Utah State will face a third ranked opponent in four outings (two of those being on the road) as it travels to face No. 21 Boise State for the official start of Mountain West play for both teams. The Aggies are coming off a bye week and are desperate for a win as they currently sit on a three-game losing streak and have yet to defeat an FBS team this season.
With Boise State coming off a statement win over Washington State, it’s pretty clear this week’s bout will essentially be a Utah State side seemingly backed against a wall and a Broncos squad looking to continue their roll toward what they are hoping is a spot in the College Football Playoff against a team not as strong on paper as future opponents.
In other words, this game is expected to be unbalanced, but also features a recipe for the kind of chaos college football is known for.
Game Info:
- Kickoff: 5 p.m. (Mountain Time)
- Location: Albertsons Stadium (Boise, ID)
- TV Broadcast/Stream: FS2
- Radio: KVNU (102.1 FM, 610 AM)
KVNU Aggie Gameday pregame show with Stockton Jewkes and J.D. Walker: Begins 4 p.m. on 102.1 FM, 610 AM (additional content available on KVNU Podcast Feed starting Friday)
KVNU Aggie Call Postgame: Starts immediately after Coach Nate Dreiling’s post-game comments.
- Text (435) 554-1175 or call (435) 753-5868 during the pregame or postgame show to give your thoughts and reactions for the game.
Utah State Depth Chart
USU Football Week 5 Depth Chart (OFFENSE)
Position | Starter | Reserve |
---|---|---|
QB | Spencer Petras | Bryson Barnes |
RB | Rahsul Faison | Herschel Turner Jr. |
WR | Jalen Royals | Grant Page |
WR | Otto Tia | Colby Bowman |
SLOT WR | Kyrese White | Jack Hestera |
TE | Broc Lane | Josh Sterzer |
LT | Cole Motes | Trey Andersen |
LG | Wyatt Bowles | George Maile |
C | Falepule Alo | Bryce Radford |
RG | Aloali’i Maui | Tavo Motu’apuaka |
RT | Teague Andersen | Jared Pele |
USU Football Week 5 Depth Chart (DEFENSE)
Position | Starter | Reserve |
---|---|---|
DE | Blaine Spires | Marlin Dean |
DT | Gabriel Iniguez | Taz Williams |
DT | Miguel Jackson | Bo Maile |
DE | Lawrence Falatea | Cian Slone |
WILL | Jon Ross Maye | Jadon Pearson |
MIKE | Clyde Washington | John Miller |
NICKEL | Torren Union | Simeon Harris |
B-CB | Avante Dickerson | DJ Graham II |
BS | Jordan Vincent | Malik McConico |
FS | Ike Larsen | Chase Davis |
F-CB | JD Drew | Noah Flores |
USU Football Week 5 Depth Chart (SPECIAL TEAMS)
Position | Starter | Reserve |
---|---|---|
P | Ryan Marks | Stephen Kotsanlee |
K | Elliott Nimrod | Tanner Cragun |
KOS | Elliott Nimrod | Ryan Marks |
LS | Jacob Garcia | Alexander McDougall |
HOLD | Ryan Marks | Stephen Kotsanlee |
PR | Robert Freeman IV | Kahanu Davis |
KR | Robert Freeman | Jalen Royals |
Utah State Injuries
- Robert Briggs (RB) – Broken Leg
- Broc Lane (TE) – Undisclosed
- Left previous game at Temple
- Tavo Motu’apuaka (RG) – Undisclosed
- Enoka Migao (DE) – Undisclosed
- Gabe Peterson (DE) – Undisclosed
- Missed previous game at Temple
Tavo Motu’apuaka made a return to the depth chart released by the USU Athletics Department, which may hint at a return which would be a welcome boost to the depth of the Aggies’ O-line which has been running a tight six-man rotation with George Maile being the only player to spell anyone in the entire unit in the three FBS games. The defensive end rotation is also in pretty dire need of the return of Enoka Migao and Gabe Peterson. The two combined to start the first three games, but by the time the Temple game rolled around, both were out. Brock Lane was limited in snaps against Temple as Josh Sterzer essentially became TE1 for most of that game and may do so again this week, though Lane was participating in practice this week.
Dreiling said that for the bye week, “the big thing was just get healthy.” Ideally, the Aggies will have more depth at key positions after taking some hits, especially in the trenches, early on this season.
Top Storylines & Matchups
Aggies looking for turnaround from 1-3 start
Morale probably wasn’t exactly soaring in the Utah State athletics facilities during the bye week as the Aggies looked for answers to their 1-3 start. The coaches and players aren’t shying away from what is definitely a disappointing start, compounded by the loss at Temple on Sept. 21.
“Obviously our record is not what we want. It’s not where we expect it to be. It’s not what we’re capable of, but it’s what we earned,” USU quarterback Spencer Petras said.
Mathematically speaking, as far as Mountain West title aspirations or bowl eligibility there’s not really been much harm done. Both are within Utah State’s control with no help required. Everyone’s eyes tell a different story, as do the stats. The USU team through the first four weeks has not been a good team. The Aggies believe it’s not who they are and this week would be a pretty good time to show that.
Broncos’ Ashton Jeanty on pace for historically productive season
A lot has been and a lot more will be made of Ashton Jeanty’s dominance this season on behalf of the Broncos. He’s rushed for at least 190 yards AND at least three touchdowns in three of his four outings (the one time he didn’t do either was when he carried the ball only 11 times and still had 127 yards). He’s put opposing defenses to shame with his incredible vision, balance and power. It’ll be a difficult task for the Aggies to slow down someone who’s earning legitimate Heisman Trophy hype even while being on a G5 team.
“Obviously the main focus,” Dreiling said. “He’s the number one back in the country right now, it looks like. So he’s gonna have our full attention, and we know we gotta be able to contain him. The problem is you watch the Washington State and they fit every single play perfectly and you rush for 280 yards just off missed tackles. So being able to get this guy down, it’s more so about effort to the ball, get as many hats around him. That way if he does break then we have someone there.”
According to Pro Football Focus’ numbers, Jeanty has accumulated a nation-leading 587 yards after contact. For reference, Utah State has 715 yards as a team for the entire season.
Jeanty’s had a couple of chances to face the Aggies, once in 2022 and also last year in 2023. In his first-ever game against USU, he ran for only 35 yards on 14 carriers. Last year, Jeanty had 1,347 yards on the season, but had a less involved day against USU. He ran the ball only 11 times and had 81 yards (George Holani had the big day instead, rushing for 182 yards).
Hot starts, cold finishes a theme for USU
Under previous head coach Blake Anderson, USU became known for starting games slow, usually to the team’s detriment (especially after 2021 when the Aggies weren’t rallying from down 2+ scores to win each week). Dreiling’s tenure seems to be producing some of the opposite. Utah State held leads of 14-3 and 14-0 against Utah and Temple, only to be outscored 80-22 in the remaining time of those two games.
The fact USU is starting these games well shows the talent level of the Aggies and speaks to the preparation of the coaches for these games. Unfortunately it also exposes issues of any number of potential areas, from the team’s depth, ability to focus and even the coaching staff’s capability to make adjustments and/or respond to adjustments made by opposing teams.
Boise sack artists
Despite being among the teams that have played four games instead of five, the Broncos are second in the nation in total sacks with 20 which is good for an FBS-leading 5.0 sacks per game. No team on BSU’s schedule has been immune to the punishment on their quarterback as the Broncos have had at least four sacks in all four games. Last week they tortured one of the top QBs in the country, Washington State’s John Mateer, by sacking him eight times.
Dreiling said a big key to how Boise State gets so many sacks comes from forcing teams to pass more often and in situations that allow for more sacks.
“When you’re forced to throw it and you can’t run the ball, then (the defense) can really tee off. Their front seven is probably as good as it gets in college football on how they play the run and how that transitions to their pass rush. So I think they had seven sacks last week versus Washington State. So we got to make sure, one, that we can establish our running game, keep them playing on us, and then two, when we do throw, we get the ball out on time.”
Utah State’s had moderate success in both the run game and in its pass protection. Rahsul Faison has posted back-to-back 100-yard rushing games and the Aggies rank an OK 79th in sacks allowed per game at an even 2.0. Pressures have been a problem at times but not a consistent, harrowing problem. If the offensive line stands up to the onslaught from the Broncos it’ll allow for a much better chance at exploiting their defense that ranks 102nd in points allowed per game.
History not on Aggies’ side in Boise
It gets brought up pretty much every year, but Boise State has had Utah State’s number on the gridiron for years now, with only one exception to what would otherwise be an unbroken string of victories going all the way back to 1998. The only thing in the way of what would otherwise be a 21-game losing streak is the Aggies 2015 victory on Merlin Olsen Field in which they shocked an also No. 21-ranked Broncos team.
Perhaps history will repeat itself, but it would require bucking another trend that is working heavily against Utah State. It hasn’t won in Boise in the 21st century despite 10 attempts. The Aggies have lost every time and the closest they’ve been is a nine-point margin of defeat in 2018 (33-24).
Stats & Facts to Know
- This will be the 29th all-time meeting between Utah State and Boise State
- The first-ever meeting was in 1975 (USU won 42-19)
- The Aggies are 5-23 overall in the series (3-20 since Boise State became a Division 1A/FBS program in 1996)
- Utah State has an all-time record of 6-66 against teams ranked in the AP Poll, including being 0-38 against teams ranked 15th or better
- USU has lost 10 of its last 11 games against ranked opponents, dating back to 2018
- The one win vs a ranked team since 2018 was against No. 19 San Diego State in the 2021 Mountain West championship game
- Five of Utah State’s six all-time wins over ranked teams have come since 2012 (the other was in 1991).
- USU quarterback CJ Tiller began his career at Boise State
- Boise State punt returner Cooper Jones played four years at USU, including one year as its starting PR in 2022
Game Prediction
Eric Frandsen and Jason Walker both gave their predictions for the game on the Full Court Press (4-6 p.m. weekdays on 106.9 FM, 1390 AM The FAN).
Eric Frandsen’s Prediction — Boise State 42, Utah State 17
- Correct winner predictions this year — 3/4
- *Score prediction accuracy rating — .400
“This Utah State defense shows moments where they illustrate to us that they know how to really get after it and play aggressive, strong, sound defense. But then they also have stretches where they get loose and teams can almost do whatever they want. I don’t know that that’s necessarily going to be totally corrected Saturday, but with the bye week, extra time to prepare, I have a little bit more faith that this defense will figure a few things out and be a little better than we’ve seen. That being said, I think it’s still going to be tough to slow down Ashton Jeanty and this Boise State offense.”
Jason Walker’s Prediction — Boise State 52, Utah State 21
- Correct winner predictions this year — 3/4
- Score prediction accuracy rating — .370
“[Boise State has] scored at least 45 points in three of their four games, 34 points in the other…They’ve got an incredible strength on offense where Utah State has struggled a little bit, namely the ground game. So I just don’t see the Aggies being able to be the one to slow down this roll for Boise State. But at the same time I expect Utah State to put up some points. Boise State hasn’t allowed less than 24 in games against FBS opponents.”
*Score prediction accuracy rating is on scale of 0-1 and measures predicted score and winner for all games so far and the deviation of predictions from the actual scores of the games (NOTE: Some previous weeks ratings were miscalculated and are lower than they should be)