Coming off a much-needed win last Saturday, Utah State will host Fresno State as the end of Pac-12 play, and the regular season, is appearing on the horizon. Here is all the necessary info to prepare you for the Aggies’ next foray into Pac-12 play. You can also check out more detailed previews elsewhere on Cache Valley Daily and from the Full Court Press (linked just below).
Game Info
- Game Day: Oct. 31 (Sat)
- Location: Merlin Olsen Field (Logan, UT)
- Kickoff Time: 1:30 p.m. MT
- TV Broadcast: USA Network
- Radio Broadcast: KVNU 102.1 FM / 610 AM
KVNU Aggie Gameday pregame show with Stockton Jewkes and J.D. Walker: Begins at 11:30 p.m. on 102.1 FM, 610 AM, or stream online at kvnutalk.com
KVNU Aggie Call Postgame: Will begin immediately following Coach Bronco Mendenhall’s postgame comments, also on 102.1 FM, 610 AM, or streamed online at kvnutalk.com
- Text (435) 554-1175 or call (435) 753-5868 during the pregame or postgame show to share your thoughts and reactions.
Availability Report
Both teams submitted official availability reports to the Pac-12. These reports were originally submitted Wednesday evening and are updated periodically up until kickoff. These listings reflect the latest updates as of publication.
Utah State
- Bronson Olevao Jr. (LB) – PROBABLE
- John Randle Jr. (OL) – PROBABLE
- Jimmy Liston (OL) – QUESTIONABLE
- Chapman Lewis (DB) – DOUBTFUL
- Eli Wood (WR) – DOUBTFUL
- Landon Rehkow (P) – OUT
- Harrison Taggart (LB) – OUT
- John McClellan (LB) – OUT
- Tevita Tuha (DL) – OUT
- Nikko Boncore (WR) – OUT FOR SEASON
- Chris Joe (ILB) – OUT FOR SEASON
- Jude Nelson (TE) – OUT FOR SEASON
- Kauasi Hansen (OL) – OUT FOR SEASON
A few Aggies have been dropped from the report — Adonis Jackson, Rex Haynes, Diego Grateron and Joshua Papu — but some significant names remain on the list. Chapman Lewis and Eli Wood are doubtful, the latter being especially important for an offense that needs playmakers. Landon Rehkow also remains out after missing last week. Defensive lineman Tevita Tuha joined the report and is out for the upcoming game. A name to keep an eye on is Jimmy Liston. He wasn’t on the report last week and joined the Wednesday report as questionable for the upcoming game.
Fresno State
- Ethan Rossetti (LS) – QUESTIONABLE
- Jahzon Jacks (DL) – QUESTIONABLE
- Jairus Satele (DL) – QUESTIONABLE
- Lucas Blumling (LB) – QUESTIONABLE
- Niko Baumgartner (LB) – QUESTIONABLE
- Gino Quinones (OL) – OUT
- Noah Yeh (DL) – OUT
- Ryan Wilson (DB) – OUT
Most of Fresno State’s injury report consists of defensive players who haven’t seen too many snaps this season. Jahzon Jacks is a name to keep an eye on as he’s been a consistent feature in the Bulldogs’ defensive line. He missed last week’s game against Oregon State but played in the first seven. Jacks has 11 pressures on the season with one sack and four tackles for loss.
Statistical Leaders
Passing
- Utah State: Grady Brosterhous — 99/178 (55.6%), 1,120 yards (160.0/game), 7 TD, 6 INT
- Fresno State: Jayden Mandal — 134/212 (63.2%), 1,595 yards (199.4/game), 10 TD, 2 INT
Rushing
- Utah State: Javen Jacobs — 98 rush att, 491 yards (5.0/att), 3 TD
- Fresno State: Bryson Donelson — 81 rush att, 407 yards (5.0/att), 6 TD
Receiving
- Utah State: Eli Wood — 37 receptions, 479 yards, 5 TD
- Fresno State: Josiah Freeman — 38 receptions, 533 yards, 4 TD
Defense
- Utah State: Asher Cunningham (LB) — 65 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 pass defended
- Fresno State: K’Vion Thunderbird (LB) — 66 tackles, 4.0 TFL, 1.0 sack
Three Keys for Utah State
Zero Turnovers on Offense
Fresno State ranks among the best in the country in forcing turnovers with 14 total on the season (which ranks 14th in FBS). That’s a dangerous thing for any offense to deal with, but if you’re the Aggies, averaging a mere 1.5 points per drive on offense (good for 130th in FBS), any turnover is catastrophic. Utah State can’t just be aiming to win the turnover battle, it has to be flawless when it comes to protecting the ball.
Maintain the Run Game
It isn’t any sort of coincidence that Utah State’s three best games on offense correlate perfectly with the Aggies’ three best rushing performances. Who ends up as the most impactful runner isn’t really an important question. Javen Jacobs was the man against Boise State, rushing for 139 yards to aid in the 18 points scored that week. Jacobs and Brosterhous tag-teamed the effort against Troy, running for 84 and 89 yards, respectively. Then, against Colorado State, it was a more balanced effort. Hillstead led the way with 79, but the Aggies got 56 from Jacobs and a combined 116 yards from Noah White, Sesi Vailahi, Nehemiah Washington and Javon Robinson.
Having a consistent run game is so important for USU in multiple ways. First, and most crucial, it ensures the Aggies aren’t constantly behind the chains and facing long second-and-third-down scenarios. Secondly, it balances things out with the passing game. Utah State doesn’t have a pass attack capable of thriving on its own and needs a good run game to support it.
Dominate Field Position
Back in Week 2, Utah State nearly pulled off an upset over Washington in part because the Aggies kept pinning the Huskies deep in their own territory. That kept the points down for Washington and gave Utah State’s offense a really good starting position. In the end, it didn’t result in a win, but that doesn’t mean the method was flawed. The Aggies’ dominance in the field position game was pretty much the only reason they had a chance in the end.
Utah State’s defense and special teams need to combine for a similarly dominant performance (or generate some turnovers, but Fresno State has coughed the ball up just five times in eight games, so that’s unlikely). Not only does it have an obvious negative impact on the opposing offense, but it could give the Aggie offense much shorter fields. And that’s the kind of buff a lackluster offense could eventually take advantage of for a few crucial extra points in what may end up being a low-scoring contest.
History of Utah State vs Fresno State
- All-Time Series: Fresno State leads 19-14-1
- Most Recent Meeting: Nov. 22, 2026 (Utah State won 28-17)
- First-Ever Meeting: Oct. 18, 1952 (Fresno State won 27-21)
The Aggies won a surprising victory against Fresno State last season. The Bulldogs were 7-3, compared to Utah State’s 5-5. One side was chasing a Mountain West title while the other was on the edge of making a bowl game, and had to pull off an upset to do so. Fresno State were the home team, but were shocked by an 11-point defeat, thanks in large part to a heroic effort from USU quarterback Bryson Barnes, who made several key plays to push the Aggies ahead and keep it that way.
Game Prediction
Here are the score predictions from Cache Valley Media Group staff.
Eric Frandsen — Fresno State wins 21-18
Jason Walker — Fresno State wins 23-10
Stockton Jewkes — Fresno State wins 27-17
Craig Hislop — Utah State wins 24-21
