Aggies Host Mountain West-Foe Nevada Saturday Afternoon

Football 11/6/2023 11:06:00 AM

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AGGIES HOST MOUNTAIN WEST-FOE NEVADA SATURDAY AFTERNOON
Game will be televised on KJZZ and streamed on the Mountain West Network at 1 p.m.

NEVADA (2-7, 2-3 MW) vs. UTAH STATE (4-5, 2-3 MW)
Saturday, Nov. 11, 2023 • 1 p.m. • Logan, Utah • Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium (25,100)

GAME 10 INFORMATION
TV: KJZZ / Mountain West Network
• Play-by-Play: Dave Fox
• Analyst: Alema Harrington
• Reporter: Frank Dolce
• Xfinity (Utah): Ch. 3/HD657
• DISH / DirecTV (Utah): Ch. 14
• Stream: utahstateaggies.com/watch/

RADIO: Aggie Sports Network
• Play-by-Play: Jeremiah Jensen
• 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 (4-5, 2-3 MW) continues Mountain West play this weekend as it hosts Nevada (2-7, 2-3 MW) on Saturday, Nov. 11, at 1 p.m. The game will be televised on KJZZ (Xfinity Ch. 3/657HD, DirecTV Ch. 14, DISH Ch. 14) and streamed on the Mountain West Network with Dave Fox (play-by-play), Alema Harrington (analyst) and Frank Dolce (reporter) on the call.

• Sophomore S Ike Larsen was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Week for his performance against San Diego State last weekend as he had eight tackles, which included 1.0 tackles for loss, and intercepted a fourth-down pass in the second overtime to seal the win. For Larsen, it is the second time this year and third time in his career he has been named the MW Defensive Player of the Week. Larsen was also named the MW Special Teams Player of the Week once this season.

• Utah State is 7-2 in the month of November under head coach Blake Anderson.

• Utah State runs a play on average every 21.2 seconds, which ranks as the fourth-fastest tempo in the nation. Jacksonville State leads the nation with a play every 20.3 seconds, followed by South Florida (20.5), TCU (20.7) and USU.

• Utah State's 27 touchdown passes are tied with Washington for the fourth-most in the nation, trailing only USC (29), LSU (28) and Oregon (28), while its 41 total touchdowns are tied for the 19th most.

• Utah State is second in the Mountain West and 20th in the nation in scoring offense at 34.9 points per game. USU is also first in the MW and 26th in the nation in total offense (445.4 ypg), and third in the MW and 26th in the nation in passing offense (280.9 ypg).

• Utah State's defense is third in the Mountain West and 19th in the nation with its 17 forced turnovers, while also ranking third in the MW and 10th in the nation with eight fumble recoveries, and third in the MW and 34th in the nation with nine passes intercepted.

• Utah State and LSU are the only FBS teams that have two players with at least nine touchdown catches on the year and USU is the only team that has three players with at least five touchdown catches. Junior WR Jalen Royals is tied for first in the nation with 11 touchdowns, senior WR Terrell Vaughn is tied for ninth with nine touchdowns and junior WR Micah Davis is tied for 57th with five touchdowns. Collectively, the trio has caught 142 passes for 2,017 yards and 25 touchdowns on the year.

• Graduate senior ILB MJ Tafisi Jr. leads the Mountain West and ranks seventh in the nation with 10.7 tackles per game. Tafisi, who has led USU in tackling in each of its last five games, has 96 tackles and is four stops shy of becoming the 64th player in school history to record 100 tackles in a season.

SCOUTING NEVADA
• Nevada is 2-7 on the season and 2-3 in Mountain West play following its 27-14 home loss to Hawai'i last weekend. The Wolf Pack are led by redshirt junior QB Brendon Lewis, who is 110-of-206 (.534) passing for 1,133 yards (125.9 ypg) with two touchdowns and six interceptions. Lewis also leads the team in rushing with 426 yards on 100 carries (4.3 ypc/47.3 ypg) with three touchdowns. And, senior WR Dalevon Campbell has 19 receptions for 416 yards (21.9 ypr/46.2 ypg) with one touchdown. Defensively, senior S Emany Johnson leads the team with 72 tackles, while senior LB Tongiaki Mateialona has 46 tackles. As a team, Nevada is averaging 17.6 points and 302.8 yards of total offense (173.4 passing, 129.3 rushing) and allowing 32.0 points and 446.1 yards of total offense (272.8 passing, 173.3 rushing). Nevada returns 15 starters (O-8, D-7) and 44 letterwinners from last year's team that went 2-10 overall, including an 0-8 Mountain West ledger. Ken Wilson is 4-17 in his second season as a collegiate head coach at Nevada.

AGGIES AND WOLF PACK SERIES HISTORY
• Utah State is 7-19 all-time against Nevada, including a 5-9 home record. Nevada won the last meeting between the two teams in Reno in 2020 by a final score of 34-9, but Utah State has won three of the last five games played in the series, including a 36-10 home win in 2019, which was the last time the two teams played one another in Logan. The Wolf Pack won the first-ever meeting between the two teams at home, 24-5, on Nov. 9, 1904.

MORE ON THE SERIES BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND NEVADA
• From 1992-97, Utah State and Nevada claimed or shared the Big West Conference title each season. In fact, the two programs shared the Big West title in 1996 and 1997 with identical 4-1 records both years, while USU won the outright title in 1993 and UN won it in 1992, 1994 and 1995. In 1996, the teams played for the conference title in the final week and Nevada posted a 54-27 win in Logan. In 1997, USU clinched the league title against a then-undefeated Wolf Pack team in the second-to-last game of the year with a 38-19 win at Nevada.

AGGIES vs. WOLF PACK SERIES 14TH-MOST PLAYED IN SCHOOL HISTORY
• Utah State and Nevada will be meeting for the 27th time in series history this weekend in what is the 14th-most played rivalry in school history. USU's most played rivalry is Utah (112), followed by Brigham Young (89), Colorado State (79) and Wyoming (72).

COACHING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND NEVADA
• Nevada defensive line coach Al Lapuaho spent two years at Utah State as he was USU's defensive line coach in 2021 and a strength and conditioning graduate assistant in 2020. Lapuaho also spent two years (2011-12) as a player for the Aggies, earning first-team all-Western Athletic Conference honors in 2012.

PLAYER CONNECTIONS BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND NEVADA
• USU graduate senior CB Michael Anyanwu and freshman WR Zakkarii Black both attended Charter Oak HS in Covina, California, as did UN freshman S Bishop Turner. Senior RB Cooper Jones and UN redshirt freshman DL Andoni Fesenmaier both attended Elko (Nevada) HS. Senior WR Kyle Van Leeuwen and redshirt freshman LB Logan Pili both attended Timpview HS in Provo, Utah, as did UN senior LB Kaleo Neves. Junior CB Jaiden Francois and UN senior DB Chad Brown both began their collegiate careers at UCF. Junior CB Jaylen Martin and UN senior DL Henry Ikahihifo, junior TE Keleki Latu, sophomore RB Ashton Hayes and redshirt freshman LB Malcolm McClure all began their collegiate careers at California. Junior WR Kyrese Rowan and UN senior DB Cain Savage both began their collegiate careers at Utah. Junior DE Cian Slone and sophomore S Teeg Slone both attended American River College in California, as did UN junior TE Rory Morgan. Junior RB Rahsul Faison, junior OL Sione Nomani and sophomore DE Ioholani Raass all attended Snow College in Utah, as did UN sophomore TE Dyson Frank. Junior WR Jalen Royals and UN senior DT William Green Jr. both began their collegiate careers at Georgia Military College. Junior OL Jake Hellmann and junior DT Vaughn Mamea both attended College of San Mateo in California, as did UN junior OL John Bolles. Redshirt sophomore CB Avante Dickerson and redshirt freshman DT Sir Mells both began their collegiate careers at Oregon, as did UN senior RB Cross Patton, senior WR Isaah Crocker, senior RB Sean Dollars, senior WR Spencer Curtis, junior LB Jackson LaDuke, junior DL Louie Cresto, junior OL Kai Arneson and junior TE Cooper Shults. USU sophomore LB Max Alford and UN redshirt freshman LB Stone Combs both attended Park City (Utah) HS. Sophomore CB Al Ashford III and UN freshman K/P Boden Page both attended Cherry Creek HS in Greenwood Village, Colorado. Sophomore S Simeon Harris and redshirt freshman WR Grant Page both began their collegiate careers at Colorado, as did UN junior QB Brendon Lewis.

FORMER AGGIES ON NEVADA ROSTER
• Two former Utah State players are on Nevada's roster in senior DL James Hansen and senior LB Kaleo Neves. Hansen spent two seasons with the Aggies as he redshirted in 2021 and played in five games in 2020 as he finished the year with nine tackles. Neves spent four years at Utah State (2019-22) as he played in 37 games with 13 starts and had 66 career tackles. Neves started 12 of the 13 games he played in for the Aggies in 2022 and had 59 tackles.

DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State has 46 players in its program from the Beehive State, while Nevada has 22 players on its roster from the Silver State.

• Utah State has two players on its roster from the state of Nevada in junior RB Davon Booth (North Las Vegas/El Monte (CA) HS) and senior RB Cooper Jones (Elko/Elko HS).

• Utah State head coach Blake Andersen is 0-1 all-time against Nevada as his Arkansas State team lost to the Wolf Pack in the 2018 NOVA Home Loans Arizona Bowl 16-13 in overtime.

• Utah State is a combined 25-27 (.481) against teams from the state of Nevada with an 18-8 record against UNLV and a 7-19 record against Nevada. Overall, USU has won nine of its last 12 meetings against teams from the Silver State.

• Utah State is 7-2 (.778) in games played during the month of November under head coach Blake Anderson, and 6-9-1 (.406) all-time in known games played on Nov. 11.

SERIES NOTABLES BETWEEN UTAH STATE AND NEVADA
• In the 26 previous meetings, Nevada has outscored Utah State by a combined 198 points (794-596) for a difference of 7.6 points per game (30.5-22.9).

• Utah State's home win against Nevada in 2011 snapped a six-game losing streak to the Wolf Pack dating back to 1999, and a seven-game home losing streak dating back to 1950.

• The home team has won each of the last six meetings and four of the last seven games have been decided by four or fewer points. Prior to that, the visiting team won eight of the previous 10 meetings.

• Utah State has scored at least 21 points in six of its seven wins in series history.

• Nevada has scored at least 40 points in the series eight times, while USU has managed 40-plus points just three times.

• Utah State has been shut out three times in series history, while Nevada has been shut out once.

• Nevada has scored first in four of the last five games, but has lost three of those contests. Furthermore, the team that has scored first has lost five of the last seven games.

• Nevada did not have a 100-yard rusher in the 2019 meeting, marking the only time in the last 13 meetings that the Wolf Pack did not have a running back hit the century mark.

• Nevada has had a 100-yard rusher in 16 of the last 19 meetings, while USU has had a 100-yard rusher in three of the last four games, but in just seven of its last 19 meetings overall.

• Nevada has recorded at least 500 yards of total offense 11 times in the last 19 meetings, while USU has had just four games with 500-plus yards of total offense.

• Nevada has recorded more first downs than USU in 16 of the previous 19 meetings.

• The team that has rushed for more yards has won 10 of the last 12 meetings, with the only exceptions being the 2015 and 2016 meetings.

FROM THE RECORD BOOKS
Here is a look at some of the top Utah State individual and team statistical performances against Nevada over the years.
• Anthony Calvillo threw five touchdown passes against Nevada in 1992, which is tied for the single-game school record (done 11 times overall, twice by Calvillo).

• Calvillo threw for 428 yards against Nevada in 1992, which ranks as the eighth-most all-time in school history.

• Savon Scarver returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown against Nevada in 2019, tying the third-longest kickoff return in school history.

• Demario Brown holds the No. 4 single-game rushing mark with 253 yards against Nevada in 1999.

• Kevin Alexander had 236 receiving yards against Nevada in 1995, the fourth-best single-game outing in school history.

• Tonny Pennyman had a 99-yard kickoff return in 2005, tied for the ninth-longest in school history, and in 2015, Hunter Sharp had a 96-yard kickoff return, which is tied for the 12th-longest in school history.

• In 1992, the Aggies racked up 684 yards of total offense, which was a single-game record at the time and is currently tied for the fourth-most in school history.

• The 428 passing yards in the 1992 meeting is 10th on the single-game passing list, while the 399 passing yards in the 2010 meeting are the 18th-most.

• Utah State rushed for 396 yards vs. Nevada in 2016, the No. 13 spot on the rushing list.

• In 1999, Utah State tallied 388 rushing yards vs. Nevada, the No. 15 spot on the rushing list.

• In 2010's wild 56-42 game, Kerwynn Williams had a 92-yard kickoff return, tied for No. 19 on USU's longest kickoff returns list. Furthermore, Diondre Borel threw for a career-high 399 yards, the No. 14 passing single-game mark in school history.

• Utah State went 7-1 during the 1921 season and outscored its opponents 151-82. USU's only loss that season was to Nevada at home, 41-0.

• Four of the 17 longest kickoff returns in school history have been against Nevada.

DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State has nine players on its current roster that played at Nevada in 2020, including two players that started in that game in senior DT Hale Motu'apuaka and senior OL Falepule Alo. Other Aggies that played in that game include graduate senior CB Michael Anyanwu, graduate senior OL Wade Meacham, graduate senior CB Xavion Steele, senior P Stephen Kotsanlee, senior OL Jackson Owens, senior DT Poukesi Vakauta and junior TE Broc Lane.

UTAH STATE IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST
• Utah State is 178-195-8 (.477) 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, a 7-19 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.

• Utah State is 50-33 (.602) all-time in Mountain West play, including a 27-15 (.643) home record. USU is also 48-21 (.696) in its last 69 home games, including a 9-7 (.563) record under third-year head coach Blake Anderson, and is 161-117 (.579) 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 (50-33) has the third-best record against Mountain West opponents since it joined the league in 2013. Boise State (70-17) has the best record during that time, while San Diego State (59-26) has the second-best record. Nevada has the sixth-best record at 40-46 (.465).

LAST MEETING vs. NEVADA
RENO, Nevada - Utah State scored the first nine points of the game, but it was all Nevada after that as the Wolf Pack beat the Aggies 34-9 on Thursday, Nov. 5, at Mackay Stadium.

Sophomore ILB AJ Vongphachanh got Utah State (0-3, 0-3 Mountain West) on the board with 11:12 left in the first quarter when he sacked Nevada QB Carson Strong in the end zone for a safety. Vongphachanh finished the game with a career high 17 tackles, which included 1.0 sacks, for his first-ever double-digit tackle outing.

Six minutes later, the Aggies made it 9-0 on a 4-yard touchdown pass from junior QB Jason Shelley to sophomore WR Justin McGriff as USU drove 61 yards in eight plays. Shelley finished the night 15-of-27 passing for 96 yards and the one touchdown. Junior WR Deven Thompkins led Utah State with a career-high-tying six catches for 30 yards, while McGriff finished with two receptions for 24 yards.

Strong was 36-of-52 passing for 411 yards and three touchdowns for the Wolf Pack (3-0, 3-0 MW). His favorite target on the night was Romeo Doubs, who hauled in seven catches for 137 yards and three touchdowns. Nevada RB Toa Taua led the team in rushing as he carried the ball 12 times for 107 yards with one touchdown.

Nevada rolled up 542 yards of total offense, while holding Utah State to just 210 as the Aggies had 109 yards rushing and 101 yards passing. The Wolf Pack also had a 36:44 to 23:16 advantage in time of possession and recorded 27 first downs in the game as compared to just 11 for USU. Utah State held Nevada to just 6-of-16 on third downs, but the Wolf Pack converted 4-of-5 fourth down attempts. USU was just 3-of-15 on third downs in the game. Neither team committed a turnover in the contest.

Shelley led the Aggies' ground attack as he carried the ball seven times for 34 yards, while senior RB Jaylen Warren gained 27 yards on seven carries.

Senior S Shaq Bond also recorded double-digit tackles for the Aggies as he had 10 stops, including a team-best and career high 2.0 tackles for loss. Junior CB Zahodri Jackson, sophomore CB Cam Lampkin and junior S Jared Reed all recorded career highs in tackles with seven, six and five, respectively. Aggies that had sacks in the game along with Vongphachanh included senior OLB Nick Heninger, who also forced a fumble, senior DL Marcus Moore and junior S Jared Reed.

Overall, the Aggies recorded season highs in tackles for loss (10.0) and sacks (4.0).

Utah State had three players make their first-career start against Nevada in senior WR Derek Wright, sophomore DL Hale Motu'apuaka and freshman OL Falepule Alo. Three more Aggies played in their first-career game for USU in freshman ILB Kina Maile, freshmen OLB Izzy Vaifo'ou and fellow freshman DL Poukesi Vakauta.

Freshman P Stephen Kotsanlee punted a career-high 10 times for an average of 42.5 yards. He had a long of 52 and had a career high five punts downed inside the 20-yard line.

For the fifth-straight game dating back to last season, Utah State had five or fewer penalties as the Aggies were whistled five times for 52 penalty yards against the Wolf Pack.

Nevada improved to 19-7 all-time against the Aggies, including 10-2 at home.

LAST HOME MEETING vs. NEVADA
LOGAN, Utah - Senior RB Gerold Bright eclipsed the 100-yard plateau for the seventh time in his career, racking up 126 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries, in Utah State's 36-10 Mountain West home win against Nevada on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019, on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium.

With the win, the Aggies (4-2, 3-0 Mountain West) pulled into a first-place tie atop the Mountain Division standings. USU also won its 10th straight home game and improved to 17-4 all-time against teams from the West Division of the Conference.

Bright scored on touchdown runs of 67 and 9 yards, respectively, in the fourth quarter. Utah State finished with 244 yards on the ground as part of its 418 total yards. Junior RB Jaylen Warren churned out 73 yards rushing on 12 carries.

Junior WR Savon Scarver had a record-setting night for Utah State as he returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. It was his fifth-career kickoff return for touchdown, including second this season, which set the all-time school record. The old mark of four kickoff returns for touchdowns was previously set by Kevin Robinson (2004-07).

Nevada (4-3, 1-2 MW) had no answer for Utah State's defense. The Aggies forced an eye-popping 10 three-and-outs and the Wolf Pack only had four drives that were more than three plays the entire game. Nevada finished with 326 yards of total offense (213 passing, 113 rushing).

Utah State junior LB David Woodward was the lone player to record double-digit tackles on the night with 11, marking the 14th time in his career he has accomplished that feat. Sophomore CB Andre Grayson had a career night for the Aggies as he had nine tackles, including 2.0 tackles for loss and 1.0 sacks, three pass breakups and two forced fumbles. As a team, Utah State tallied a season-high nine pass breakups.

After Nevada opened the game's scoring with a 23-yard field goal by Brandon Talton, Utah State proceeded to score the next 36 points. Scarver ignited the onslaught with his kickoff return for touchdown.

Redshirt junior DE Justus Te'i made it 9-3 for the Aggies late in the first quarter when he recorded Utah State's first safety since 2015 against Fresno State.

Sandwiched in between a pair of field goals (29 and 32 yards, respectively) by senior PK Dominik Eberle was a 13-yard touchdown pass from junior QB Jordan Love to senior grad transfer TE Caleb Repp, helping USU open a 22-3 lead at the break.

Love was 13-of-31 for 169 yards on the night, while his Nevada counterpart, Malik Henry, was 17-of-38 for 213 yards and two interceptions – one by junior S Shaq Bond and the other by junior LB Kevin Meitzenheimer.

Bright's fourth-quarter touchdown runs sealed the deal for the Aggies, who won their 10th straight at home, tying the 1923-27 teams for the fourth-longest home winning streak in school history.

Junior P Christopher Bartolic punted a season-high seven times for the Aggies for an average of 40.1 yards per punt and had a season-best five of his punts downed inside the 20-yard line. Bartolic also had a pair of 53-yard punts in the game.

GAME 9 RECAP vs. SAN DIEGO STATE
SAN DIEGO, California - Graduate senior QB Cooper Legas came off the bench to rally Utah State to a thrilling 32-24 double-overtime victory against San Diego State at Snapdragon Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2023.

Legas, who completed eight straight passes at one point, was 11-of-15 for 167 yards and two touchdowns as the Aggies (4-5, 2-3 Mountain West) snapped a two-game losing streak. Legas replaced McCae Hillstead after the true freshman was injured in the second quarter.

Utah State led 17-7 with 13:40 to go in the game following a 19-yard touchdown run by junior RB Davon Booth. However, the Aztecs (3-6, 1-4 MW) rallied to send the game into overtime following a 10-yard touchdown pass from Jalen Mayden to Kenan Christon and a 23-yard field goal by Jack Browning with 33 seconds left in regulation.

San Diego State scored first in overtime on a 27-yard touchdown pass from Mayden to Brionne Penny to make it 24-17.

Utah State answered on its first possession in overtime when Legas found senior WR Terrell Vaughn from 18 yards out on third down. Junior PK William Testa kicked the extra point to tie it at 24-apiece. The Aggies got the ball first in the second overtime and regained the lead on a 20-yard touchdown run by sophomore RB Robert Briggs Jr. USU then converted its two-point try when Vaughn took the handoff from Legas and completed a pass to junior TE Broc Lane.

San Diego State could not answer Utah State's touchdown as sophomore S Ike Larsen ended the game when he intercepted a fourth-down pass by Mayden and returned it 62 yards before being pushed out of bounds.

The Aggies improved to 7-6 all-time in overtime, including 3-2 in double-overtime, as it was its first overtime game since 2017.

Prior to being injured, Hillstead was 12-of-16 passing for 62 yards for the Aggies, who finished with 400 yards of total offense, including 229 through the air and 171 on the ground. Booth finished with 77 yards rushing, while Briggs had 59 on the ground.

Mayden was 25-of-39 passing for 265 yards and three touchdowns for the Aztecs.

Vaughn led Utah State with eight catches for 91 yards and one touchdown, while junior WR Jalen Royals had a career high eight receptions for 87 yards and a touchdown. It marked the fifth consecutive game Royals has caught a touchdown pass.

Graduate senior ILB MJ Tafisi Jr. led the Aggies with 13 tackles, while sophomore S Devin Dye had nine stops. Larsen added eight tackles, including 1.0 tackles for loss.

Special teams played a big factor for both clubs. San Diego State attempted a fake punt and fake field goal, but failed both times, and missed a field goal. USU was successful on its fake punt as redshirt junior S Anthony Switzer took the direct snap and ran four yards for the first down. Five plays later, Legas threw a 50-yard touchdown pass to Royals to give the Aggies a 10-7 lead with 8:43 remaining in the third quarter.

With Utah State nursing its 17-14 lead, the Aztecs blocked a punt by redshirt freshman Ryan Marks with 2:27 to go, setting up Browning's game-tying field goal.

San Diego State scored first 50 seconds into the second quarter when Mark Redman caught a 9-yard pass from Mayden. Testa, who was 1-for-2 on field goals, cut the deficit to 7-3 when he split the uprights from 24 yards.

UTAH STATE POSTS DOUBLE-OVERTIME WIN AT SAN DIEGO STATE
• Utah State improved to 7-6 all-time in overtime games, including a 3-2 record in double-overtime, in its come-from-behind 32-24 win at San Diego State last weekend. For USU, it was its first overtime game since losing to New Mexico State 26-20 in the 2017 Arizona Bowl. USU's last double-overtime game was a 49-42 road win at Idaho in 2011, and its last overtime win was in 2012 when it posted a 48-41 victory at No. 19 Louisiana Tech. Overall, USU had lost two straight overtime games prior to the SDSU win.

• Utah State has now won three-straight road games against San Diego State and is 4-13 all-time against the Aztecs, including a 4-8 road record. Overall, USU has now won three of the last four games in the series after dropping the previous 10 games.

UTAH STATE UNDEFEATED WITH FOURTH-QUARTER LEAD UNDER ANDERSON
• Utah State improved to 18-0 under third-year head coach Blake Anderson when it takes a lead into the fourth quarter following its 32-24 double-overtime win at San Diego State last weekend. USU entered the fourth quarter with a 10-7 advantage against the Aztecs. USU is also 10-0 under Anderson when it leads at the half and 8-0 when it leads after the first 15 minutes of the game.

AGGIE OFFENSE HAS SCORED 30-PLUS POINTS IN FIVE OF ITS LAST SIX GAMES
• With its 32-24 double-overtime victory at San Diego State last weekend, Utah State has now scored 30 or more points in five of its last six games and has had at least 500 yards in three of its last five games.

UTAH STATE TAKES CARE OF THE BALL AGAINST THE AZTECS
• For just the second time this season, Utah State did not commit a turnover in its 32-24 double-overtime win at San Diego State last weekend. The only other game this year that USU did not turn the ball over was in a 78-28 home win against Idaho State.

UTAH STATE'S DEFENSE STOPS TWO FAKES AGAINST SAN DIEGO STATE
• Utah State's defense stopped a pair of fakes in its 32-24 double-overtime win at San Diego State last weekend. First, SDSU attempted a fake field from the USU 13-yard line on a fourth and nine in the second quarter, but lost two yards on the play. SDSU then attempted a fake punt in the fourth quarter from its own 24-yard line on a fourth and three, but that play was stopped for no gain.

UTAH STATE'S DEFENSE DURING ITS LAST FOUR GAMES
• Utah State's defense has held three of its last four opponents to less than 400 yards of total offense as it limited Colorado State to 320 yards, San José State to 370 yards and San Diego State to 384 yards.

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 last weekend. USU also posted double-digit comebacks against both Colorado State and UConn as it trailed 17-0 in both of those games, which ate 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 IMPROVES TO 10-2 UNDER ANDERSON IN ONE-SCORE GAMES
• Utah State is now 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 last weekend. 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 to lead the nation and six plays of 60-plus yards, which is tied for second nationally. USU has also had 16 plays of at least 40 yards, which is tied for seventh in the nation, and 52 plays of at least 20 yards, which is tied for 16th nationally.

• Furthermore, Utah State has had nine pass plays of at least 50 yards this season, which is tied with USC for the most in the nation.

DID YOU KNOW?
• Utah State has been outscored 105-17 (-88) in the first quarter this season, but has outscored its opponents 297-191 (+106) the remainder of the game, including 116-65 (+51) in the second quarter, 79-42 (+37) in the third quarter, 87-77 (+10) 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 25 scoring plays this year of at least 20 yards (17 passing, 8 rushing).

LEGAS PLAYING WELL IN HIS LAST FOUR GAMES
• Graduate senior QB Cooper Legas has played very well during his last four games, as the Aggies have gone 3-1 in those outings with wins against UConn, Colorado State and San Diego State, and a loss to Fresno State. In his last four games, which equates to 12 quarters of play, Legas is 64-of-97 (.660) passing for 1,121 yards (280.3 ypg) with 12 touchdowns and four 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 258-of-409 (.631) passing in his career and that completion percentage is tied with Darell Garretson (2013-14) for first all-time in school history. Furthermore, his 66.7 completion percentage (112-of-168) this year is the third-best in school history, trailing only Chuckie Keeton, who completed 69.4 percent of his passes in 2013 and 67.6 percent of his passes in 2012.

ROYALS HAS CAREER-HIGH EIGHT RECEPTIONS AGAINST SAN DIEGO STATE
• Junior WR Jalen Royals had a career-high eight receptions for 87 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown, in his last outing against San Diego State. For Royals, it was his fifth touchdown reception of at least 50 yards this season, which leads the nation. Royals is also tied for first nationally with his 11 total receiving touchdowns on the year.

ROYALS HAS A TOUCHDOWN RECEPTION IN EACH OF HIS LAST FIVE GAMES
• Junior WR Jalen Royals has now caught at least one touchdown pass in each of his last five games, which is the longest streak by an Aggie since Brandon Bowling accomplished the feat in 2021. Tracy Jenkins holds the school record with a touchdown catch in eight straight games in 1990.

ROYALS HAS NINE TOUCHDOWN CATCHES IN HIS LAST FIVE GAMES
• Junior WR Jalen Royals has exploded in his last five games as he has caught 32 passes for 597 yards (18.7 ypr) and nine touchdowns. In his last game against San Diego State, he caught a career-high eight passes for 87 yards and one touchdown (50). Against San José State, he had four receptions for 60 yards and one touchdown (20). Against Fresno State, he had seven receptions for 125 yards and two touchdowns (29, 52). Against Colorado State, he had six receptions for 140 yards and two touchdowns (24, 51). And, against UConn, he had a career-high 185 receiving yards and a career-best three touchdowns (15, 71, 52) on seven receptions.

• Royals, who has three-career 100-yard receiving games, entered the UConn game with 19 receptions for 197 yards and two touchdowns in 16 career outings.

ROYALS IN THE AGGIE RECORD BOOKS
• Junior WR Jalen Royals' 11 touchdown receptions this year 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 touchdown receptions.

VAUGHN ENTERS AGGIE RECORD BOOKS
• Senior WR Terrell Vaughn has 120 receptions for 1,354 yards in his two-year Aggie career. Overall, Vaughn is tied for 18th all-time in receptions and 21st 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.

BRIGGS SCORES THIRD-CAREER TOUCHDOWN IN SAN DIEGO STATE GAME
• Sophomore RB Robert Briggs Jr. scored his third-career touchdown and second of the season on a 20-yard run in the second overtime against San Diego State, which proved to be the game-winning score. Briggs rushed for 59 yards on nine carries against the Aztecs.

BOOTH SCORES FIFTH RUSHING TOUCHDOWN OF THE SEASON AGAINST AZTECS
• Junior RB Davon Booth rushed for 77 yards on 13 carries against San Diego State last weekend and scored his fifth rushing touchdown of the season on a 19-yard run.

UTAH STATE MILESTONES THAT EQUAL SUCCESS
• Utah State has won 45 of its last 56 games when it has a 100-yard rusher, including a 2-1 record this year, and 52 of its last 61 contests when rushing at least 40 times in a game, including a 3-1 record in 2023. USU has also won 70 of its last 77 games when scoring at least 30 points, including a 4-2 record this year.

FROM THE RECORD BOOKS
• Through nine games of the 2023 season, Utah State's offense is averaging 34.9 points and 445.4 yards of total offense per game, including 280.9 passing yards per game. Historically, the 34.9 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 445.9 yards of offense would rank sixth all-time.

• Utah State has already scored 41 touchdowns this season, including 27 passing touchdowns, as compared to just 36 touchdowns in 2022, including just 18 through the air. USU has also passed for 2,528 yards this season as compared to 2,537 yards all of last season.

LARSEN NAMED MOUNTAIN WEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
#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, 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).

• Returned his first interception of the season 47 yards for his second-career pick-six against Idaho State.

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

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

TAFISI HAS FIVE STRAIGHT DOUBLE-DIGIT TACKLE GAMES
• Graduate senior ILB MJ Tafisi Jr. has posted double-digit tackles in each of his last five games as he had 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 six double-digit tackle games this season and 11 in his career.

• Tafisi is the first Aggie to post five-straight double-digit tackle outings since Suli Tamaivena accomplished the feat in 2017.

DYE CONTINUES IMPRESSIVE PLAY FOR AGGIES
• Sophomore S Devin Dye had another outstanding game for Utah State as he recorded nine tackles in his last outing against San Diego State. In his previous game 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 six games, Dye has posted 49 tackles, to go along with four pass breakups, two interceptions, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

PILI HAS CAREER GAME AGAINST SAN DIEGO STATE
• Redshirt freshman ILB Logan Pili had his best game as an Aggie in his last outing at San Diego State as he had a career-high eight tackles, which included a career-best 1.0 sacks and a career-high 2.0 tackles for loss. In fact, Pili had not recorded a sack or tackle for loss prior to the SDSU game, which ironically, was the first start of his career.

DID YOU KNOW?
• Senior DT Hale Motu'apuaka has played in 54 career games, which is tied for the fifth-most in school history. The school record for games played is 59 set by Demytrick Ali'ifua (2017-21). Motu'apuaka has also started 36 games and is just one start shy of entering the top-10 all-time.

MARKS HAS FOURTH-LONGEST PUNT IN SCHOOL HISTORY
• Redshirt freshman P Ryan Marks had a career-long 75-yard punt against San José State, which is tied for the fourth-longest punt in school history and longest since 1998.

NIMROD SCORES CAREER-HIGH 14 POINTS AGAINST JAMES MADISON
• Junior PK Elliott Nimrod scored a career-high 14 points against James Madison as he scored his first-career touchdown on an 18-yard run on a fake field goal. Nimrod was also 5-of-5 on extra points and 1-of-2 on field goals as he made a 28-yarder and missed a 37-yarder.

• Nimrod is 7-of-9 on the season on field goals, including 2-of-2 from 20-29 yards, 3-of-4 from 30-39 yards and 2-of-3 from 40-49 yards, and 22-of-24 on PATs.

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 (34.9 ppg), first in the MW and 26th in the nation in total offense (445.4 ypg), second in the MW and 36th in the nation in passing efficiency (151.4), second in the MW and 41st in the nation in completion percentage (.637), third in the MW and 26th in the nation in passing offense (280.9 ypg), sixth in the MW and 55th in the nation in rushing offense (164.6 ypg), and 11th in the MW and 113th in the nation in sacks allowed with 28 (3.11 pg).

• Utah State is also third in the MW and 39th in the nation in fumbles lost with four (0.44 pg), third in the MW and 41st in the nation in first downs with 198 (22.0 pg), fifth in the MW and 29th in the nation in red zone offense (.903), fifth in the MW and 44th in the nation in passing yards per completion (12.6), fifth in the MW and 61st in the nation in turnover margin (0.0), and sixth in the MW and 35th in the nation in fourth down conversions (.619).

UTAH STATE SECOND IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST IN TACKLES FOR LOSS
• Utah State is second in the Mountain West and 54th in the nation in tackles for loss with 53 (5.9 pg), sixth in the MW and 71st in the nation in passing efficiency defense (132.7), sixth in the MW and 86th in the nation in passing defense (237.7 ypg), eighth in the MW and 94th in the nation in total defense (406.2 ypg), eighth in the MW and 96th in the nation in sacks with 16 (1.78 pg), eighth in the MW and 99th in the nation in rushing defense (168.6 ypg), and 10th in the MW and 116th in the nation in scoring defense (32.9 ppg).

• Utah State is also first in the MW and 45th in the nation in red zone defense (.804), and is one of 45 FBS teams in the nation with two defensive touchdowns this season.

UTAH STATE 19TH IN THE NATION WITH 17 FORCED TURNOVERS
• Utah State is third in the Mountain West and 19th in the nation with 17 forced turnovers this season. USU is also third in the MW and 10th in the nation in fumbles recovered with eight (0.9 pg), and third in the MW and 34th in the nation in passes intercepted with nine (1.0 pg).

UTAH STATE 50TH IN THE NATION IN PUNT RETURNS
• Utah State is fifth in the Mountain West and 50th in the nation in punt returns (9.8 ypr), sixth in the MW and 73rd in the nation in kickoff return defense (20.4 ypr), seventh in the MW and 81st in the nation in kickoff returns (17.6 ypr), 10th in the MW and 95th in the nation in net punting (37.0 ypp), and 11th in the MW and 109th in the nation in punt return defense (12.5 ypr).

AGGIES IN THE MOUNTAIN WEST AND NCAA RANKINGS
• Utah State sophomore S Ike Larsen is tied for first in the nation with two blocked kicks (0.22 pg), tied for first in the MW and fourth in the nation with one defensive touchdown (0.11 pg), is first in the MW and eighth in the nation with four interceptions (0.44 pg), seventh in the MW in passes defended with nine (1.0 pg), and 10th in the MW and 63rd in the nation in tackles (7.8 pg). Junior WR Jalen Royals is tied for first in the nation in receiving touchdowns with 11 (1.22 pg), is fourth in the MW and 18th in the nation in receiving (88.2 ypg), fifth in the MW and 34th in the nation in receptions (5.7 pg), sixth in the MW and 52nd in the nation in scoring (7.6 ppg), seventh in the MW and 83rd in the nation in yards per reception (15.6), and 10th in the MW in all-purpose yards (88.2 ypg). Junior CB Jaiden Francois is tied for first in the MW and fourth in the nation with one defensive touchdown (0.11 pg). Graduate senior ILB MJ Tafisi Jr. is first in the MW and seventh in the nation in tackles (10.7 pg), and third in the MW in forced fumbles with two (0.22 pg). Graduate senior QB Cooper Legas is first in the MW and 12th in the nation in passing efficiency (164.2), second in the MW and 22nd in the nation in completion percentage (.667), third in the MW and 27th in the nation in yards per completion (13.3), fourth in the MW and 43rd in the nation in points responsible for (13.1 ppg), fourth in the MW and 44th in the nation in passing touchdowns with 15 (2.1 pg), fifth in the MW and 53rd in the nation in passing (215.0 ypg), fifth in the MW and 63rd in the nation in total offense (223.7 ypg), and sixth in the MW and 66th in the nation in completions per game (16.0). Junior DE Blaine Spires is second in the MW and second in the nation in fumbles recovered with three (0.38 pg). Senior WR Terrell Vaughn is second in the MW and eighth in the nation in receptions (7.1 pg), second in the MW and ninth in the nation in receiving touchdowns with nine (1.0 pg), fifth in the MW and 32nd in the nation in receiving yards (81.1 ypg), and seventh in the MW and 73rd in the nation in all-purpose yards (97.6 ypg). Junior WR Micah Davis is second in the MW and 19th in the nation in punt returns (10.3 ypr), third in the MW and 25th in the nation in yards per reception (18.3), and ninth in the MW and 57th in the nation in receiving touchdowns with five (0.56 pg). Junior RB Davon Booth is third in the MW and 34th in the nation in yards per carry (5.84), seventh in the MW and 81st in the nation in rushing (62.9 ypg), and ninth in the MW and 92nd in the nation in rushing touchdowns with five (0.56 pg). Sophomore S Devin Dye is seventh in the MW and 75th in the nation in interceptions with two (0.22 pg). Junior PK Elliott Nimrod is fifth in the MW and 56th in the nation in field goal percentage (.778), eighth in the MW and 74th in the nation in scoring (6.9 ppg), and 10th in the MW in field goals (0.88 pg). Redshirt freshman DE Paul Fitzgerald is eighth in the MW in sacks with 4.0 (0.44 pg). Freshman QB McCae Hillstead is eighth in the MW and 73rd in the nation in touchdown passes with 10 (1.7 pg). And, redshirt junior S Anthony Switzer is 12th in the MW and 76th 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 four players on its 2023 roster who are married in graduate senior OL Wade Meacham, senior DT Hale Motu'apuaka, senior TE Josh Sterzer and junior OL Cole Motes.

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 72-52 overall record, including a 51-26 conference mark. He has posted a 21-15 record at USU, including a 13-8 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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