On Thursday, Utah State football completed its sixth of 15 practices for spring ball. So, as the Aggies reach the halfway point of the first stage of the 2026 season, there’s time for a few updates from head coach Bronco Mendenhall.
Mendenhall met with media after the practice and provided an optimistic early report from his team. You can check out the full video, or check out discussion of this press conference on the Full Court Press, though clips and quotes summarizing most of the topics will be included here.
Year Two Roster Ahead of Schedule Compared to Year One
Mendenhall is entering his second year as head coach of the Aggies. In previous stops, mainly at BYU and Virginia, year two has represented a notable jump for Mendenhall-led programs. The 2006 BYU team went from a 6-6 record to 11-2 and the 2017 Virginia season saw a notable jump from 2-10 up to 6-7 (and the program’s first bowl game in more than half a decade).
In having a full offseason, and returning players that have actually been part of the current staff’s regime, Mendenhall feels further ahead than his year one counterpart.
“I feel great about where we are. And clearly accelerated further than a year ago at this time,” Mendenhall said. “I really like our team. I like the depth. I like the camaraderie. I like the competitive spirit. And I like, really, the progress that we’ve made.”
Part of this year-two process has included Mendenhall changing some of how he runs his offseason. Normally, he begins every year by making every player earn their jersey number, from veterans to true freshmen. This season, many returners have retained their number from last season.
“Usually, I start the team brand new each year. I think the landscape is different and I think year two for me is different,” Mendenhall said. “And I wanted to acknowledge those guys that stayed and there is a difference because they have been here and they have been through an off season. They’ve been through a spring. They’ve been through 13 games. They’ve been through a bowl game. They’ve been through another off-season. And I just thought that needed to be recognized.”
Normally, Bronco Mendenhall begins each year with every player having to earn a jersey number. This year, returning players have kept their numbers while the rest of the team will still have to earn them.”I wanted to acknowledge those guys that stayed.” pic.twitter.com/9Y60EPLM9m
— Jason Walker (@jwalker_sports) March 26, 2026
Aggies’ Quarterback Room
One of the positions Mendenhall was asked about, specifically, was the quarterbacks. This group for the Aggies will consist of two veteran transfers, McCae Hillstead and Grady Brosterhous, and three freshmen, Kaleb Maryland, Crew Cacciacarne and Brady Goodman.
“I really like our quarterback room. Robert [Anae] and I, our offensive coordinator, he is just shocked at the health of the room,” Mendenhall said. “Certainly with McCae Hillstead, there’s age and there is experience, meaning older and some college starts and being a backup, and there’s super value in that. And then Grady coming from the University of Virginia, and that’s a seasoned and older player. And then (Maryland) that’s won a 6A state championship in Texas football. That’s impressive. And that’s as a freshman coming in. Another walk-on player, Crew, a quarterback here from in-state, a great athlete also. And still another quarterback coming.”
Bronco Mendenhall on the Aggies’ quarterback room.”It’s probably one of the strongest positions on our team.”Talked about McCae Hillstead and Grady Brosterhous having a higher starting point with the program due to their experience, though he clarified that it “doesn’t mean… pic.twitter.com/pDPn3aFYUB
— Jason Walker (@jwalker_sports) March 26, 2026
The other quarterback coming is Goodman, who is the lone QB not with the team for spring practice but will join the team in summer after he graduates from high school.
There’s a lot that Mendenhall likes about this group, and it led him to place his quarterback room as one of the pest position groups on the team.
“I like the succession plan. I like the experience. I like the ability. I like the athleticism,” Mendenhall said. “Probably as healthy of starting point for a program that I’ve ever taken over, not only in maybe with a clear player that could be the starter, but with what the succession and the depth looks like. So it’s probably one of the strongest positions on our team, which if you need to have one, that’s the one you want to start with.”
Mendenhall and Robert Anae Reunion
With former offensive coordinator Kevin McGiven leaving for Utah, the Aggies needed to hire a new OC. And Mendenhall went and found an old friend, Robert Anae, who has served as offensive coordinator under Mendenhall for 15 total seasons at both BYU and Virginia.
Mendenhall light-heartedly noted that those 15 years probably puts him and Anae in the running for longest pairing of head coach and offensive coordinator in college football. So while the commonly used media turn of phrase “first-year offensive coordinator” in reference to Anae may be technically correct, it doesn’t really get to the heart of what this offensive coordinator change is like.
“It’s as if we just stopped at Virginia yesterday and we just started [today at Utah State],” Mendenhall said. “There’s no lag time. There’s no warm-up. There’s no reconnecting.”
Bronco Mendenhall on reuniting with offensive coordinator Robert Anae.”It’s as if we just stopped at Virginia yesterday and we just started [today at Utah State]. There’s no lag time. There’s no warm-up. There’s no reconnecting.”Anae has served as Mendenhall’s offensive… pic.twitter.com/4mC9OaVrFU
— Jason Walker (@jwalker_sports) March 26, 2026
Extending series with Utah
Utah State and the University of Utah recently announced additional games the two sides will play in the coming years, along with an adjustment to one of the already-planned upcoming games. The Aggies and Utes will play this year’s already-announced game on Sept. 19. Previously, there was only one more game planned beyond this year to be played in Salt Lake City in 2031. That game has been moved to 2030 while a home-and-home series has been tacked on to all of this with the Aggies hosting the Utes in 2031 and a return trip to Salt Lake City planned for 2033.
“I think it’s great for the state. I think it’s great for Utah State. I think it makes a lot more sense than traveling two time zones to play in a league that people don’t really care about, and there’s no natural rivalry,” Mendenhall said. “For the University of Utah to come to Maverik Stadium and play football, what a great thing for Utah State. And for us, to drive an hour away in the same time zone and play a game that has regional and significant meaning. I think it’s good for college football, and I think it makes a lot of sense.”
Bronco Mendenhall on Utah State’s series with Utah.”I think it’s great for the state. I think it’s great for Utah State. I think it makes a lot more sense than traveling two time zones to play in a league that people don’t really care about, and there’s no natural rivalry.”… pic.twitter.com/wb5WqdwR4t
— Jason Walker (@jwalker_sports) March 26, 2026
As of right now, the Utes are the only in-state team Utah State has a game scheduled against. No upcoming matchups with BYU or any of the in-state FCS schools have been scheduled.
“Most Aggressive” Schedule in Utah State History
On the related subject of scheduling, Mendenhall talked about this year’s schedule and its level of difficulty compared to recent years. He didn’t use the word “difficult” or any of its direct synonyms, but it’s a fair interpretation from what he did actually say.
“I just call it the most aggressive schedule in Utah State history,” Mendenhall said. “The Pac-12 is a really strong conference. Our non-conference games, also very strong. And what that flex game looks like, versus whom, that could possibly be another. Really exciting and challenging. And a great frame of reference to be practicing against knowing that’s what’s coming.”
I asked Bronco Mendenhall about the flex game in the Pac-12 schedule. He said that he, and likely other coaches, would have preferred a known opponent, but called it a creative and innovative move.Also said this year’s schedule is “the most aggressive in Utah State history.” pic.twitter.com/OycPZi5Lpc
— Jason Walker (@jwalker_sports) March 26, 2026
Utah State will be facing two Power 4 teams – Washington and Utah – which rank 21st and 26th in Bill Connelly’s 2026 initial SP+ rankings, plus a Pac-12 schedule that is expected to have fewer bottom-feeders. As such, there are far fewer “easy” wins than the Aggies have often had on their schedule.
Roster Funding and Player Value Inflation
When Mendenhall and his staff first dove into the process of acquiring players through the transfer portal, they were met with a bit of a nasty shock. The valuations they’d expected to see for players they were targeting were higher than expected. Three times higher, according to Mendenhall.
“I don’t think anyone anticipated that level [of increase],” Mendenhall said. “It seems to be doing that each year, so I’m not sure where that’s going to end, nor do I think it’s sustainable, nor do I think that most fan bases have the appetite for it to keep doing that.”
Bronco Mendenhall on the financial support the football team is getting from the AD and president.”They’re doing everything they can to support Utah State football, myself and our team, within reason, of reaching the goals that we have.” pic.twitter.com/NqNfzZwUih
— Jason Walker (@jwalker_sports) March 26, 2026
With the increase in money needed to bring players in, the program has needed more funds. And according to Mendenhall, their needs are being met.
“Our athletic director and our president, they’re doing everything they can to support Utah State football, myself and our team, within reason, of reaching the goals that we have,” Mendenhall said. “I feel really supported. Our team does, and I think we’re doing a really nice job, and we’re fiercely aligned, the president, the AD, and myself on how to do it.”
