A week after a crushing loss to UNLV which would have gotten it to bowl eligibility, Utah State must pick itself up by the bootstraps and do it all over again. And this week’s opponent, Fresno State, is hardly any easier of a challenge. Plus it’s yet another road game, and the Aggies remain a winless 0-5 in games played away from the comforts of Merlin Olsen Field.
With bowl eligibility still on the line, and technically the smallest fractions of hope for a berth in the Mountain West championship game, here’s all the information you’ll need. From basic game info to player availability, along with predictions from Cache Valley Media Group staff.
Game Info:
- Kickoff: 8:30 p.m. (Mountain Time)
- Location: Valley Children’s Stadium (Fresno, CA)
- TV Broadcast/Stream: CBS Sports Network
- Radio: KVNU (102.1 FM, 610 AM), kvnutalk.com, KVNU mobile app
KVNU Aggie Gameday pregame show with Stockton Jewkes and J.D. Walker: Begins at 6:30
KVNU Aggie Call Postgame: Will begin immediately following Coach Bronco Mendenhall’s postgame 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.
Availability Report
The following is the official availability report submitted by both Utah State and UNLV earlier this week. It will be updated three hours prior to the scheduled kickoff time.
Utah State Availability Report (Week 13)
| Player | Position | Status (Duration) |
|---|---|---|
| Brevin Hamblin | S | Questionable |
| Bryson Taylor | S | Questionable |
| Dylan Tucker | CB | Questionable |
| Zion Andreasen | DE | OUT (Full Game) |
| Chika Ebunoha | S | OUT (Full Game) |
| Elia Migao | OL | OUT (Full Game) |
| Titan Saxton | S | OUT (Full Game) |
| Corey Thompson Jr. | WR | OUT (Full Game) |
| Courage Ugo | CB | OUT (Season) |
| Demick Starling | WR | OUT (Season) |
| Naki Fahina | DT | OUT (Season) |
| Jack Hadfield | CB | OUT (Season) |
| Jonathan Baird | LB | OUT (Season) |
| Blake Barnes | LB | OUT (Season) |
| Clyde Tualapapa | OL | OUT (Season) |
| Sampson Alofipo | LB | OUT (Season) |
Fresno State Availability Report (Week 13)
| Player | Position | Status (Duration) |
|---|---|---|
| Jomarion Briggs | DB | Questionable |
| Martin Owusu | DL | Questionable |
| K’Vion Thunderbird | LB | OUT (Full Game) |
| Auckland Asiata | DL | OUT (Season) |
| Ethan Dasmann | OL | OUT (Season) |
| Campbell McHarg | OL | OUT (Season) |
| Steven Scott III | DL | OUT (Season) |
Offense and Defense Rankings
FEI Adjusted Offensive Efficiency
- Utah State: 62nd
- Fresno State: 119th
FEI Adjusted Defensive Efficiency
- Utah State: 94th
- Fresno State: 55th
Stat Leaders
Passing Leaders
- Utah State: Bryson Barnes — 173/274 (63.1%), 2,352 yards, 18 TD, 3 INT
- Fresno State: EJ Warner* — 139/202 (68.8%), 1,486 yards, 10 TDs, 9 INT
Rushing Leaders
- Utah State: Miles Davis — 106 attempts, 651 yards (6.1 yds/att), 7 TD
- Fresno State: Rayshon Luke — 96 attempts, 587 yards, 5 TD
Receiving Leaders
- Utah State: Braden Pegan — 50 receptions, 819 yards (16.9 yds/rec), 5 TD
- Fresno State: Josiah Freeman — 33 receptions, 378 yards (11.5 yds/rec), 5 TD
Defensive Leaders
- Utah State: John Miller — 89 tackles (24 solo), 9.5 TFL, 7.5 sacks, 1 FF
- Fresno State: Jadon Pearson — 84 tackles (40 solo), 6.0 TFL
*Warner is no longer Fresno State’s starting quarterback. He has been replaced by Carson Conklin, who has thrown for 354 yards, 1 TD and 2 INT in three starts since replacing Warner.
History of Utah State vs Fresno State
- All-Time Series: Fresno State leads 13-19-1
- Series During MW era: Tied 3-3
- Most Recent Meeting: Oct. 13, 2023 (Fresno State won 37-32)
In one of the few series that Utah State is tied in during the Mountain West era, the Aggies can end this conference run with a winning record over the Bulldogs. Though what that would be worth against one of the teams that is jumping with USU into the Pac-12 is debatable.
Game Prediction
Here are the score predictions from Cache Valley Media Group staff.
Eric Frandsen — Utah State wins 24-20
Jason Walker — Fresno State wins 26-20
J.D. Walker — Utah State wins 27-24
