns within a span of 38 seconds on a 91-yard run by QB Taylen Green and a 48-yard interception return by Seyi Oladipo.

Green accounted for five total touchdowns as he also completed 14-of-23 passes for 220 yards and four touchdowns.

Legas was 23-of-40 for 306 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions as he had career highs in completions, attempts and yards. His favorite target on the day was Vaughn, who caught a career-high eight passes for a career-best 148 yards, including a career-long 75-yard touchdown that pulled Utah State to within 28-17 with 10 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

Vaughn also rushed for a career-high 22 yards on a career-best four carries and scored on a 3-yard run for his first-career rushing touchdown at the end of the first half, sending the Aggies (6-6, 5-3) into the locker room trailing 21-7.

A 22-yard field goal by graduate senior PK Connor Coles with 10:22 left in the third made it 21-10. After Vaughn pulled Utah State to within 11 with his second touchdown of the day, Tyler scored on an 8-yard run to make it 28-23 with 7:59 left in the fourth. The Aggies attempted a two-point conversion, but were unsuccessful.

Tyler rushed for 65 yards on 18 carries to give him 1,043 yards in his career, becoming just the 16th player in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in a single season.

Vaughn finished with a career-best 214 all-purpose yards – the most by an Aggie since Deven Thompkins had 242 at New Mexico State last season.

Cobbs added seven receptions for 75 yards, while McGriff finished the game with a career-high-tying six receptions for 76 yards.

Utah State finished with 468 yards of total offense (306 passing, 162 rushing) – 40 more than Boise State (208 rushing, 220 passing) – and had nine more first downs (24-15). The Aggies also possessed the ball for more than 34 minutes on the day.

Defensively, Utah State was paced by graduate senior S Hunter Reynolds, who had 10 tackles, while senior ILB AJ Vongphachanh had seven tackles. Junior DE Byron Vaughns added six tackles, including a career-best 3.5 tackles for loss and 1.0 sacks.

Utah State finished the game with 1.0 sacks and 7.0 tackles for loss, to go along with three pass breakups and two quarterback hurries.

LAST HOME MEETING vs. BOISE STATE
LOGAN, Utah - Boise State scored the first 17 points of the game and limited the Aggies to just a field goal as Utah State dropped its Mountain West home opener 27-3 in front of 23,715 fans on Saturday, Sept. 25, 2021, on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium.

The Aggies (3-1, 1-1 Mountain West) outgained the Broncos (2-2, 1-0 MW) 443-435, but could not overcome a blocked field goal, a missed field goal, three turnovers and a pair of turnovers on downs, including a fake punt early in the second half. In all, USU rushed for 235 yards, marking the third time this season it has gained at least 200 yards on the ground.

Utah State threw an interception on its opening series of the game and then turned it over on downs on its next drive. Its third drive resulted in a blocked field goal, followed by another interception on its fourth and final drive of the first quarter. USU then punted on back-to-back possessions in the second quarter and finished the half with another missed field goal.

All told, Utah State generated 317 yards of offense in the first half and came away with zero points. Despite all the miscues, USU's defense held Boise State to just 236 yards of offense in the first half and 10 points.

The red zone proved to be the difference in the game as Boise State scored on all five of its trips inside the 20-yard line with three touchdowns and two field goals, while Utah State was 1-of-4 in the red zone with just one field goal.

Graduate senior ILB Justin Rice led the Aggies' defensive effort with 10 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss and a pass breakup. Junior ILB AJ Vongphachanh added a season high nine stops, including 1.0 tackles for loss, while junior OLB Ajani Carter had his best game as an Aggie with a career-high five tackles and his first-career interception, to go along with a quarterback hurry.

Hank Bachmeier completed 22-of-39 passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns for the Broncos. His favorite target on the day was Khalil Shakir, who had a game-best seven receptions for 113 yards and a touchdown.

Graduate junior QB Logan Bonner started under center for the Aggies, going 11-for-25 for 173 yards and two interceptions. Junior QB Andrew Peasley was 2-of-6 for just 35 yards.

Graduate senior WR Brandon Bowling and senior WR Deven Thompkins had four catches apiece for 62 and 60 yards, respectively, for the Aggies.

Utah State was led on the ground by graduate junior RB Calvin Tyler Jr., who posted his second-career 100-yard rushing game, including his second in as many games, as he rushed for 126 yards on a career-high 20 attempts. Sophomore RB John Gentry rushed for a career-high 57 yards on seven carries, which included a career-long 41-yard run, and fellow sophomore RB Elelyon Noa rushed for a career-high 48 yards on four carries, which included a career-long 35 yards run.

The Aggies, who overcame double-digit deficits to win their first three games of the season, crossed midfield seven times, but only had a 20-yard fourth-quarter field goal by graduate senior PK Connor Coles to show for it.

The Aggies were held without a touchdown for the first time since their 42-6 loss at No. 5 LSU in 2019, and they were held scoreless in the first half for the first time since the 2020 season opener at Boise State.

GAME 10 RECAP vs. NEVADA
LOGAN, Utah - Junior RB Rahsul Faison rushed for 181 yards and one touchdown on 22 carries as Utah State posted a 41-24 Mountain West home win against Nevada on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023.

Faison's rushing yards and attempts were both career highs as he helped the Aggies amass 292 yards on the ground. Sophomore RB Robert Briggs Jr. added 69 yards rushing on 11 carries. Faison's 181 yards are the most by an Aggie since 2016.

Graduate senior QB Cooper Legas was 18-of-33 passing for 182 yards and three touchdowns, to go along with two interceptions, as Utah State won its second consecutive game to improve to 5-5 overall and 3-3 in Mountain West play.

Junior WR Micah Davis led the Aggies, who won their fourth game in a row at home over the Wolf Pack (2-8, 2-4 MW), with a career-high six receptions for 87 yards, including a 47-yard touchdown that gave Utah State a 24-10 lead at the break.

AJ Bianco passed for 161 yards and two touchdowns for the Wolf Pack, who lost for the second straight time after winning back-to-back games against San Diego State and New Mexico, respectively.

The Aggies finished with 474 yards of total offense (292 rushing, 182 passing), while holding Nevada to 347 yards (183 rushing, 164 passing). USU was also 7-of-16 on third down and limited the Wolf Pack to 3-of-14 on third down.

Even Utah State's defense found the end zone courtesy of a 63-yard interception return by sophomore DT Seni Tuiaki. Tuiaki, who added a season-high five tackles, scored for the first time in his career.

Graduate senior ILB MJ Tafisi Jr. led the Aggies on defense with 12 tackles, including 0.5 tackles for loss. It marked the seventh time this season, including sixth straight game, he has recorded double-digit tackles.

Utah State began the game on offense and for just the second time this season, including the first time since Week 2 against Idaho State, the Aggies scored on their opening possession. Junior TE Broc Lane capped the 11-play, 75-yard drive when he caught a 4-yard touchdown pass from Legas on fourth down.

Nevada tied it at 7-7 late in the first quarter on a 21-yard touchdown pass from Bianco to Cameron Zeidler.

It was all Utah State from there, though, as the Aggies scored 27 of the game's next 30 points.

Junior PK Elliott Nimrod booted a 21-yard field goal to put the hosts back on top for good at 10-7 and on the Pack's ensuing possession, Tuiaki intercepted a pass by Bianco.

The Wolf Pack did pull to within 17-10 after Brandon Talton made a 38-yard field goal.

Following the break, Nimrod kicked his second field goal of the game, this time from 37 yards out, to push Utah State's advantage out to 27-10. Faison's fourth rushing touchdown of the season – a 2-yarder – made it 34-10 with 1:42 remaining in the third quarter.

Senior WR Terrell Vaughn capped the scoring for the Aggies when he hauled in a 25-yard touchdown pass from Legas to give USU a 41-18 lead with 5:27 left in the game.

Like Davis, Vaughn also caught six passes for 46 yards.

UTAH STATE POSTS SECOND-STRAIGHT WIN WITH VICTORY AGAINST NEVADA
• Utah State has now won back-to-back games for the second time this year following its 41-24 Mountain West home win against Nevada last weekend. USU has now won four of the last six games played against the Wolf Pack as it improved to 8-19 all-time in the series.

• Utah State produced 474 yards of total offense in the game, including 292 rushing yards, which are its second-most this season, behind the season-high 380 rushing yards against Idaho State. On the ground, USU averaged 6.6 yards per carry against the Wolf Pack.

• For just the second time this year, Utah State scored on its opening possession of the game as it drove 75 yards in 11 plays for the touchdown. The only other time this year that USU scored on its first possession was a touchdown against Idaho State.

• Defensively, the 24 points allowed by Utah State are tied for its fewest this season, along with games against Iowa, Colorado State and San Diego State. USU also limited Nevada to 3-of-14 (.214) on third down, which is a season-low for an Aggie opponent in both third-down conversions, along with James Madison, and third-down percentage. And, USU's defense tied its season-high with four sacks against the Wolf Pack.

• Utah State's defense forced two turnovers in the game with an interception and fumble recovery, marking the fifth time this year that is has had multiple takeaways in a game. And, USU had a 63-yard interception return for a touchdown, marking the third time this year that it has scored a defensive touchdown.

UTAH STATE UNDEFEATED WITH FOURTH-QUARTER LEAD UNDER ANDERSON
• Utah State improved to 19-0 under third-year head coach Blake Anderson when it takes a lead into the fourth quarter following its 41-24 home win against Nevada last weekend. USU is also 11-0 under Anderson when it leads at the half and 8-0 when it leads after the first quarter.

UTAH STATE HAS SCORED 30-PLUS POINTS IN SIX OF ITS LAST SEVEN GAMES
• With its 41-24 Mountain West home win against Nevada last weekend, Utah State has now scored 30 or more points in six of its last seven games and has had at least 500 yards of total offense in three of its last six outings. During its last seven games, Utah State's offense is averaging 35.5 points and 448.3 yards (177.3 rushing, 271.0 passing)

UTAH STATE'S DEFENSE DURING ITS LAST FIVE GAMES
• Utah State's defense has held four of its last five opponents to less than 400 yards of total offense as it limited Colorado State to 320 yards, San José State to 370 yards, San Diego State to 384 yards and Nevada to 347 yards. During its last five games, Utah State's defense is allowing 376.4 yards per game (160.2 rushing, 216.2 passing) and has forced 10 turnovers.

UTAH STATE POSTS 15TH COME-FROM-BEHIND WIN UNDER ANDERSON
• Utah State posted its 15th come-from-behind win in three seasons under head coach Blake Anderson, as it rallied from an early 7-0 deficit to post a 32-24 double-overtime win at San Diego State two weekends ago. USU also posted double-digit comebacks against both Colorado State and UConn as it trailed 17-0 in both of those games, which are tied for the fourth-largest comebacks in school history. In fact, nine of USU's comebacks under Anderson have been when trailing by double digits.

UTAH STATE 10-2 UNDER ANDERSON IN ONE-SCORE GAMES
• Utah State is 10-2 in one-score games under head coach Blake Anderson, including a 2-2 record this year, following its 32-24 double-overtime win at San Diego State two weekends ago. USU also posted a 34-33 win at UConn on Sept. 30, and lost to James Madison 45-38 on Sept. 23, and to Fresno State 37-32 on Oct. 13.

UTAH STATE LEADS THE NATION WITH 11 PLAYS OF 50-PLUS YARDS
• Utah State has had 11 plays of 50-plus yards this season, which is tied for first in the nation, and six plays of 60-plus yards, which is tied for second nationally. USU has also had 19 plays of at least 40 yards, which is tied for fourth in the nation, and 56 plays of at least 20 yards, which is tied for 20th nationally.

• Furthermore, Utah State has had nine pass plays of at least 50 yards this season, which is the second-most in the nation behind USC (10).

DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State has been outscored 112-24 (-88) in the first quarter this season, but has outscored its opponents 331-208 (+123) the remainder of the game, including 133-68 (+65) in the second quarter, 89-42 (+47) in the third quarter, 94-91 (+3) in the fourth quarter and 15-7 (+8) in overtime.

• Utah State has 10 scoring drives this season that have taken less than 60 seconds, which includes nine touchdown drives and one field goal. USU also has 11 scoring plays of at least 50 yards this season with nine passes and two runs. Overall, USU has 30 scoring plays this year of at least 20 yards (19 passing, 8 rushing, 3 interceptions).

• Utah State has been tied at the end of the first quarter four times this year, including in three of its last four games.

FAISON HAS CAREER GAME AGAINST NEVADA
• Junior RB Rahsul Faison had the best game of his Aggie career this past weekend in a 41-24 Mountain West home win against Nevada as he carried the ball a career-high 22 times for a career-best 181 yards and one touchdown. Faison, who had five carries for 13 yards in the first half, gained 168 yards in the second half on 17 carries as he rushed for 121 yards on nine carries in third quarter and 47 yards on eight carries in the fourth. Faison also scored his fourth rushing touchdown of the season on a 2-yard run in the third quarter.

• Those 181 rushing yards are the most by an Aggie since Devante May rushed for 206 yards against Weber State in 2016.

LEGAS THROWS THREE TOUCHDOWN PASSES AGAINST NEVADA
• Graduate senior QB Cooper Legas was 18-of-33 (.545) passing for 182 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions in Utah State's 41-24 Mountain West home win against Nevada last weekend. For Legas, it was the fourth time in his last five games that he has thrown three or more touchdown passes and it was the fifth time in his last five games played that he has had multiple touchdown passes. Overall, Legas has now thrown multiple touchdown passes nine times in his career and three or more touchdown passes five times in his career.

LEGAS PLAYING WELL IN HIS LAST FIVE GAMES
• Graduate senior QB Cooper Legas has played well during his last five games, as the Aggies have gone 4-1 in those outings with wins against UConn, Colorado State, San Diego State and Nevada, and a loss to Fresno State. In his last five games, Legas is 82-of-130 (.631) passing for 1,303 yards (260.6 ypg) with 15 touchdowns and six interceptions. Against both UConn and San Diego State, Legas entered midway through both contests and led the Aggies to come-from-behind wins.

LEGAS IN THE AGGIE RECORD BOOKS
• Graduate senior QB Cooper Legas is 276-of-442 (.624) passing in his career and that completion percentage is third all-time in school history. Furthermore, his 64.7 completion percentage (130-of-201) this year is the fourth-best in school history.

• Legas also has 18 touchdown passes this season and 30 in his career as he is one touchdown pass shy of entering the single season top 10 at USU and four shy of entering the career top 10.

VAUGHN CATCHES 10TH TOUCHDOWN OF THE SEASON IN NEVADA GAME
• Senior WR Terrell Vaughn had six receptions for 46 yards and one touchdown in his last game against Nevada to give him 70 receptions for 776 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season. Those 10 touchdown catches are tied for the eighth-most in a single season in school history, while his 70 receptions are tied for the 10th-most.

VAUGHN ENTERS AGGIE RECORD BOOKS
• Senior WR Terrell Vaughn has 126 receptions for 1,400 yards and 15 receiving touchdowns in his two-year Aggie career. Overall, Vaughn is now 15th all-time in receptions and 20th all-time in receiving yards as he is the 22nd player in school history to catch 100 passes and the 38th player in school history with 1,000 career receiving yards.

ROYALS IN THE AGGIE RECORD BOOKS
• Junior WR Jalen Royals has 54 receptions for 821 yards and 11 touchdowns this year. Those 11 touchdowns are tied for the second-most in a single season in school history. Tracy Jenkins holds the school record with 14 touchdown catches in 1990, while five players are tied for second with 11.

• On the season, Royals has five touchdown catches of 50-plus yards, which ranks first in the nation. Prior to the Nevada game, Royals had a touchdown reception in five straight games.

OTHER OFFENSIVE NOTABLES FROM THE NEVADA GAME
• Junior WR Micah Davis had a career-high six catches for 87 yards, including a 47-yard touchdown, to give him six touchdowns on the season and eight in his career. Junior TE Broc Lane caught his first touchdown of the season and second of his career on a 4-yard reception.

UTAH STATE MILESTONES THAT EQUAL SUCCESS
• Utah State has won 46 of its last 57 games when it has a 100-yard rusher, including a 3-1 record this year, and 53 of its last 62 contests when rushing at least 40 times in a game, including a 4-1 record in 2023. USU has also won 71 of its last 78 games when scoring at least 30 points, including a 5-2 record this year.

FROM THE RECORD BOOKS
• Through 10 games of the 2023 season, Utah State's offense is averaging 35.5 points and 448.3 yards of total offense per game. Historically, the 35.5 points per game average would rank as the third-most in school history behind the 2018 (47.5 ppg) and 1961 (38.7 ppg) teams, while the 448.3 yards of offense would rank sixth all-time.

• Utah State has already scored 46 touchdowns this season, including 30 passing touchdowns, as compared to 36 touchdowns in 2022, including 18 through the air. USU has also passed for 2,710 yards this season as compared to 2,537 yards all of last season. Those 30 passing TDs this year are tied for the third-most in school history behind the 2021 (41) and 2018 (32) teams.

AGGIE TO KEEP YOUR EYE ON
#6 | Ike Larsen | S | 5-10 | 185 | So. | Smithfield, Utah | Sky View HS
• Named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week (11/6/23) for the second time this season and third time in his career as he had eight tackles, including 1.0 tackles for loss, and intercepted a pass on a fourth-down play in the second overtime to seal the win for USU against San Diego State. Larsen also disrupted a fake field goal in the second quarter and made the tackle on a fake punt in the fourth quarter, as both plays were unsuccessful.

• Larsen, who now has four interceptions on the season and eight in his career, is the only MW defender this year to be named the player of the week twice.

• Was named the 2023 College Football Network (CFN) Midseason National Safety of the Year and to the CFN Midseason All-America First-Team Defense, along with being tabbed the Mountain West Safety of the Year and Midseason MW First-Team Defense.

• Named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week (10/9/23) as he tied his career high with two interceptions against Colorado State. He also had seven tackles and a pass breakup against the Rams.

• Named the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week (10/2/23) for the first time in his career after blocking the tying extra point in the final minute of Utah State's 34-33 road win at UConn.

• For his career, Larsen has a school-record five blocked kicks (4 punts, 1 PAT).

• Has recorded at least four tackles in every game this season and has six-plus tackles in seven of his last eight games. Also has three pass breakups and six passes defended in his last six games.

• Had 10 tackles at San José State to give him three double-digit tackle games this year and in his career.

TAFISI HAS SIX STRAIGHT DOUBLE-DIGIT TACKLE GAMES
• Graduate senior ILB MJ Tafisi Jr. has posted double-digit tackles in each of his last six games as he had 12 stops in his last game against Nevada, 13 tackles against San Diego State, 14 tackles against San José State, a career-high 17 tackles against Fresno State, 10 tackles against Colorado State and 13 tackles against UConn. Tafisi also had 12 tackles against No. 25 Iowa as he has seven double-digit tackle games this season and 12 in his career.

• Tafisi is the first Aggie to post six-straight double-digit tackle outings since Brent Passey had eight-straight double-digit tackle games in 1999. His seven double-digit tackle games on the season are tied for the third-most in the nation.

TAFISI HAS 108 TACKLES ON THE SEASON
• Graduate senior ILB MJ Tafisi Jr. has 108 tackles this season and is the 64th player in school history to have 100-plus tackles in a season. Overall, his 108 tackles this year are tied for the 47th-most in a single season in school history.

TUIAKI SCORES FIRST-CAREER TOUCHDOWN IN NEVADA GAME
• Sophomore DT Seni Tuiaki scored the first touchdown of his football career, at any level, in his last game against Nevada as he returned an interception 63 yards for the score. Tuiaki also had a season-high five tackles against the Wolf Pack.

FITZGERALD HAS CAREER GAME AGAINST NEVADA
• Redshirt freshman DE Paul Fitzgerald had a career game in his last outing against Nevada as he had a career-high seven tackles, which included 1.0 sacks.

DICKERSON TIES CAREER HIGH WITH TWO PASS BREAKUPS AGAINST NEVADA
• Redshirt sophomore CB Avante Dickerson tied his career high with two pass breakups last weekend against Nevada to give him six PBUs this season and in his career.

DYE CONTINUES IMPRESSIVE PLAY FOR AGGIES
• Sophomore S Devin Dye had another outstanding game for Utah State as he recorded nine tackles and one pass breakup in his last outing against Nevada. He also had nine tackles in his previous game at San Diego State. Against San José State, he recorded nine tackles, to go along with his first-career forced fumble and his first-career fumble recovery on back-to-back possessions inside USU's 10-yard line.

• In his last seven games, Dye has posted 58 tackles, to go along with five pass breakups, two interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

MOTU'APUAKA HAS PLAYED IN THE FOURTH-MOST GAMES IN SCHOOL HISTORY
• Senior DT Hale Motu'apuaka has played in 55 career games, which is tied for the fourth-most in school history. The school record for games played is 59 set by Demytrick Ali'ifua (2017-21). Motu'apuaka has also started 37 games, which is tied for the 10th-most in school history.

DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State blocked its second kick of the 2023 season at UConn as it blocked an extra point with 40 seconds remaining to preserve a 34-33 win. USU also blocked a punt at No. 25 Iowa. USU has now blocked nine kicks (6 punts, 2 extra points, 1 field goal) under head coach Blake Anderson, which included four blocks (3 punts, 1 extra point) during the 2022 campaign. The school record for blocked kicks in a season is six set in 2012.

UTAH STATE 20TH IN THE NATION IN SCORING OFFENSE
• Utah State is second in the Mountain West and 20th in the nation in scoring offense (35.5 ppg), first in the MW and 22nd in the nation in total offense (448.3 ypg), second in the MW and 38th in the nation in passing efficiency (148.3), third in the MW and 32nd in the nation in passing offense (271.0 ypg), fourth in the MW and 55th in the nation in completion percentage (.628), fifth in the MW and 40th in the nation in rushing offense (177.3 ypg), and 10th in the MW and 107th in the nation in sacks allowed with 29 (2.9 pg).

• Utah State is also second in the MW and 30th in the nation in fumbles lost with four (0.40 pg), third in the MW and 22nd in the nation in red zone offense (.914), third in the MW and 40th in the nation in first downs with 220 (22.0 pg), fifth in the MW and 50th in the nation in passing yards per completion (12.4), sixth in the MW and 32nd in the nation in fourth down conversions (.636), and sixth in the MW and 65th in the nation in turnover margin (0.0).

UTAH STATE SECOND IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST IN TACKLES FOR LOSS
• Utah State is second in the Mountain West and 56th in the nation in tackles for loss with 58 (5.8 pg), sixth in the MW and 59th in the nation in passing efficiency defense (131.3), sixth in the MW and 71st in the nation in passing defense (230.3 ypg), sixth in the MW and 74th in the nation in sacks with 20 (2.0 pg), seventh in the MW and 98th in the nation in rushing defense (170.0 ypg), eighth in the MW and 93rd in the nation in total defense (400.3 ypg), and ninth in the MW and 109th in the nation in scoring defense (32.0 ppg).

• Utah State is also first in the MW and 42nd in the nation in red zone defense (.800), and is one of 17 FBS teams in the nation with three defensive touchdowns this season.

UTAH STATE 11TH IN THE NATION WITH 19 FORCED TURNOVERS
• Utah State is third in the Mountain West and 11th in the nation with 19 forced turnovers this season. USU is also third in the MW and ninth in the nation in fumbles recovered with nine (0.9 pg), and third in the MW and 32nd in the nation in passes intercepted with 10 (1.0 pg).

UTAH STATE 61ST IN THE NATION IN PUNT RETURNS
• Utah State is sixth in the Mountain West and 61st in the nation in punt returns (8.7 ypr), sixth in the MW and 78th in the nation in kickoff return defense (20.8 ypr), seventh in the MW and 80th in the nation in kickoff returns (18.9 ypr), 10th in the MW and 99th in the nation in net punting (36.7 ypp), and 11th in the MW and 122nd in the nation in punt return defense (15.4 ypr).

AGGIES IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST AND NCAA RANKINGS
• Utah State sophomore S Ike Larsen is first in the Mountain West and third in the nation with two blocked kicks (0.20 pg), tied for first in the MW and sixth in the nation with one defensive touchdown (0.10 pg), first in the MW and 12th in the nation with four interceptions (0.40 pg), fifth in the MW in passes defended with nine (0.9 pg), and 11th in the MW and 75th in the nation in tackles (7.5 pg). Junior WR Jalen Royals is first in the MW and third in the nation in receiving touchdowns with 11 (1.1 pg), fourth in the MW and 25th in the nation in receiving (82.1 ypg), sixth in the MW and 40th in the nation in receptions (5.4 pg), eighth in the MW and 75th in the nation in scoring (6.8 ppg), and eighth in the MW and 92nd in the nation in yards per reception (15.2). Junior CB Jaiden Francois is tied for first in the MW and sixth in the nation with one defensive touchdown (0.10 pg). Sophomore DT Seni Tuiaki is tied for first in the MW and sixth in the nation with one defensive touchdown (0.10 pg). Graduate senior ILB MJ Tafisi Jr. is first in the MW and seventh in the nation in tackles (10.8 pg), and fifth in the MW in forced fumbles with two (0.20 pg). Graduate senior QB Cooper Legas is first in the MW and 21st in the nation in passing efficiency (156.8), second in the MW and 32nd in the nation in yards per pass attempt (8.39), third in the MW and 32nd in the nation in passing touchdowns with 18 (2.3 pg), third in the MW and 39th in the nation in completion percentage (.647), third in the MW and 39th in the nation in points responsible for (13.8 ppg), fourth in the MW and 33rd in the nation in yards per completion (13.0), fifth in the MW and 57th in the nation in passing (210.9 ypg), sixth in the MW and 61st in the nation in total offense (224.1 ypg), and sixth in the MW and 63rd in the nation in completions per game (16.3). Junior DE Blaine Spires is second in the MW and third in the nation in fumbles recovered with three (0.33 pg). Senior WR Terrell Vaughn is second in the MW and seventh in the nation in receiving touchdowns with 10 (1.0 pg), second in the MW and 10th in the nation in receptions (7.0 pg), fifth in the MW and 37th in the nation in receiving yards (77.6 ypg), and eighth in the MW and 89th in the nation in all-purpose yards (92.1 ypg). Junior RB Rahsul Faison is second in the MW and eighth in the nation in yards per carry (6.92), and eighth in the MW and 97th in the nation in rushing (58.1 ypg). Junior WR Micah Davis is second in the MW and 24th in the nation in punt returns (9.1 ypr), third in the MW and 32nd in the nation in yards per reception (17.6), sixth in the MW and 45th in the nation in receiving touchdowns with six (0.56 pg), and 10th in the MW in all-purpose yards (87.2 ypg). Junior RB Davon Booth is third in the MW and 33rd in the nation in yards per carry (5.84), and sixth in the MW and 82nd in the nation in rushing (62.9 ypg). Sophomore S Devin Dye is eighth in the MW in passes defended with eight (0.80 pg). Junior PK Elliott Nimrod is fourth in the MW and 37th in the nation in field goal percentage (.818), seventh in the MW and 61st in the nation in scoring (7.3 ppg), and eighth in the MW and 77th in the nation in field goals (1.0 pg). Redshirt freshman DE Paul Fitzgerald is seventh in the MW and 80th in the nation in sacks with 5.0 (0.50 pg). Freshman QB McCae Hillstead is ninth in the MW and 80th in the nation in touchdown passes with 10 (1.7 pg). And, redshirt junior S Anthony Switzer is 12th in the MW and 78th in the nation in tackles (7.4 pg).

WHAT'S RETURNING IN 2023
• Utah State returns nine starters (O-4, D-5) as part of 35 letterwinners (O-19, D-13, S-3) from last year's team that posted a 6-7 record, tied for second in the Mountain Division of the Mountain West with a 5-3 mark, and concluded its season by playing in its 10th bowl game in the past 12 years against Memphis (L, 38-10) in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl in Dallas, Texas. USU also welcomes back 14 redshirts (O-7, D-6, S-1) and three squadmen (O-1, D-2).

• Highlighting Utah State's returners in 2023 are a trio of all-Mountain West performers in sophomore S Ike Larsen, senior ILB MJ Tafisi Jr. and senior WR Terrell Vaughn. Larsen earned second-team all-MW accolades and was named a College Football News Honorable Mention Freshman All-American, while Tafisi and Vaughn both garnered honorable mention all-MW honors. USU also returns senior P Stephen Kotsanlee, who earned honorable mention all-MW honors in 2020.

• Other starters returning for Utah State in 2023 include graduate senior CB Michael Anyanwu, graduate senior QB Cooper Legas, graduate senior OL Wade Meacham, senior DT Hale Motu'apuaka, senior TE Josh Sterzer and senior DT Poukesi Vakauta.

UTAH STATE WELCOMES 62 NEWCOMERS
• Utah State welcomes 62 newcomers (O-27, D-32, S-3) to its program this fall, which is the sixth-most in the nation. Among the group of new players are 14 four-year transfers in graduate senior OL Ralph Frias III (Arizona State), senior RB Sione Finau (BYU), graduate junior WR Colby Bowman (Stanford), junior CB Jaiden Francois (UCF), junior QB Zeke Payne (New Mexico Highlands), junior DE Blaine Spires (Bowling Green), redshirt sophomore CB Avante Dickerson (Oregon), sophomore CB Al Ashford III (Wisconsin), sophomore ILB Gavin Barthiel (Washington State), sophomore S Simeon Harris (Colorado), redshirt freshman DT Sir Mells (Oregon), redshirt freshman WR Grant Page (Colorado), redshirt freshman ILB Logan Pili (BYU) and redshirt freshman S Jackson Sundstrom (Concordia). USU also welcomes 21 junior college transfers (O-9, D-11, S-1), to go along with 27 high schoolers (O-13, D-12, S-2).

• Among the 21 junior college transfers, five of those players began their careers at the FBS level in junior WR Micah Davis (Air Force), junior RB Rahsul Faison (Marshall), junior CB Jaylen Martin (California), sophomore DE Ioholani Raass (UCLA) and sophomore S Javar Strong (Arkansas State).

UTAH STATE HAS FOUR SETS OF BROTHERS ON 2023 ROSTER
• Utah State has four sets of brothers on its 2023 roster in senior DT Hale Motu'apuaka (Honolulu, Hawaii/Punahou HS) and redshirt freshman OL Tavo Motu'apuaka (Honolulu, Hawaii/Mililani HS), junior DE Cian Slone (Rocklin, California/American River JC/Rocklin HS) and sophomore S Teeg Slone (Rocklin, California/American River JC/Rocklin HS), sophomore OL Elia Migao (Temecula, California/Chaparral HS) and sophomore DE Enoka Migao (Temecula, California/Chaparral HS), and redshirt freshman DE Kaden Jolley (Fruita, Colorado/Fruita Monument HS) and freshman DT Tanner Jolley (Fruita, Colorado/Fruita Monument HS).

NINE AGGIES WITH BACHELOR'S DEGREES
• Utah State has nine players on its 2023 roster that have already received their bachelor's degrees in graduate senior CB Michael Anyanwu (kinesiology), graduate senior OL Ralph Frias III (interdisciplinary studies), graduate senior OL Calvin Knapp (interdisciplinary studies), graduate senior QB Cooper Legas (economics), graduate senior OL Wade Meacham (psychology), graduate senior CB Xavion Steele (sociology), graduate senior ILB MJ Tafisi Jr. (integrated studies), graduate junior WR Colby Bowman (science, technology and society) and graduate junior QB Levi Williams (integrated studies).

AGGIES WHO HAVE SERVED LDS CHURCH MISSIONS
• Utah State has 14 players on its 2023 roster who have served missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in graduate senior OL Wade Meacham, senior RB Sione Finau, senior TE Josh Sterzer, senior WR Kyle Van Leeuwen, sophomore DE Kaden Jolley, sophomore DT Seni Tuiaki, redshirt freshman K/P Ryan Marks, redshirt freshman ILB Bronson Olevao Jr., redshirt freshman LB Logan Pili, redshirt freshman OL Adam Pond, freshman DE Emerson Conlon, freshman ILB Bowen Fjord, freshman DT Tanner Jolley and freshman S Titan Saxton.

AGGIES WHO ARE MARRIED
• Utah State has five players on its 2023 roster who are married in graduate senior OL Wade Meacham, senior DT Hale Motu'apuaka, senior TE Josh Sterzer, junior OL Cole Motes and redshirt freshman ILB Logan Pili.

DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State sophomore S Devin Dye's dad, Jermaine, spent 13 years in Major League Baseball as an outfielder for several teams, including the 2005 World Champion Chicago White Sox, as he was named World Series MVP. He was a two-time All-Star, a Gold Glove Award recipient in 2000 and a Silver Slugger Award recipient in 2006.

• Utah State junior WR Micah Davis' dad, Dexter, spent five years in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals and St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams.

ANDERSON ENTERS THIRD SEASON AT UTAH STATE
• Blake Anderson, who is entering his third season at Utah State, is just the second head coach in program history to lead the Aggies to consecutive bowl games in his first two seasons. Overall, Anderson is the fifth head coach in school history to coach in multiple bowls, along with E. Lowell Romney (1946-47), John Ralston (1960-61), Gary Andersen (2011-12, 2019) and Matt Wells (2013-15, '17).

• In 2021, Anderson led the Aggies to their first-ever Mountain West Championship with a 46-13 win at No. 19 San Diego State, which was the program's first win against a nationally-ranked opponent in six years. Anderson also led USU to its 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 after being picked to finish fifth in the Mountain Division of the Mountain West in the preseason polls. USU concluded its season ranked 24th in the nation in the final Associated Press poll, marking just the fifth-time ever that USU finished a season nationally ranked.

• Under Anderson, Utah State tied for the best turnaround in the nation in 2021, as the Aggies became the first FBS team ever to go from zero or one win to 11 wins the following season. USU also became the first FBS program in eight years to post a 7-0 road record.

• Anderson, who was named the 2021 AFCA Region 5 Coach of the Year and a finalist for the Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year Award, was the only first-year head coach in the nation to lead his team to nine or more wins. In 2022, Anderson led USU to the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl.

• 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 eighth bowl game in nine seasons last year and has a 3-5 bowl record.

ANDERSON AS OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR AND QUARTERBACKS COACH
• Along with his head coaching responsibilities, Blake Anderson is also serving as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach this season. During his time as a head coach at Arkansas State, Anderson also served as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach during the 2017 and 2018 seasons. In 2017, ASU ranked fifth in the nation in passing (342.2 ypg), 10th in total offense (494.8 ypg) and 13th in scoring (37.8 ypg). In 2018, ASU ranked 17th in the nation in total offense (466.2 ypg), 21st in passing (281.5 ypg) and 54th in scoring (30.3 ppg).

CEFALO HAS COACHED THREE BILETNIKOFF SEMIFINALISTS
• Utah State co-offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Kyle Cefalo has coached a Biletnikoff Award Semifinalist in three of the last four 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.

OTHER COACHING NOTABLES
• Utah State welcomes six new coaches to its staff this fall in defensive coordinator Joe Cauthen, defensive passing game coordinator and cornerbacks coach Mitchell White, offensive line coach Cooper Bassett, defensive line coach Tevita Finau, running backs coach Rodney Freeman III and safeties coach Ethan Morriss.

• Cauthen spent five years working with USU head coach Blake Anderson at Arkansas State (2014-18) as the Red Wolves played in five-straight bowl games and won a pair of conference championships (2015-16).

• Anderson has two former Aggies on his staff in tight ends coach DJ Tialavea (2010-13) and director of player development and community engagement Austin Albrecht (2014-16).

• Finau spent five years (2012-16) in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals, Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dallas Cowboys, New York Jets and Houston Texans.

• White spent six years in professional football, including in the NFL with the Oakland Raiders (2013) and Philadelphia Eagles (2017). White also played four years in the Canadian Football League and won back-to-back Grey Cups with the Ottawa Redblacks (2016) and Toronto Argonauts (2017). During the 2016 campaign, he was named a CFL East All-Star.

AGGIES IN OVERTIME
• Utah State is 7-6 all-time in overtime, winning four of its last six. All-time, USU is 4-3 in single-overtime games, 3-2 in double-overtime games, and 0-1 in triple-overtime games. USU's last overtime game was a 32-24 double-overtime win at San Diego State on Nov. 4, 2023.

HEAD COACH BLAKE ANDERSON
• Blake Anderson (hired on Dec. 12, 2020) is in his third year as Utah State's head coach and is the 29th head coach in program history. He has a 73-52 overall record, including a 52-26 conference mark. He has posted a 22-15 record at USU, including a 14-8 Mountain West record.

• Anderson has 30 years of coaching experience and has been part of six conference championships. He has also coached in 13 bowl games and he won a national championship at the junior college level.

• During the 2022 campaign, Anderson led Utah State to six wins and its 10th bowl game in the past 12 seasons, including its second in as many years. USU also tied for second-place in the Mountain Division of the Mountain West with a 5-3 mark as the Aggies had nine players earn various all-conference accolades. Graduate senior safety Hunter Reynolds was named a ProFootballFocus Honorable Mention All-American, while redshirt freshman safety Ike Larsen was named a College Football News Honorable Mention Freshman All-American.

• 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 (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 (2015-16).

• 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.

• 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.

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