3identity shift
Utah State's fanbase identity is shifting
Bronco Mendenhall begins his first season at Utah State with a 6-7 losing record to inherit, as the program's identity hinges on recapturing the 2012 era's altitude and bowl success.
Utah State6-7The Utah State faithful are all the way in.
belief warmed ↑ 2.7vs prior week
Fanbase belief
Bullish
62/100 · 55 mentions · top 9% of FBS
~ our readGrounding
running on emotion
4% cite a stat · 7% typical ✓ counted
~ our readVolatility
Chaotic
σ 25 pts
Credible bullish
~ our readThe model
#98
CFB Zeitgeist · -2.8
✓ measured3Hope-Doping·Offseason
Utah State is the high-altitude Cache Valley program that hands you a loss when you're not looking — now steadied by a veteran rebuilder and, improbably, packing its bags for the Pac-12.
Title DroughtSince 2021 · 4 yrs
Aggie fans have spent forever as the state's third program, behind Utah and BYU, told Logan is too small and too cold to matter. They'll point to the Pac-12 invitation and ask which little brother is…
offseason · quiet
Roster Reload - Utah State
2026 snapshot - 2026-08-06Returning Production63%Moderate continuity
Talent Composite#114 nationally247 composite 503.6
Portal Additions29Primary repair: DL
Portal Losses19Primary pressure: P
Draft Loss0No NFL Draft departures recorded
Recruiting Reload#97Depth class
WRin 4 - Eli Woodout 4 - Braden PeganEven
current room: 199 lbs avg (2025 roster)
EDGEin 4 - James Jennetteout 4 - William HolmesEven
Sin 4 - David Kabongoout 2 - Gio KafentzisNeed Filled
current room: 191 lbs avg (2025 roster)
DLin 4 - Kasen Longout 1 - Kone Aumua-UiagaleleiNeed Filled
current room: 286 lbs avg (2025 roster)
CBin 3 - Antonio Bluiettout 2 - Abe JagerUpgrade
current room: 186 lbs avg (2025 roster)
LBin 2 - Harrison Taggartout 1 - Tymere BurtonUpgrade
current room: 232 lbs avg (2025 roster)
Belief EKG
WinLoss · hover for scorePrior seasons
Approaching
30 days
until kickoff · vs Idaho State · Sat Sep 5 · 23:00 UTC
The experience
Utah State is the Mountain West program whose 2012 11-2 + Famous Idaho Potato Bowl + Maverik Stadium altitude define what Logan-Utah-G5-football looks like.
Offense: StrongTempo: Explosive, big-playDefense: Poor
Utah State projects to finish 7-6 with a bowl game appearance
The team's moderate continuity and strong portal additions support a base scenario of 7-6, while its depth class recruiting and net portal importer status bolster its chances.
- Roster reloadUtah State has a returning_total_pct of 63% and a transfer_in_total of 29 players, indicating moderate continuity and significant infusion of new talent.
Data as of 2026-08-03
·
Validated against program evidence
Big Blue the Aggie is patient.
Utah State · the story right now
6 storylines developing
What Utah State's coaching hire is really about
the open questioncan a new staff change the trajectory?
coachingthis cycle~readnew
Bronco Mendenhall begins his first season at Utah State with 96% QB production returning and a 6-7 record to build on in a program defined by altitude and bowl runs.
what happenedBronco Mendenhall took over as Utah State's head coach, replacing Nate Dreiling. ✓ fact
the contextreplaces 3-year head coach Blake Anderson (22-15)
narrative tension · our read
coordinatorsthis cycle~readnew
Bronco Mendenhall begins his first season at Utah State, inheriting a 6-7 losing record and a program defined by its 2012 11-2 run and unique G5 identity.
what happenedUtah State: coordinator change reshaping a unit. ✓ fact
narrative tension · our read
market_swing2026-06-25~readnew
Bronco Mendenhall begins his first season at Utah State with a 6-7 losing record to inherit and a program identity rooted in 2012's 11-2 season.
what happenedUtah State win total rose from 5 to 5.5 (+0.5 wins) between Jun 24 and Jun 25, 2026 (tier C). ✓ fact
the contextwin total up 0.5 from 5.0 to 5.5
narrative tension · our read
garbage timethis cycle~attributednew
Brady Boyd: a garbage time merchant signal screened this season.
narrative tension · our read
identitythis cycle~readnew
Bronco Mendenhall begins his first season at Utah State with a 6-7 losing record to inherit, as the program's identity hinges on recapturing the 2012 era's altitude and bowl success.
what happenedUtah State: the fanbase's identity shifting. ✓ fact
narrative tension · our read
coordinatorsthis cycle~readnew
Bronco Mendenhall begins his first season at Utah State with a 6-7 losing record to inherit, challenging him to reshape a program defined by its 2012 legacy.
what happenedUtah State: coordinator change reshaping a unit. ✓ fact
narrative tension · our read
How past storylines here turned out
AnsweredUtah State's head-coaching hire held for another season.
ReplacedUtah State's offensive coordinator spot turned over again the following season. See who's next →
ReplacedUtah State's defensive coordinator spot turned over again the following season. See who's next →
The story
The Offseason Ledger · Utah State
3 verified updates · portal · recruiting · staff · news- News
Matt Wells joins Utah State staff
Wells knows this program's bones — a #96 class and a thin P room don't scare a guy who already built Aggies into a MWC contender once, and Mendenhall just bought himself a coach who doesn't need a learning curve.
- Recruiting
Monson Tukuafu commits to Utah
Utah locks up an in-state kid before he could look elsewhere — depth class ranked #87 nationally means the Utes need every homegrown brick they can get.
- News
Win total: 5 → 5.5 (▲0.5)
Mendenhall hire bought half a win on the board — market's not sold yet, but a #87 class with real pressure at punter doesn't scream 'ceiling raised,' it screams 'wait and see.'
Transfer portal snapshot
+4.7 net portal points
(raw ledger: +37.2 — unweighted, no position adjustment)DL+11.4
need not filled
S+8.8
need not filled
IOL+6.7
need not filled
CB+3.9
LB+3.4
QB+3.2
TE+3.2
low confidence
K-1.0
P-1.0
low confidence
WR-0.9
EDGE-0.5
OT-0.1
RB+0.1
Top 3 commits
2026 class
★★★☆☆
Viliami Tapa'atoutai
#1114 national
★★★☆☆
Dontae Dyson
#1211 national
★★★☆☆
Brody Flores
#1211 national
Profiles like a typical incoming linebacker — 16 of his 25 closest recruiting profiles since 2018 shared the Balanced Linebacker archetype.~our read · projection from recruiting profile — no college snaps yet
↑
Among the stronger offseasons on record for this program
91st percentile among FBS programs
Fan vs. market↑
91st
Fan percentile
(FBS mood rank)
(FBS mood rank)
5.5
Vegas O/U wins
(26th among FBS)
(26th among FBS)
Fans 65pp more bullish than market implies
Win total consensus · 3 books
Market outlook
Season expectations
Win total3 booksO/U 5.5▲0.5 since Jun 2026
CFP championship#102 in field+100000
Sportsbook consensus · best odds across multiple books · 2026-08-06
Utah State · Next-Season Outcome Band
Utah State · Next-Season Outcome BandFloor / Base / Ceiling
Floor 4-8
Base 7-6
Ceiling 9-4
floor4-8No postseason.
base7-6Bowl game.
ceiling9-4Bowl game.
Final-season-aware projection: floor / base / ceiling include conference title and CFP games where the model supports them, so a ceiling can exceed a 12-game regular season.
How the room reacted
Developing · Utah State · Coaching Confidence
The Bronco Mendenhall era at Utah State: where it actually stands.
Bronco Mendenhall took over as Utah State's head coach, replacing Nate Dreiling. It is replaces 3-year head coach Blake Anderson (22-15). The coverage has largely bought in. The field test is what separates the presser from the program. The coverage has largely bought in, though the field test is still ahead.
near-unanimous belief
where the takes land · dot = how loud
DOUBTBELIEF
Believers4 bull takes
💬 fans: 1% volume · mostly neutral
Developing2 new this week
yesterdayOct 11, 2025; Honolulu, Hawaii, USA; Utah State Aggies head coach Bronco Mendenhall walks the field before his team takes on the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors at Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex. Mandatory Credit: Marco Garcia-Imagn Images — The Post Star
3 days agoCan Utah State be a contender in the new Pac-12 with Bronco Mendenhall? — The Salt Lake Tribune
2 weeks agoUtah State’s Bronco Mendenhall and Javen Jacobs Nominated for Allstate AFCA Good Works Team — Utah State University Athletics
Jun 25Win total: 5 → 5.5 (▲0.5)
The cast who's driving the story · latest headline on each, attributed
Bronco Mendenhall Head coach
“Oct 11, 2025; Honolulu, Hawaii, USA; Utah State Aggies head coach Bronco Mendenhall walks the field before his team takes on the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors at Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex. Mandatory Credit: Marco Garcia-Imagn Images” — The Post Star · 2026-08-05
Nate Dreiling Out
CFB Zeitgeist Read · our take
Bronco Mendenhall begins his first season at Utah State with 96% QB production returning and a 6-7 record to build on in a program defined by altitude and bowl runs.
Next · what to watch
The obvious story is the marquee name; the non-obvious one is roster churn — a coaching change keeps a portal and decommit window open long after the introductory presser. Watch decommitments and portal moves in the next window — that's where this is actually won or lost, not at the podium. The boards are already there — one thread raises exactly this.
Source of record: Bronco Mendenhall took over as Utah State's head coach, replacing Nate Dreiling — replaces 3-year head coach Blake Anderson (22-15).
How each room reacted — tap to expand
📣Believers4 bullish/hire items -- the case it's working.›
The 'this hire changes everything' takes -- new-era believers making the case early.
“Can Utah State be a contender in the new Pac-12 with Bronco Mendenhall?”
The Salt Lake Tribune · 2026-08-03 · read ↗
“Bronco Mendenhall's secret weapon: How Utah State uses analytics to win | Ultimate Aggie Podcast”
KSL Sports · 2026-06-09 · read ↗
“USU football: Mendenhall talks about latest recruiting class”
The Herald Journal · 2026-02-04 · read ↗
🧐SkepticsNo prominent dissent — the coverage runs one way.›
The 'show me the body of work' counter -- resume gaps, scheme fits, and 'not that guy' reads.
Nothing in our corpus yet — this door stays open for when there is.
💬The boards7 board mentions — too thin to call a stance. Board mood this week: mostly neutral · joy dominant (55%).›
Only 7 of 679 board posts mention it — below our floor to call a community stance. Shown as texture, not a verdict.
"... l-share-ta “ Hillstead actually began his career with the Aggies and played a good bit as a true freshman in 2023 (1,062 passing yards and 11 TDs). He transferred to BYU after"
USUFans ~ fan take
"Again... If our standard or expectation for success is just to beat enough bad teams to limp to a 6-6 record each year and play in the Potato Bowl, you can accomplish that for half"
USUFans ~ fan take
Board health this week (55 posts): 7% positive · 88% neutral · 5% negative. Team-level weekly mood — not specific to this event. The boards ≠ the fanbase: a self-selected vocal slice.
🔗The dominoes7 downstream moves — the hire's knock-on effects.›
The second-order trail: commits, decommits, portal and staff knock-on from the hire.
“Utah State Football enters Pac-12 era with new offensive coordinator, quarterback”
kjzz.com · 2026-08-05 · read ↗
“7 games to watch multiple in-state University of Utah commits this fall”
Deseret News · 2026-07-30 · read ↗
Following now · Utah State · Developing Confidence
Utah State: coordinator change reshaping a unit.
Utah State: coordinator change reshaping a unit.
the room is genuinely split
where the takes land · dot = how loud
DOUBTBELIEF
Skeptics2 doubt takes
Believers3 bull takes
💬 fans: 20% volume · mostly neutral
CFB Zeitgeist Read · our take
Bronco Mendenhall begins his first season at Utah State, inheriting a 6-7 losing record and a program defined by its 2012 11-2 run and unique G5 identity.
Source of record: Utah State: coordinator change reshaping a unit.
How each room is reacting — tap to expand
📣Believers3 bullish items -- the case it's working.›
The optimistic read: momentum, and the 'this is real' takes.
“Utah State’s Hamblin, Liston named to Bronko Nagurski, Outland preseason watchlists”
KSL Sports · 2026-08-04 · read ↗
“Utah State’s Jimmy Liston Named to Outland Trophy Preseason Watch List”
Utah State University Athletics · 2026-08-04 · read ↗
“Can Utah State be a contender in the new Pac-12 with Bronco Mendenhall?”
The Salt Lake Tribune · 2026-08-03 · read ↗
🧐Skeptics“As Utah State readies for first day of fall camp, one question l” — the real counter.›
The analytical counter: rankings, results, and 'the hype is ahead of the tape' takes.
“As Utah State readies for first day of fall camp, one question looms: How good can this offense be?”
Deseret News · 2026-08-04 · read ↗
“Utah State embraces challenge of tougher schedule”
abc4.com · 2026-08-04 · read ↗
💬The boards20% of recent board volume — the fanbase is locked in. Board mood this week: mostly neutral · joy dominant (55%).›
This event was in 135 of 679 board posts (20%) over the last 60 days — a fanbase consumed by it. Fan text shown verbatim, attributed to the community not the individual poster.
"I think saud Utah State was expecting to pay around 13m so anything less than that is a huge win. Way back Diana told me that's what they were hoping to get away with paying. Stati"
USUFans ~ fan take
"The reporting is just under $10 million per departing team and just over $20 million from the conference. If it cost 10 million to leave and the media deal for MW schools staying i"
USUFans ~ fan take
Board health this week (55 posts): 7% positive · 88% neutral · 5% negative. Team-level weekly mood — not specific to this event. The boards ≠ the fanbase: a self-selected vocal slice.
Recent Form · last 10 games
Cooling
Two of five. Schedule has caught up.
Streak L2Last 5 · 2-3Last 10 · 4-6
The forecast
Opens Sep 5
vs Idaho State · at home
Season line5.5 winsover -140
StrongExplosive, big-playPoor
✓ fact on line · ~ our read on style
Rival pulse
BYU
Hopeful+10
Old Wagon Wheel
Fan mood index · most recent r/cfb data
Recruiting Footprint · 2026
Recruiting Footprint · 2026
20
UT · 9CA · 3TX · 2AZ · 1CO · 1HI · 1ID · 1NV · 1+1 more
UT leads the 2026 class with 9 commits. National footprint reaching 9 states.
Where they recruit · 2023-2026
101 signees across 22 states, 2023-2026. UT leads the pull.
r/cfb this year
[Postgame Thread] Utah State Defeats McNeese 48-7
Top community posts · last 12 months · r/cfb
National spotlight
10 games with TV coverage: 1 national broadcast, 1 ESPN, 6 cable, 2 conference network
Kickoff windows: 2 noon, 2 afternoon, 6 primetime
Fumble luck
The bounces have gone their way on the fumbles they've forced: 57% recovered, vs. ~49% expected.
4 of 7 forced fumbles recovered; 6 of 12 own fumbles recovered themselves, 2025 only.
Takeaway conversion
Cashing in at a normal clip: 19% of disrupted passes intercepted, close to ~19% league-wide.
10 interceptions of 54 disrupted passes (44 deflected, 10 intercepted), 2025 only.
Penalty battle
The flags haven't favored them: 99 penalties committed vs. 80 drawn on opponents, 47 yards behind.
782 penalty yards committed vs. 735 drawn on opponents, 2025 season total.
The Pulse on Utah State
62
Δ +2.7 vs last wk
55
mentions this week · conversation velocity
What moved it — fall camp · last 14 days
Camp
Fall camp open — install + scrimmage cycle
ongoing
Kickoff
Season opener in 16 days
kickoff
"Big Blue"
— Utah State fanbase · recurring line
Fanbase Signals
Cohort Divergence1 pctSpread between sub-fanbase cohorts in the Pulse window.
The Fever Year
Position = mood · width = volume · color = the kind of feeling
Cr/CFB
GGoogle News
MMountain West Connection
CCampus paper
UUSUFans
BBluesky
YYouTube
What little we hear
Only 4 cohort(s) cleared the signal floor this week, so we won’t stage a split we can’t back. Here’s the honest read:
Millennials+0.25
Analytics crowd+0.25
Gen Z+0.24
National take+0.24
How Utah State fans actually talk real · top-upvoted
Rr/CFBthe room
What makes the Alabama dynasty so incredible is how shocked we all are every time they lose
▲ 5.4k ▼open ↗
The crowd’s loudest take by upvotes — read for mood, not as a side. The cohort read is the measured part.
132 mentions · 7 sources · week 2026-01. Counts, sources and the divergence rank are measured (fact). Cohort labels and sentiment are a source-weighted model read (our read) — never a quote attributed to a person.
Belief checklight on evidence
~ our readUtah State fans are split right down the middle, but it's more feel than fact right now.
backed by facts
the mood
✓ counted We read 55 posts from Utah State fans this week.
Season storylines
Week 5
Week 7
“Yes- the main hospital parking lot is, on game days, the closest, most prestigious tailgate lot. The lot is actually owned by the athletics department and leased to the hospital for use on every day that isn’t a home football game. Result is that on game day, you can look …”— r/CFB
Week 12
“After last week I was sure we weren't going bowling. I am pleasantly surprised. Bryson is a beast, best qb in the conference for sure”— r/CFB
Week 1
“We seemed like a fairly competent football team which is a welcome change. Too many procedural penalties, but that's better than all the unsportsmanlike penalties of the last few years lol.”— r/CFB
Week 3
“Me and a group of friends are going to Nashville for the weekend and the game. It will not be pretty lol. Hopefully downtown Nashville is fun though”— r/CFB
Forum Pulse
via USUFans
Five Lenses
What people are saying right now
Radio, beat writers & editorial16 posts
Diehard fan boards14 posts
News & campus coverage11 posts
Fanbase Health Index · Utah State · high confidence
Fanbase Health Index · Utah State · high confidenceGrowing (58)
DecliningStableGrowingSurging
On-Field — 6-7 (46% win rate)58
Volume — 348 effective signal-N81
Cohort Engagement — Divergence 0.01 — quiet35
Key stats — 2025 — FBS rank
Points/game#31 / 138 · 78th pct30.9
Pts allowed/game#91 / 138 · 35th pct28.7
Total yards/gm#46 / 136 · 67th pct409.8
Rush yards/gm#61 / 136 · 56th pct162.9
Pass yards/gm#44 / 136 · 68th pct246.9
Yards allowed/gm#131 / 136 · 4th pct440.5
Rush yds allowed/gm#116 / 136 · 15th pct181.7
Sacks#50 / 136 · 64th pct29
Interceptions#34 / 136 · 76th pct13
3rd-down conv#111 / 136 · 19th pct34.5%
All 98 stats
Offense / Defense
Total yards
Team5328409.8/gm6.28/play#46 / 136 · 67th pct#28 / 70 · 61st pct#3 / 8 · 75th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct
Opp5727440.5/gm5.96/play#131 / 136 · 4th pct#69 / 70 · 3rd pct#8 / 8 · 12th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct
Rush yards
Team2118162.9/gm2.50/play#61 / 136 · 56th pct#31 / 70 · 57th pct#5 / 8 · 50th pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct
Opp2362181.7/gm2.46/play#116 / 136 · 15th pct#65 / 70 · 9th pct#7 / 8 · 25th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct
Rush carries
Team44534.2/gm#72 / 136 · 48th pct#33 / 70 · 54th pct#5 / 8 · 50th pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct
Opp48337.2/gm#101 / 136 · 26th pct#59 / 70 · 17th pct#6 / 8 · 38th pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct
Rush TDs
Team251.9/gm#46 / 136 · 67th pct#26 / 70 · 64th pct#3 / 8 · 75th pct#2 / 12 · 92nd pct
Opp191.5/gm#68 / 136 · 51st pct#43 / 70 · 40th pct#5 / 8 · 50th pct#4 / 12 · 75th pct
Net pass yards
Team3210246.9/gm3.79/play#44 / 136 · 68th pct#25 / 70 · 66th pct#3 / 8 · 75th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct
Opp3365258.8/gm3.50/play#129 / 136 · 6th pct#66 / 70 · 7th pct#8 / 8 · 12th pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct
Pass attempts
Team40331.0/gm#66 / 136 · 52nd pct#33 / 70 · 54th pct#4 / 8 · 62nd pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct
Opp47836.8/gm#128 / 136 · 7th pct#65 / 70 · 9th pct#8 / 8 · 12th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct
Completions
Team24218.6/gm#70 / 136 · 49th pct#39 / 70 · 46th pct#6 / 8 · 38th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct
Opp28221.7/gm#120 / 136 · 12th pct#59 / 70 · 17th pct#8 / 8 · 12th pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct
Pass TDs
Team262.0/gm#25 / 136 · 82nd pct#17 / 70 · 77th pct#1 / 8 · 100th pct#5 / 12 · 67th pct
Opp262.0/gm#127 / 136 · 7th pct#66 / 70 · 7th pct#8 / 8 · 12th pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct
Passer rating
Team141.8141.8#43 / 136 · 69th pct#30 / 70 · 59th pct#2 / 8 · 88th pct#4 / 12 · 75th pct
Opp134.0134.0#70 / 136 · 49th pct#40 / 70 · 44th pct#5 / 8 · 50th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct
Interceptions thrown
Team50.4/gm#129 / 136 · 6th pct#66 / 70 · 7th pct#8 / 8 · 12th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct
Opp131.0/gm#96 / 136 · 30th pct#49 / 70 · 31st pct#5 / 8 · 50th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct
Sacks (def)
Team292.2/gm#50 / 136 · 64th pct#32 / 70 · 56th pct#3 / 8 · 75th pct#4 / 10 · 70th pct
Opp423.2/gm#129 / 136 · 6th pct#66 / 70 · 7th pct#8 / 8 · 12th pct#9 / 10 · 20th pct
Tackles for loss
Team644.9/gm#83 / 136 · 40th pct#45 / 70 · 37th pct#5 / 8 · 50th pct#9 / 10 · 20th pct
Opp876.7/gm#126 / 136 · 8th pct#66 / 70 · 7th pct#8 / 8 · 12th pct#6 / 10 · 50th pct
First downs
Team26820.6/gm#57 / 136 · 59th pct#35 / 70 · 51st pct#3 / 8 · 75th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct
Opp29422.6/gm#126 / 136 · 8th pct#67 / 70 · 6th pct#8 / 8 · 12th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct
3rd-down conv
Team594.5/gm#107 / 136 · 22nd pct#57 / 70 · 20th pct#6 / 8 · 38th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct
Opp816.2/gm#128 / 136 · 7th pct#67 / 70 · 6th pct#8 / 8 · 12th pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct
3rd-down att
Team17113.2/gm#75 / 136 · 46th pct#33 / 70 · 54th pct#5 / 8 · 50th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct
Opp20115.5/gm#122 / 136 · 11th pct#62 / 70 · 13th pct#7 / 8 · 25th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct
4th-down conv
Team70.5/gm#124 / 136 · 10th pct#66 / 70 · 7th pct#8 / 8 · 12th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct
Opp181.4/gm#106 / 136 · 23rd pct#53 / 70 · 26th pct#7 / 8 · 25th pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct
4th-down att
Team131.0/gm#133 / 136 · 3rd pct#68 / 70 · 4th pct#8 / 8 · 12th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct
Opp362.8/gm#122 / 136 · 11th pct#61 / 70 · 14th pct#7 / 8 · 25th pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct
Time of possession
Team354:0427:14/gm#103 / 136 · 25th pct#52 / 70 · 27th pct#7 / 8 · 25th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct
Opp425:3832:44/gm#127 / 136 · 7th pct#64 / 70 · 10th pct#8 / 8 · 12th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct
Kicking & Punting
Field goals#98 / 135 · 28th pct13/18 (72.2%)
Extra points45/47
Punting#77 / 136 · 44th pct42.9 avg · 68 punts
Turnovers & special teams
Turnovers
Team110.8/gm#121 / 136 · 12th pct#59 / 70 · 17th pct#8 / 8 · 12th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct
Opp171.3/gm#71 / 136 · 49th pct#37 / 70 · 49th pct#5 / 8 · 50th pct#4 / 12 · 75th pct
Fumbles lost
Team60.5/gm#69 / 136 · 50th pct#28 / 70 · 61st pct#6 / 8 · 38th pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct
Opp40.3/gm#19 / 136 · 87th pct#11 / 70 · 86th pct#4 / 8 · 62nd pct#4 / 12 · 75th pct
INT return TDs
Team10.1/gm#36 / 135 · 74th pct#19 / 70 · 74th pct#4 / 8 · 62nd pct#5 / 12 · 67th pct
Opp00.0/gm#1 / 136 · 100th pct#1 / 70 · 100th pct#1 / 8 · 100th pct#1 / 10 · 100th pct
INT return yards
Team1269.7/gm#62 / 136 · 55th pct#32 / 70 · 56th pct#6 / 8 · 38th pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct
Opp50.4/gm#1 / 136 · 100th pct#1 / 70 · 100th pct#1 / 8 · 100th pct#1 / 12 · 100th pct
Punt ret yds
Team604.6/gm#115 / 136 · 16th pct#62 / 70 · 13th pct#8 / 8 · 12th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct
Opp18414.2/gm#108 / 136 · 21st pct#58 / 70 · 19th pct#7 / 8 · 25th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct
Punt ret TDs
Team00.0/gm#43 / 135 · 69th pct#23 / 70 · 69th pct#4 / 8 · 62nd pct#8 / 10 · 30th pct
Opp10.1/gm#97 / 135 · 29th pct#52 / 70 · 27th pct#7 / 8 · 25th pct#6 / 10 · 50th pct
Kick ret yds
Team31624.3/gm#97 / 136 · 29th pct#45 / 70 · 37th pct#7 / 8 · 25th pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct
Opp60746.7/gm#110 / 136 · 20th pct#61 / 70 · 14th pct#7 / 8 · 25th pct#5 / 12 · 67th pct
Kick ret TDs
Team00.0/gm#40 / 136 · 71st pct#17 / 70 · 77th pct#2 / 8 · 88th pct#8 / 10 · 30th pct
Opp00.0/gm#1 / 135 · 100th pct#1 / 70 · 100th pct#1 / 8 · 100th pct#1 / 10 · 100th pct
Penalty yards
Team78260.2/gm#35 / 136 · 75th pct#17 / 70 · 77th pct#3 / 8 · 75th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct
Opp73556.5/gm#96 / 136 · 30th pct#56 / 70 · 21st pct#4 / 8 · 62nd pct#5 / 12 · 67th pct
Other
Passes intercepted opponent#5 / 136 · 97th pct#3 / 70 · 97th pct#1 / 8 · 100th pct#2 / 12 · 92nd pct50.4/gm
Penalties#11 / 136 · 93rd pct#4 / 70 · 96th pct#1 / 8 · 100th pct#4 / 12 · 75th pct997.6/gm
Interceptions (def)#34 / 136 · 76th pct#19 / 70 · 74th pct#4 / 8 · 62nd pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct131.0/gm
Fumbles rec (def)#46 / 136 · 67th pct#29 / 70 · 60th pct#3 / 8 · 75th pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct60.5/gm
First down pass rate#69 / 215 · 68th pct#21 / 70 · 71st pct#2 / 8 · 88th pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct0.50.0/gm
H1 epa per play#74 / 162 · 55th pct#46 / 70 · 36th pct#5 / 8 · 50th pct0.20.0/gm
Punt returns#80 / 136 · 42nd pct#48 / 70 · 33rd pct#5 / 8 · 50th pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct141.1/gm
H2 epa per play#81 / 142 · 44th pct#44 / 70 · 39th pct#3 / 8 · 75th pct0.20.0/gm
Penalties (opp)#84 / 136 · 39th pct#50 / 70 · 30th pct#3 / 8 · 75th pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct806.2/gm
Red zone pass rate#85 / 154 · 45th pct#39 / 70 · 46th pct#5 / 8 · 50th pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct0.40.0/gm
Recruiting rating#87 / 138 · 38th pct#68 / 70 · 4th pct#5 / 8 · 50th pct#1 / 12 · 100th pct159.312.3/gm
H1 epa per play opponent#90 / 167 · 47th pct#49 / 70 · 31st pct#6 / 8 · 38th pct0.20.0/gm
Kick returns#93 / 136 · 32nd pct#44 / 70 · 39th pct#7 / 8 · 25th pct#12 / 12 · 8th pct161.2/gm
Punt ret (opp)#108 / 136 · 21st pct#60 / 70 · 16th pct#7 / 8 · 25th pct#11 / 12 · 17th pct201.5/gm
Fumbles recovered#109 / 136 · 21st pct#57 / 70 · 20th pct#5 / 8 · 50th pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct40.3/gm
H2 epa per play opponent#111 / 143 · 23rd pct#54 / 70 · 24th pct#8 / 8 · 12th pct0.20.0/gm
Kick ret (opp)#112 / 136 · 18th pct#62 / 70 · 13th pct#8 / 8 · 12th pct#5 / 12 · 67th pct302.3/gm
Fourth down go rate#119 / 138 · 14th pct#60 / 70 · 16th pct#8 / 8 · 12th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct0.30.0/gm
Situational
3rd-down conversion
Off34.5%#111 / 136 · 19th pct#62 / 70 · 13th pct#6 / 8 · 38th pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct
Def40.3%#83 / 136 · 40th pct#44 / 70 · 39th pct#6 / 8 · 38th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct
4th-down conversion
Off53.8%#73 / 136 · 47th pct#45 / 70 · 37th pct#3 / 8 · 75th pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct
Def50.0%#51 / 136 · 63rd pct#24 / 70 · 67th pct#5 / 8 · 50th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct
Turnover margin#27 / 136 · 81st pct#17 / 70 · 77th pct#1 / 8 · 100th pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct+0.46/gm
Sack rate (def)#89 / 136 · 35th pct#50 / 70 · 30th pct#6 / 8 · 38th pct#9 / 10 · 20th pct6.1%
Red Zone & Drive Efficiency (2014– , play-by-play derived)
Red zone trips
Team453.5/gm#61 / 167 · 64th pct#37 / 70 · 49th pct#3 / 8 · 75th pct#5 / 12 · 67th pct
Opp443.4/gm#104 / 166 · 38th pct#46 / 70 · 36th pct#5 / 8 · 50th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct
Red zone score %
Team86.7%86.7%#29 / 167 · 83rd pct#15 / 70 · 80th pct#1 / 8 · 100th pct#1 / 12 · 100th pct
Opp86.4%86.4%#133 / 166 · 20th pct#61 / 70 · 14th pct#7 / 8 · 25th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct
Points / drive
Team2.40.2/gm#37 / 167 · 78th pct#28 / 70 · 61st pct#2 / 8 · 88th pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct
Opp2.10.2/gm#101 / 166 · 40th pct#57 / 70 · 20th pct#5 / 8 · 50th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct
Yards / drive
Team39.83.1/gm#90 / 167 · 47th pct#52 / 70 · 27th pct#3 / 8 · 75th pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct
Opp39.63.0/gm#59 / 166 · 65th pct#30 / 70 · 59th pct#6 / 8 · 38th pct#9 / 12 · 33rd pct
Plays / drive
Team6.20.5/gm#125 / 167 · 26th pct#63 / 70 · 11th pct#7 / 8 · 25th pct#5 / 12 · 67th pct
Opp6.50.5/gm#79 / 166 · 53rd pct#34 / 70 · 53rd pct#6 / 8 · 38th pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct
Three-and-out rate
Team14.3%14.3%#92 / 167 · 46th pct#48 / 70 · 33rd pct#4 / 8 · 62nd pct#10 / 12 · 25th pct
Opp10.5%10.5%#126 / 166 · 25th pct#63 / 70 · 11th pct#7 / 8 · 25th pct#1 / 12 · 100th pct
Scheme Identity (2014– , play-by-play derived)
Rush rate over expected#83 / 145 · 43rd pct#37 / 70 · 49th pct#5 / 8 · 50th pct-1.7%-1.7%
Havoc rate
Team13.0%13.0%#119 / 140 · 16th pct#64 / 70 · 10th pct#8 / 8 · 12th pct
Opp16.3%16.3%#91 / 140 · 36th pct#46 / 70 · 36th pct#6 / 8 · 38th pct
Standard-downs success
Team45.7%45.7%#104 / 154 · 33rd pct#57 / 70 · 20th pct#6 / 8 · 38th pct
Opp47.8%47.8%#83 / 172 · 52nd pct#42 / 70 · 41st pct#7 / 8 · 25th pct
Passing-downs success
Team31.3%31.3%#77 / 153 · 50th pct#44 / 70 · 39th pct#4 / 8 · 62nd pct
Opp35.4%35.4%#131 / 149 · 13th pct#64 / 70 · 10th pct#7 / 8 · 25th pct
Line yards / carry
Team2.92.9#79 / 143 · 45th pct#41 / 70 · 43rd pct#6 / 8 · 38th pct
Opp3.03.0#92 / 155 · 41st pct#51 / 70 · 29th pct#4 / 8 · 62nd pct
Stuff rate
Team20.0%20.0%#100 / 143 · 31st pct#51 / 70 · 29th pct#8 / 8 · 12th pct
Opp15.9%15.9%#119 / 155 · 24th pct#61 / 70 · 14th pct#7 / 8 · 25th pct
Power success rate
Team64.3%64.3%#103 / 137 · 26th pct#56 / 70 · 21st pct#5 / 8 · 50th pct
Opp73.2%73.2%#91 / 141 · 36th pct#46 / 70 · 36th pct#6 / 8 · 38th pct
Efficiency
Completion %
Off60.0%#89 / 136 · 35th pct#55 / 70 · 23rd pct#6 / 8 · 38th pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct
Def59.0%#31 / 136 · 78th pct#14 / 70 · 81st pct#5 / 8 · 50th pct#8 / 12 · 42nd pct
Yards / attempt
Off8.0#37 / 136 · 74th pct#23 / 70 · 69th pct#2 / 8 · 88th pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct
Def7.0#61 / 136 · 56th pct#38 / 70 · 47th pct#5 / 8 · 50th pct#7 / 12 · 50th pct
Yards / completion
Off13.3#20 / 136 · 86th pct#11 / 70 · 86th pct#1 / 8 · 100th pct#2 / 12 · 92nd pct
Def11.9#95 / 136 · 31st pct#54 / 70 · 24th pct#6 / 8 · 38th pct#5 / 12 · 67th pct
Yards / carry#38 / 136 · 73rd pct#22 / 70 · 70th pct#3 / 8 · 75th pct#6 / 12 · 58th pct4.8
Yards / play#25 / 136 · 82nd pct#18 / 70 · 76th pct#2 / 8 · 88th pct#3 / 12 · 83rd pct6.28
Scoring margin#68 / 136 · 51st pct#45 / 70 · 37th pct#6 / 8 · 38th pct#6 / 11 · 55th pct+2.2/gm
FBS rankings · 2025 season · all stats vs 136 FBS programs
Player stats — 2025 season
Quarterbacks
| Player | # | G | Cmp/Att | Pct | Yds | Y/A | TD | INT | Rate | QBR | Adj ANY/A | Sack% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scrambler · +0.21 EPA/play | — | 13 | 211 / 356 | 59.3 | 2802 #47 FBS | 7.9 | 18 #49 FBS | 5 | 139.3 | 53.0 | 6.9 | 9.6 | |
Yards by week → ScramblerMakes plays with feet when the pocket collapses. Efficiency still on the rise. All-Conference honorable mention / 2nd team — the recognition has started. 45 of 183 QBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Rush usage34.7% 88th percentile · FBS QBs, min. 80 attempts Plays like our readUnranked recruit — top-quartile production against his own recruiting profile our readAscending: his CFB Index score now sits at the 77th percentile among FBS QBs, up from the 44th | |||||||||||||
| +0.35 EPA/play | — | 5 | 24 / 39 | 61.5 | 323 | 8.3 | 4 | 0 | 165.0 | 52.5 | — | — | |
Yards by week → | |||||||||||||
Running Backs
| Player | # | G | Car | Yds | Avg | TD | Long | 3rd Dn Use | Pass Dn Use | Stuff% | 10+% | Tgt Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Satellite Back · +0.21 EPA/play | — | 13 | 131 | 732 | 5.6 | 8 | 64 | 9.4 | 11 | 16.4 | 14.1 | 7.8% (29/373) | |
Yards by week → Satellite BackDeployed as a receiver as much as a runner. Value is in space, not between the tackles. All-Conference honorable mention / 2nd team — the recognition has started. 50 of 349 RBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Receiving share17.6% 82th percentile · FBS RBs, min. 40 carries Rush TD rate6.1% 75th percentile · FBS RBs, min. 40 carries Trait fingerprint Plays like our readAscending: his CFB Index score now sits at the 79th percentile among FBS RBs, up from the 10th | |||||||||||||
| Satellite Back · +0.13 EPA/play | — | 13 | 65 | 429 | 6.6 | 5 | 58 | 8.2 | 9.9 | 23.8 | 15.9 | 13.4% (50/373) | |
Yards by week → Satellite BackDeployed as a receiver as much as a runner. Value is in space, not between the tackles. Part-time starter — splitting the role or filling in on injury. 50 of 349 RBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Receiving share39.8% 100th percentile · FBS RBs, min. 40 carries Rush TD rate7.7% 90th percentile · FBS RBs, min. 40 carries Trait fingerprint Plays like View Javen Jacobs's full player page | |||||||||||||
| -0.11 EPA/play | — | 12 | 25 | 93 | 3.7 | 0 | 20 | 3.5 | 4.8 | — | — | — | |
Yards by week → | |||||||||||||
Receivers
| Player | # | G | Rec | Yds | Avg | TD | Long | 3rd Dn Use | Pass Dn Use | Tgt Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Possession Receiver · +0.50 EPA/play | — | 12 | 60 | 925 #35 FBS | 15.4 | 5 | 54 | 12.1 | 13.9 | 26.3% (98/373) | |
Yards by week → Possession ReceiverReliable target who converts on critical downs. Not flashy; consistently productive. All-Conference honorable mention / 2nd team — the recognition has started. 332 of 558 WRs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Yards / reception15.5 73th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions Reception volume60 92th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions Trait fingerprint Plays like View Braden Pegan's full player page | |||||||||||
| Deep Threat · +0.16 EPA/play | — | 13 | 46 | 743 | 16.2 | 8 #23 FBS | 53 | 12.4 | 8.5 | 23.9% (89/373) | |
Yards by week → Deep ThreatStretches the field vertically. Every snap is a potential big play. 100 of 558 WRs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Yards / reception17.3 86th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions TD rate17.4% 93th percentile · FBS WRs, min. 12 receptions Trait fingerprint Plays like View Brady Boyd's full player page | |||||||||||
| Complete TE · +0.23 EPA/play | — | 7 | 19 | 218 | 11.5 | 2 | 52 | 5.7 | 7.0 | 7.2% (27/373) | |
Yards by week → Complete TENo single go-to route — the receiving numbers show up inline and split out alike. The most common profile in its group this season — 177 of 223 classified this way. Played in 7 of 21 games this season · senior · 3-star, 2020 class View Broc Lane's full player page | |||||||||||
| +0.84 EPA/play | — | 8 | 6 | 160 | 26.7 | 1 | 45 | 8.7 | 7.6 | — | |
Yards by week → | |||||||||||
| -0.16 EPA/play | — | 6 | 7 | 56 | 8 | 1 | 18 | 1.5 | 4 | — | |
Yards by week → | |||||||||||
Defensive Line
| Player | # | G | Tot | Solo | TFL | Sack | Hur |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two-Gap Base | — | 13 | 71 | 19 | 4 | 0.5 | 5 |
Two-Gap BaseStout at the point of attack — steady tackle-for-loss production without a standout pass-rush number. Impact starter — above-average production for the conference. 388 of 809 IDLs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt TFL rate5.6% bottom 17th percentile · FBS interior linemen, min. 10 tackles Plays like View Carson Tujague's full player page | |||||||
| Two-Gap Base | — | 12 | 46 | 14 | 5.5 | 4 | 1 |
Two-Gap BaseStout at the point of attack — steady tackle-for-loss production without a standout pass-rush number. Impact starter — above-average production for the conference. 388 of 809 IDLs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt TFL rate12.0% bottom 39th percentile · FBS interior linemen, min. 10 tackles Plays like our readUnranked recruit — top-quartile production against his own recruiting profile | |||||||
| Two-Gap Base | — | 13 | 37 | 5 | 1.5 | 1 | 4 |
Two-Gap BaseStout at the point of attack — steady tackle-for-loss production without a standout pass-rush number. Starter — over 60% of the snaps, holding the job. 388 of 809 IDLs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt TFL rate4.1% bottom 13th percentile · FBS interior linemen, min. 10 tackles Plays like our readBounce-Back: his CFB Index score shows a real arc: 89th percentile among FBS IDLs, fell to 49th, now back up to 77th | |||||||
| Two-Gap Base | — | 9 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Two-Gap BaseStout at the point of attack — steady tackle-for-loss production without a standout pass-rush number. The most common profile in its group this season — 388 of 809 classified this way. Played in 9 of 21 games this season · senior · 3-star, 2021 class View Bo Maile's full player page | |||||||
| — | 2 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
Linebackers
| Player | # | G | Tot | Solo | Ast | TFL | Sack | PD | INT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balanced Linebacker | — | 13 | 118 | 40 | 78 | 10 | 8 #27 FBS | 3 | 0 |
Balanced LinebackerSolid in every phase without a signature dimension. Impact starter — above-average production for the conference. 362 of 660 LBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Tackle volume118 99th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles Sack rate6.8% 77th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles Trait fingerprint Plays like our readBreakout: his CFB Index score went from the 64th percentile among FBS LBs to the 99th | |||||||||
| Balanced Linebacker | — | 13 | 88 | 33 | 55 | 7.5 | 4 | 3 | 2 |
Balanced LinebackerSolid in every phase without a signature dimension. Starter — over 60% of the snaps, holding the job. 362 of 660 LBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Tackle volume88 91th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles PD rate3.4% 61th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles Trait fingerprint Plays like our readUnranked recruit — top-quartile production against his own recruiting profile our readBreakout: his CFB Index score now sits at the 96th percentile among FBS LBs, up from the 54th | |||||||||
| Thumper | — | 9 | 45 | 22 | 23 | 6.5 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
ThumperDownhill striker who fills the run lane and blitzes off the edge. 97 of 660 LBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt TFL rate14.4% 76th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles PD rate0.0% bottom 18th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles Trait fingerprint Plays like View William Holmes's full player page | |||||||||
| Balanced Linebacker | — | 12 | 41 | 19 | 22 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
Balanced LinebackerSolid in every phase without a signature dimension. 362 of 660 LBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Tackle volume41 bottom 37th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles Sack rate9.8% 92th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles Trait fingerprint Plays like View Chris Joe's full player page | |||||||||
| Balanced Linebacker | — | 12 | 36 | 10 | 26 | 1 | 0.5 | 1 | 1 |
Balanced LinebackerSolid in every phase without a signature dimension. 362 of 660 LBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Tackle volume36 bottom 30th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles TFL rate2.8% bottom 18th percentile · FBS linebackers, min. 15 tackles Trait fingerprint Plays like View Mataira Brown's full player page | |||||||||
| — | 4 | 10 | 3 | 7 | 1.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| — | 6 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| — | 2 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1 | 0 | |
Defensive Backs
| Player | # | G | Tot | PD | INT | TFL | Sack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Box Safety | — | 13 | 110 | 8 #45 FBS | 1 | 2.5 | 1.5 |
Box Safety· Takeaway threatLives near the line of scrimmage as a de facto extra linebacker. the kind of DB who takes it back the other way Impact starter — above-average production for the conference. 166 of 801 Ss we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Tackle volume110 100th percentile · FBS safeties, min. 15 tackles Plays like View Brevin Hamblin's full player page | |||||||
| Perimeter Tackler | — | 12 | 81 | 10 #20 FBS | 3 #56 FBS | 3.5 | 1 |
Perimeter TacklerTargeted often and asked to tackle in space on the perimeter. All-Conference honorable mention / 2nd team — the recognition has started. 42 of 270 CBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt Tackle volume81 100th percentile · FBS corners, min. 10 tackles Plays like our readBreakout: his CFB Index score now sits at the 97th percentile among FBS CBs, up from the 66th | |||||||
| Hybrid Nickel | — | 8 | 56 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
Hybrid NickelMoves between deep coverage and the slot — the modern positionless DB. Part-time starter — splitting the role or filling in on injury. The most common profile in its group this season — 419 of 801 classified this way. Played in 8 of 21 games this season · senior · 3-star, 2021 class View Ike Larsen's full player page | |||||||
| Cover Corner | — | 12 | 40 | 2 | 2 | 2.5 | 1 |
Cover CornerSteady in coverage; doesn't get beat deep and rarely gives up the big play. Part-time starter — splitting the role or filling in on injury. The most common profile in its group this season — 141 of 270 classified this way. Played in 12 of 21 games this season · sophomore our readBreakout: his CFB Index score now sits at the 85th percentile among FBS CBs, up from the 0th | |||||||
| Cover Corner | — | 9 | 34 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
Cover CornerSteady in coverage; doesn't get beat deep and rarely gives up the big play. 141 of 270 CBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt PD rate2.9% bottom 14th percentile · FBS corners, min. 10 tackles Plays like View Dylan Tucker's full player page | |||||||
| Cover Corner | — | 10 | 32 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Cover CornerSteady in coverage; doesn't get beat deep and rarely gives up the big play. The most common profile in its group this season — 141 of 270 classified this way. Played in 10 of 21 games this season · senior View Bryson Taylor's full player page | |||||||
| Cover Corner | — | 9 | 26 | 2 | 1 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
Cover CornerSteady in coverage; doesn't get beat deep and rarely gives up the big play. 141 of 270 CBs we've classified this way this season. Season receipt PD rate7.7% bottom 27th percentile · FBS corners, min. 10 tackles Plays like View Noah Flores's full player page | |||||||
| Hybrid Nickel | — | 8 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 |
Hybrid NickelMoves between deep coverage and the slot — the modern positionless DB. 419 of 801 Ss we've classified this way this season. Season receipt PD rate5.0% bottom 34th percentile · FBS safeties, min. 15 tackles Plays like View Bobby Arnold III's full player page | |||||||
| — | 5 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| — | 4 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
Kicking
| Player | # | G | FG M/A | FG% | XP M/A | Pts | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steady | — | 12 | 13/18 | 72.2 | 45/47 | 84 | 49 |
Punting
| Player | # | G | No | Yds | Avg | Long | In20 | TB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steady | — | 13 | 68 | 2919 | 42.9 | 63 | 21 | 4 |
Net average is unavailable — CFBD's punting feed carries gross yards only, with no return-yardage or touchback deduction.
Kick Returns
| Player | # | G | No | Yds | Avg | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Satellite Back · +0.13 EPA/play | — | 13 | 11 | 219 | 19.9 | 0 | 29 |
Punt Returns
| Player | # | G | No | Yds | Avg | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Satellite Back · +0.13 EPA/play | — | 13 | 8 | 31 | 3.9 | 0 | 8 |
| +0.84 EPA/play | — | 8 | 6 | 29 | 4.8 | 0 | 16 |
2025 stat leaders
final
2025 stat leaders
1.
John Miller
LB
118 tot (def)
2.
Brevin Hamblin
S
110 tot (def)
3.
Bronson Olevao
LB
88.0 tot (def)
4.
Noah Avinger
CB
81.0 tot (def)
5.
Braden Pegan
WR
925 yds (rec)
Roster
2025
21
players carry a qualified CFB Index Score this season.
John Miller
LB
#7 of 583
Brevin Hamblin
S
#11 of 544
Bronson Olevao
LB
#24 of 583
Tyree Morris
IDL
#15 of 330
Noah Avinger
CB
#17 of 364
Braden Pegan
WR
#48 of 485
+15 more
Utah State · 2025 schedule & results6-7Brutal slateAverage opponent win rate 53% · 3 AP top-25 opponents on the schedule.
| Wk | Date | Us | Opp | Line | Opponent | Result | Record | Conf |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 30 | #157 | #152 | -5.5 | UTEP | W 28–16 130 | 1-0 | 0-0 |
| 2 | Sep 6 | #168 | #10 | +34.5 | @Texas A&M | L 22–44 145 | 1-1 | 0-0 |
| 3 | Sep 14 | #132 | #87 | +3.5 | Air Force | W 49–30 140 | 2-1 | 0-0 |
| 4 | Sep 21 | #121 | #147 | -23.5 | McNeese | W 48–7 141 | 3-1 | 0-0 |
| 5 | Sep 27 | #114 | #26 | +24.5 | @Vanderbilt | L 35–55 126 | 3-2 | 0-0 |
| 7 | Oct 12 | #109 | #103 | -1.5 | @Hawai'i | L 26–44 146 | 3-3 | 0-0 |
| 8 | Oct 18 | #119 | #105 | -3.5 | San José State | W 30–25 147 | 4-3 | 0-0 |
| 9 | Oct 25 | #124 | #116 | +3 | @New Mexico | L 14–33 112 | 4-4 | 0-0 |
| 11 | Nov 9 | #142 | #174 | -9.5 | Nevada | W 51–14 132 | 5-4 | 0-0 |
| 12 | Nov 16 | #111 | #87 | +5 | @UNLV | L 26–29 149 | 5-5 | 0-0 |
| 13 | Nov 23 | #107 | #95 | +1.5 | @Fresno State | W 28–17 139 | 6-5 | 1-0 |
| 14 | Nov 28 | #90 | #36 | +1.5 | Boise State | L 24–25 161 | 6-6 | 1-1 |
| Bowl Season | ||||||||
| 17 | Dec 22 | #94 | #67 | -1.5 | Washington State (N) | L 21–34 | 6-7 | 1-2 |
Advanced box score (EPA, success rate, explosiveness)▼
| Date | Opp | Result | Yds | TO | TOP | EPA/play | Success% | Explosive% | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 22 | Washington State | L 21–34 | — | — | — | -0.050 | 27.3% | 134.9% | Season-low EPA/play |
| Nov 28 | Boise State | L 24–25 | 405 | 1 | 23:02 | +0.154 | 35.3% | 145.7% | One-score loss |
| Nov 23 | @Fresno State | W 28–17 | 403 | 2 | 33:04 | +0.151 | 41.7% | 119.6% | |
| Nov 16 | @UNLV | L 26–29 | 434 | 0 | 27:45 | +0.213 | 44.2% | 125.0% | One-score loss |
| Nov 9 | Nevada | W 51–14 | 522 | 0 | 32:22 | +0.329 | 42.9% | 135.1% | Best defensive stand |
| Oct 25 | @New Mexico | L 14–33 | 306 | 1 | 21:44 | +0.121 | 38.0% | 141.1% | |
| Oct 18 | San José State | W 30–25 | 461 | 0 | 29:47 | +0.200 | 39.2% | 161.4% | One-score win |
| Oct 12 | @Hawai'i | L 26–44 | 435 | 2 | 25:59 | +0.173 | 39.1% | 131.1% | |
| Sep 27 | @Vanderbilt | L 35–55 | 393 | 1 | 26:43 | +0.268 | 41.3% | 129.7% | Defense's roughest night |
| Sep 21 | McNeese | W 48–7 | 630 | 2 | 31:14 | +0.394 | 58.4% | 114.5% | Best success rate |
| Sep 14 | Air Force | W 49–30 | 473 | 0 | 21:49 | +0.578 | 50.9% | 167.3% | Season-high EPA/play |
| Sep 6 | @Texas A&M | L 22–44 | 250 | 1 | 25:46 | -0.016 | 31.8% | 125.0% | |
| Aug 30 | UTEP | W 28–16 | 362 | 0 | 30:37 | +0.096 | 39.1% | 139.2% | |
| Season average (13 games) | 423 | 0.8 | +0.201 | 40.7% | 136.1% | ||||
How They Play · 2025
How They Play · 2025Utah State fields a strong explosive, big-play offense behind a porous defense.
Opponent-adjusted percentiles vs all FBS. Bar = where this team ranks — right is better.
Team identity · competitive snaps only
How Utah State actually scores
46th percentile quality, 63rd percentile boom-dependency. Garbage time excluded from both axes — the same correction that changes the Q4 story below.
View all FBS teams as a table
| Team | Quality percentile | Boom-share percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Air Force | 86th | 11th |
| Akron | 12th | 89th |
| Alabama | 58th | 17th |
| App State | 35th | 47th |
| Arizona | 64th | 37th |
| Arizona State | 41st | 62nd |
| Arkansas | 90th | 12th |
| Arkansas State | 17th | 66th |
| Army | 57th | 43rd |
| Auburn | 47th | 53rd |
| BYU | 78th | 19th |
| Baylor | 69th | 25th |
| Boise State | 66th | 20th |
| Boston College | 37th | 54th |
| Bowling Green | 2nd | 98th |
| Buffalo | 11th | 88th |
| California | 28th | 48th |
| Central Michigan | 52nd | 64th |
| Cincinnati | 89th | 16th |
| Clemson | 51st | 48th |
| Coastal Carolina | 17th | 83rd |
| Colorado | 18th | 84th |
| Colorado State | 16th | 83rd |
| Delaware | 38th | 58th |
| Duke | 80th | 14th |
| East Carolina | 63rd | 36th |
| Eastern Michigan | 49th | 42nd |
| Florida | 30th | 67th |
| Florida Atlantic | 62nd | 59th |
| Florida International | 42nd | 50th |
| Florida State | 83rd | 32nd |
| Fresno State | 26th | 73rd |
| Georgia | 81st | 3rd |
| Georgia Southern | 73rd | 21st |
| Georgia State | 36th | 70th |
| Georgia Tech | 84th | 5th |
| Hawai'i | 64th | 41st |
| Houston | 27th | 65th |
| Illinois | 75th | 26th |
| Indiana | 95th | 1st |
| Iowa | 44th | 40th |
| Iowa State | 68th | 22nd |
| Jacksonville State | 54th | 38th |
| James Madison | 65th | 44th |
| Kansas | 85th | 28th |
| Kansas State | 71st | 49th |
| Kennesaw State | 56th | 30th |
| Kent State | 21st | 86th |
| Kentucky | 15th | 85th |
| LSU | 14th | 81st |
| Liberty | 43rd | 56th |
| Louisiana | 19th | 73rd |
| Louisiana Tech | 39th | 61st |
| Louisville | 48th | 64th |
| Marshall | 55th | 39th |
| Maryland | 30th | 74th |
| Memphis | 80th | 24th |
| Miami | 76th | 5th |
| Miami (OH) | 34th | 67th |
| Michigan | 67th | 33rd |
| Michigan State | 27th | 75th |
| Middle Tennessee | 39th | 52nd |
| Minnesota | 29th | 77th |
| Mississippi State | 22nd | 77th |
| Missouri | 61st | 30th |
| Missouri State | 55th | 46th |
| NC State | 86th | 23rd |
| Navy | 94th | 17th |
| Nebraska | 48th | 57th |
| Nevada | 3rd | 97th |
| New Mexico | 58th | 60th |
| New Mexico State | 9th | 87th |
| North Carolina | 13th | 89th |
| North Texas | 98th | 7th |
| Northern Illinois | 8th | 92nd |
| Northwestern | 52nd | 36th |
| Notre Dame | 99th | 20th |
| Ohio | 67th | 18th |
| Ohio State | 93rd | 4th |
| Oklahoma | 20th | 80th |
| Oklahoma State | 5th | 95th |
| Old Dominion | 83rd | 45th |
| Ole Miss | 89th | 2nd |
| Oregon | 91st | 10th |
| Oregon State | 2nd | 98th |
| Penn State | 73rd | 33rd |
| Pittsburgh | 60th | 39th |
| Purdue | 25th | 78th |
| Rice | 6th | 94th |
| Rutgers | 70th | 27th |
| SMU | 74th | 42nd |
| Sam Houston | 4th | 96th |
| San Diego State | 24th | 76th |
| San José State | 45th | 69th |
| South Alabama | 36th | 58th |
| South Carolina | 23rd | 86th |
| South Florida | 87th | 23rd |
| Southern Miss | 40th | 55th |
| Stanford | 10th | 90th |
| Syracuse | 5th | 95th |
| TCU | 72nd | 35th |
| Temple | 70th | 34th |
| Tennessee | 96th | 11th |
| Texas | 45th | 55th |
| Texas A&M | 82nd | 14th |
| Texas State | 92nd | 8th |
| Texas Tech | 77th | 31st |
| Toledo | 50th | 61st |
| Troy | 14th | 80th |
| Tulane | 79th | 15th |
| Tulsa | 20th | 70th |
| UAB | 61st | 45th |
| UCF | 33rd | 82nd |
| UCLA | 23rd | 79th |
| UConn | 95th | 13th |
| UL Monroe | 11th | 92nd |
| UNLV | 88th | 9th |
| USC | 98th | 2nd |
| UTEP | 1st | 99th |
| UTSA | 77th | 51st |
| Utah | 97th | 6th |
| Utah State | 46th | 63rd |
| Vanderbilt | 100th | 0th |
| Virginia | 59th | 27th |
| Virginia Tech | 32nd | 71st |
| Wake Forest | 42nd | 72nd |
| Washington | 92nd | 8th |
| Washington State | 33rd | 52nd |
| West Virginia | 7th | 93rd |
| Western Kentucky | 53rd | 29th |
| Western Michigan | 31st | 68th |
| Wisconsin | 0th | 100th |
| Wyoming | 8th | 91st |
Fourth-quarter reliability, corrected
Utah State's 4th-quarter offense, before and after garbage time
Raw Q4 EPA/play ranks 64th percentile in FBS. Strip out snaps taken with a blowout margin and it drops to the 7th — the correction is the finding, not a footnote.
Standard downs vs. passing downs
Does Utah State hold up once the down-and-distance turns against them?
31st percentile success on standard downs, 49th on passing downs — a 18-point gap between the two.
View all FBS teams as a table
| Team | Standard-downs percentile | Passing-downs percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Air Force | 82nd | 69th |
| Akron | 20th | 36th |
| Alabama | 47th | 76th |
| App State | 41st | 80th |
| Arizona | 54th | 54th |
| Arizona State | 40th | 37th |
| Arkansas | 90th | 97th |
| Arkansas State | 51st | 40th |
| Army | 37th | 44th |
| Auburn | 73rd | 24th |
| Austin Peay | 56th | 13th |
| BYU | 91st | 46th |
| Ball State | 5th | 3rd |
| Baylor | 70th | 77th |
| Boise State | 42nd | 63rd |
| Boston College | 56th | 54th |
| Bowling Green | 10th | 17th |
| Bryant | 7th | 2nd |
| Buffalo | 29th | 20th |
| California | 25th | 66th |
| Central Michigan | 57th | 11th |
| Charlotte | 7th | 7th |
| Cincinnati | 89th | 65th |
| Clemson | 49th | 34th |
| Coastal Carolina | 16th | 22nd |
| Colorado | 8th | 48th |
| Colorado State | 29th | 35th |
| Delaware | 66th | 31st |
| Duke | 82nd | 63rd |
| East Carolina | 63rd | 91st |
| Eastern Michigan | 46th | 67th |
| Florida | 52nd | 45th |
| Florida Atlantic | 44th | 61st |
| Florida International | 50th | 26th |
| Florida State | 65th | 90th |
| Fresno State | 22nd | 71st |
| Georgia | 95th | 69th |
| Georgia Southern | 64th | 84th |
| Georgia State | 22nd | 75th |
| Georgia Tech | 92nd | 89th |
| Hawai'i | 33rd | 87th |
| Houston | 61st | 29th |
| Idaho | 30th | 78th |
| Idaho State | 93rd | 14th |
| Illinois | 79th | 95th |
| Indiana | 97th | 98th |
| Iowa | 74th | 19th |
| Iowa State | 80th | 58th |
| Jacksonville State | 59th | 56th |
| James Madison | 77th | 52nd |
| Kansas | 99th | 82nd |
| Kansas State | 37th | 59th |
| Kennesaw State | 44th | 67th |
| Kent State | 15th | 5th |
| Kentucky | 62nd | 29th |
| LSU | 18th | 52nd |
| Lafayette | 0th | 12th |
| Liberty | 65th | 53rd |
| Lindenwood | 4th | 1st |
| Long Island University | 24th | 78th |
| Louisiana | 24th | 23rd |
| Louisiana Tech | 41st | 24th |
| Louisville | 84th | 32nd |
| Maine | 3rd | 18th |
| Marshall | 71st | 62nd |
| Maryland | 11th | 86th |
| Massachusetts | 5th | 9th |
| Memphis | 75th | 68th |
| Merrimack | 1st | 83rd |
| Miami | 80th | 64th |
| Miami (OH) | 33rd | 39th |
| Michigan | 73rd | 74th |
| Michigan State | 48th | 39th |
| Middle Tennessee | 69th | 47th |
| Minnesota | 35th | 33rd |
| Mississippi State | 52nd | 35th |
| Missouri | 76th | 50th |
| Missouri State | 32nd | 50th |
| Murray State | 1st | 6th |
| NC State | 58th | 71st |
| Navy | 95th | 72nd |
| Nebraska | 78th | 51st |
| Nevada | 17th | 16th |
| New Mexico | 38th | 60th |
| New Mexico State | 16th | 33rd |
| North Carolina | 14th | 30th |
| North Texas | 100th | 97th |
| Northern Illinois | 9th | 5th |
| Northwestern | 48th | 88th |
| Notre Dame | 88th | 99th |
| Ohio | 69th | 76th |
| Ohio State | 99th | 99th |
| Oklahoma | 39th | 41st |
| Oklahoma State | 14th | 7th |
| Old Dominion | 72nd | 79th |
| Ole Miss | 83rd | 95th |
| Oregon | 93rd | 55th |
| Oregon State | 54th | 25th |
| Penn State | 76th | 73rd |
| Pittsburgh | 35th | 56th |
| Purdue | 46th | 88th |
| Rice | 20th | 0th |
| Rutgers | 71st | 84th |
| SMU | 50th | 57th |
| Sam Houston | 26th | 4th |
| San Diego State | 84th | 1st |
| San José State | 68th | 70th |
| South Alabama | 53rd | 28th |
| South Carolina | 31st | 8th |
| South Carolina State | 10th | 3rd |
| South Florida | 86th | 46th |
| Southern Miss | 27th | 38th |
| Stanford | 12th | 12th |
| Syracuse | 19th | 10th |
| TCU | 63rd | 82nd |
| Temple | 85th | 22nd |
| Tennessee | 97th | 81st |
| Texas | 27th | 61st |
| Texas A&M | 88th | 59th |
| Texas State | 60th | 93rd |
| Texas Tech | 45th | 65th |
| Toledo | 67th | 42nd |
| Troy | 18th | 27th |
| Tulane | 81st | 86th |
| Tulsa | 43rd | 43rd |
| UAB | 34th | 94th |
| UCF | 39th | 20th |
| UCLA | 28th | 48th |
| UConn | 96th | 37th |
| UL Monroe | 13th | 14th |
| UNLV | 78th | 85th |
| USC | 94th | 90th |
| UT Martin | 2nd | 41st |
| UTEP | 3rd | 10th |
| UTSA | 67th | 92nd |
| Utah | 87th | 96th |
| Utah State | 31st | 49th |
| Vanderbilt | 90th | 100th |
| Virginia | 36th | 73rd |
| Virginia Tech | 59th | 21st |
| Wake Forest | 21st | 31st |
| Washington | 98th | 93rd |
| Washington State | 61st | 44th |
| West Virginia | 12th | 18th |
| Western Kentucky | 55th | 80th |
| Western Michigan | 86th | 16th |
| Wisconsin | 6th | 27th |
| Wyoming | 23rd | 15th |
Halftime identity
Utah State by half
1st-half offense ranks 55th percentile in FBS; 2nd-half, 44th — competitive snaps only, garbage time excluded from both halves.
Schedule mirage
How much of Utah State's number is the schedule?
Raw EPA/play through week 21 is 0.20; 72nd percentile once opponent strength is stripped out, it's 0.05. The widest gap came in week 4: 0.26 raw vs. 0.06 adjusted.
Utah State reads strongest in explosive plays (top 13%) and rushing epa (top 21%); the crux lives in rushing epa allowed, where Utah State sits at the 5th percentile.
offense · strengths lead
defense · higher bar = harder to play against
hidden math · special situations
ELITE · 90+STRONG · 70+AVERAGE · 40-70CONCERN · 10-40BOTTOM · <10
Most Similar Programs · Utah State
Most Similar Programs · Utah StateReads Like
AkronTier 3 · Prestige T3 · Similarly-sized rosters up frontApp StateTier 3 · Prestige T3 · Similarly-sized rosters up frontArizonaTier 3 · Prestige T3 · Similarly-sized rosters up front
Static-attribute similarity across tier, archetype, conference, and voice. Not a prediction — a calibration.
Home-Field Advantage · Utah State · 2018-present
Strong
63% home win rate vs 46% on the road. margin runs +13.4 better at home. Maverik Stadium seats 25,513, averaging 70% full (17,954 attendance, 22 games reported).
Home29-17Away21-24
Positional competition · RB room
The carries are split. The job isn’t.
Miles Davis and Javen Jacobs split the carries (131/194 vs 63/194) -- but Javen Jacobs leads on every measured axis. This isn't a split role, it's a hierarchy with a change-of-pace back behind it.
Miles DavisJaven Jacobs
Carries
the baseline -- every row below is tested against this split, not a flat 50/50
Q4, leading (competitive)
p = 0.026 -- real, not noise
Targets
p = 0.000 -- real, not noise
Top-5-carry share
concentration alone -- EPA/carry doesn't corroborate, read with caution
Screened 3 claims, 2 survived, 1 falsified
Positional competition · WR/TE room
The targets are split. The job isn’t.
Braden Pegan (WR) and Broc Lane (TE) split the targets (96/122 vs 26/122) -- but the job isn't split the same way. Braden Pegan produces mainly when the game's already decided.
Braden PeganBroc Lane
Targets
the baseline -- every row below is tested against this split, not a flat 50/50
3rd-down targets
shared -- dots touch, this room really is a committee here
Garbage-time share
p = 0.037 -- real, not noise
Top-5-catch share
concentration alone -- EPA/target doesn't corroborate, read with caution
Screened 3 claims, 1 survived, 2 falsified
What changed
Utah State’s play-calling, before and after the change
Offense: Kyle Cefalo / co-Cooper Bassett (2024) → Kevin McGiven (2025)
Play-calling barely moved on the change — every rate held within a few points.
1st-down pass rate
Red-zone pass rate
Defense: co-Bobby McMillen (2024) → Nick Howell (2025)
Play-calling barely moved on the change — every rate held within a few points.
1st-down pass rate
Red-zone pass rate
Defensive identity · pass zones
What this defense gives up, by zone.
On short passes, Utah State’s defense allows a completion rate below the FBS mean (64.3% vs 65.9% league-wide, shrunk toward the mean for its 187-play sample) — mid-pack, 34 of 133 qualifying defenses.
We won’t show a deep-ball leaderboard here: at the defense level, most teams face well under 30 rich-feed deep targets all season — too thin to tell a real tendency from noise, so we won’t guess.
Screened 133 claims, 133 survived · 2025 only, in the 399 games with the detailed play-text feed; n=187 short-zone plays faced, raw rate 63.1%
Historical echo
Utah State’s slide has precedent — and 1 of the 4 closest kept falling.
Programs whose stature fell in the same shape. The grey line is their decline; the color is what came next for them.
Indiana 1969–1974
clawed back
Miami (OH) 1987–1992
clawed back
SMU 1989–1994
stayed down
Central Michigan 1985–1990
kept sliding
An analogy on the shape of a program’s Zeitgeist stature arc — not a prediction. Interim calibration, medium confidence; matched among current FBS programs at a comparable level.
Venue texture
57°F average kickoff temp; 3% of games had measurable precipitation; 5 mph average wind.
Based on 70 home games with weather data.
The CFP Era
12 seasons inside the CFP era, no bids yet — the era the program is still trying to break into.
TRAJECTORY · quality-score line · AP rank dotted · CFP bids marked · coach regimes ribboned
Program Quality
AP Rank (inverted)
CFP Appearance
Utah State's 2014–2025 record is 76-72. The era is still being written; the CFP line is the one the program is arguing for.
All-Time Record
551-564-28
since 1902 · 119 seasons · .482 win rate
HOME
316-185-21
AWAY
229-369-7
NEUTRAL
6-10
1900s
1910s
1920s
1930s
1940s
1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
2000s
2010s
2020s
The program, in full — read the essay
Utah State went 6-7 in Bronco Mendenhall's first season rebuilding a program that had churned through coaches since its 2021 Mountain West title. Now the Aggies are packing for the Pac-12 — a conference jump nobody assumed they'd get.
Cache Valley football is built on an advantage the visitor doesn't account for until it's too late: 4,700 feet of altitude at Maverik Stadium, a cold, tight environment, and the accumulated psychological edge of being the state's third program with the most to prove. Gary Andersen's 2012 team finished 11-2 and ranked #16 nationally — the program's modern peak, proof the Aggies can genuinely compete. Blake Anderson's surprise 2021 run to an 11-3 Mountain West championship was the second piece of evidence. Utah State, when the pieces are right, is not a mid-tier program.
The pieces weren't right for several years after 2021, and the coaching turmoil that followed left the roster thin when Mendenhall arrived. His first season, 2025, went 6-7 (4-4 Mountain West), ending in a Famous Idaho Potato Bowl loss to Washington State. It was a steadying year rather than a winning one — the kind of season a rebuilder needs before the rebuild becomes something. 2025 was also Utah State's final year in the Mountain West. In 2026, the Aggies join the rebuilt Pac-12 with Boise State and others, competing at a rung the program has never occupied before.
The 2026 question is specific: can Mendenhall — a veteran coach who built BYU into a legitimate program — arrive in the new Pac-12 with enough roster to compete, or does the conference jump happen a year before the team is ready for it? The altitude stays the same. The competition level does not.
How they play
Utah State's football identity is altitude ambush — a program built to play its best football at home, use the environment as a tactical asset, and generate the upset result visitors didn't see coming. Mendenhall's system runs disciplined, assignment-sound defense and a controlled offensive attack that minimizes mistakes. The 2026 question is whether that system can export to a new conference or whether the Aggies' best weapon is still the one that only works in Logan.
Steady
Utah State 2016–2025. Holding the line. The 10-year slope (-0.02 rungs / yr) doesn't tilt either way — the program lives at roughly Tier 3.
CFP Era · Utah State
12 seasons on file
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
down middle peak CFP year
Season Standing · 2025 · 6-7
Season Standing · 2025 · 6-7Bowl eligible
Utah State: 6+ wins, bowl access secured. The baseline of a successful FBS year.
R0R1R2R3R4R5R6R7R8R9
Sub-FBSBuildingBowlRankedContenderPlayoff
Pac-12 Standing · 2025
6th in the Pac-12
Utah State sits 6th of 8 in the Pac-12 at 1-2. Mid-conference — moves up or down depend on rivalry results and the late-season closing run.
| # | Program | Record |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Washington State | 4-1 |
| 2 | San Diego State | 3-1 |
| 3 | Boise State | 2-2 |
| 4 | Fresno State | 2-3 |
| 5 | Oregon State | 1-2 |
| 6 | Utah State | 1-2 |
| 7 | Colorado State | 1-3 |
| 8 | Texas State | 0-0 |
Coaching Era · Utah State
Coaching Era · Utah StateBronco Mendenhall
Bronco Mendenhall in year 2 of the rebuild. The methodology is taking shape.
Era Bronco Mendenhall · 2025–presentPrev: Nate Dreiling (2024)OC: Robert AnaePrev OC: Kevin McGiven (2025)DC: Nick HowellPrev DC: co-Bobby McMillen (2024)
2
years · era
Rituals
Three gameday rituals — the ones outsiders never quite catch.
Maverik Stadium Altitude
since 1968
Maverik Stadium (originally Romney Stadium, built 1968) sits at 4,800 ft in Cache Valley. The mountain backdrop + altitude + the 25,500 capacity + Logan's small-town setting create a venue distinct from larger flagship-state programs. Visiting teams cite the altitude as fourth-quarter conditioning concern.
Gary Andersen 2012 Run
since 2012
Gary Andersen's 2012 11-2 + WAC championship + Famous Idaho Potato Bowl championship + #16 final AP rank was the program's modern peak. Andersen's 2013 departure to Wisconsin opened the next cycle; Matt Wells' subsequent tenure continued the trajectory.
Big Blue Aggie Identity
since 1888
Utah State's 'Big Blue' identity — dating to the program's 1888 founding — captures the Aggie ethos: agricultural-college roots + Mormon-Utah cultural identity + Mountain West G5 competitive cycles. The Big Blue color + Aggie mascot tradition create permanent program positioning.
Program memory
What this program never forgets
Most weeks vanish. These didn’t.
The 2012 top-16 season
Andersen's 11-2 Aggies finish ranked #16 — the program's high point
The 2021 Mountain West title
Blake Anderson's surprise 11-win championship season
Moment of the Year · Utah State · 2025
Moment of the Year · Utah State · 2025Lost 22-44 at Texas A&M
Week 2 of 2025. The single game that defined the season's arc.
Bowl / Postseason Ledger
Bowl / Postseason LedgerRecent postseason (2014-2025): 3-6
Most recent: 2025 — loss 21-34 (home). Last 5 postseason: 1-4.
20252023202220212019
NFL Draft Pipeline
2025–2025
NFL Draft PipelineThin
1 picks last 5 cycles. Roster development still maturing.
1
picks · 0 R1
#133
Jalen Royals
Wide Receiver · 2025 · Kansas City · #17/497 final season
#79 all-time · 5 first-round picksthe talent factory →
Unit lineage
Utah State’s offense and defense, by coordinator
FBS-relative efficiency percentile per season (2014–2025), same population as the Coordinator Mirror board. Dashed vertical lines mark a coordinator change.
Offense2014–2025
2014 · Kevin McGiven2015 · Josh Heupel2016 · co-Jovon Bouknight / co-Luke Wells2017–2018 · David Yost2019 · Mike Sanford2020 · Bodie Reeder2021–2022 · Anthony Tucker2023 · Kyle Cefalo2024 · Kyle Cefalo / co-Cooper Bassett2025 · Kevin McGiven
Hired for 2026: Robert Anae — not yet reflected in on-field data.
Defense2014–2025
2014 · Todd Orlando2015 · Kevin Clune2016–2017 · co-Frank Maile / co-Kendrick Shaver2018 · co-Frank Maile / co-Keith Patterson2019 · Justin Ena2020 · co-Stacy Collins / co-Frank Maile2021–2022 · Ephraim Banda2023 · Joe Cauthen2024 · co-Bobby McMillen2025 (ongoing) · Nick Howell
Elite (≥70th pct)AveragePoor (≤30th pct)
Chronicle Visuals
Among the most continuous rosters into 2025 — 63% back, anchored by the qb room, only offense to settle.
The portal upgraded the CB room but opened a hole at EDGE.
1 player drafted in 2025; the reload runs through the portal and recruiting.
Utah State converts recruit talent into draft picks better than its class rank suggests.
r/cfb moments
546
[Postgame Thread] BYU Defeats Utah State 34-20
431
[Postgame Thread] BYU Defeats Utah State 38-26
297
[Postgame Thread] Utah State Defeats Connecticut 31-20
226
[Postgame Thread] Memphis Defeats Utah State 38-10
163
[Postgame Thread] Weber State Defeats Utah State 35-7
All-time top community posts · ranked by upvotes
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