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BYU Football: Scouting the Schedule – Utah State

By Shaun Gordon

PROVO, UT - OCTOBER 3: Wide receiver Devonte Robinson #3 and LaJuan Hunt #21 of the Utah State Aggies celebrate a touchdown during their 35-20 win over the previously unbeaten Brigham Young Cougars, at LaVell Edwards Stadium on October 3, 2014 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images )
PROVO, UT - OCTOBER 3: Wide receiver Devonte Robinson #3 and LaJuan Hunt #21 of the Utah State Aggies celebrate a touchdown during their 35-20 win over the previously unbeaten Brigham Young Cougars, at LaVell Edwards Stadium on October 3, 2014 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images ) /
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Lawless Republic’s Scouting the Schedule series continues with BYU Football’s sixth game of the 2018 season, in-state opponent Utah State.

BYU Football’s own version of Friday Night Lights will kick off the October schedule after a brutal September gauntlet.

On October 5th, Utah State will invade LaVell Edwards Stadium, looking to make it two straight wins against BYU.

For the Cougars, this game may mark the difference between a bowl-eligible season and another losing record.

It’s very possible that BYU enters this game at either 1-4 or 2-3, and a loss to the Aggies would dig the Cougars into a nearly insurmountable hole.

Fortunately for the Cougars, this game comes at home.

Not so fortunately for the Cougars, Utah State may field one the best team they’ve had since 2014.

Last Year

Entering 2017, head coach Matt Wells found himself on the hot seat after two straight losing seasons and a 3-9 record in 2016. That hot seat stayed warm as the Aggies struggled to a 3-4 start last season.

One of those wins, though, came against the Cougars. BYU took control early, but after quarterback Beau Hoge went down with an injury, the Cougars completely fell apart. Koy Detmer Jr. threw three interceptions, and the Aggies ran away with the 40-24 win.

Utah State got hot after a narrow loss to Wyoming, winning three of their next four after switching quarterbacks to redshirt freshman Jordan Love. Those wins clinched bowl eligibility and bought Wells at least one more year.

The season ended on a sour note for the Aggies, though. They lost their final regular-season matchup against Air Force, then fell 26-20 in overtime to New Mexico State in the Arizona Bowl.

Offseason

The Aggies didn’t lose many of their main contributors to graduation, but they did lose two key players: All-Amercian cornerback Jalen Davis and running back LaJuan Hunt. Hunt led Utah State with 853 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground.

Utah State also brought in some coaching help, hiring Keith Patterson as co-Defensive Coordinator. Patterson served as the coordinator at Arizona state for the last four years.

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