Supporters of Utah State football got pretty much everything they could want from the season opener. New head coach Bronco Mendenhall proved his worth as a $2 million coach by getting a roster full of new players that hadn’t shared the field before and rallying them to a solid 12-point win over UTEP. The fans, however, were content to watch from home. Only 16,448 fans were in attendance for USU’s victory, the lowest attendance for a home opener since 2007 (15,102 against UNLV). It’s just the third time in that same span that the Aggies have failed to eclipse 18,000 fans in the first game on Merlin Olsen Field. Utah State Home Opener Attendance Since 2007 (excluding 2020 COVID season) Year Attendance Opponent 2025 16,448 UTEP 2024 17,037 Robert Morris 2023 20,034 Idaho State 2022 19,553 UConn 2021 18,223 North Dakota 2019 22,247 Stony Brook 2018 18,223 New Mexico State 2017 19,638 Idaho State 2016 23,008 Weber State 2015 21,209 Southern Utah 2014 20,249 Idaho State 2013 25,513 Weber State 2012 17,009 Southern Utah 2011 18,239 Weber State 2010 18,347 Idaho State 2009 18,472 Southern Utah 2008 19,061 Utah 2007 15,102 UNLV Why Utah State failed to capture the attention