Pac-12 · Bronco Mendenhall, year 2 (6-9) · Maverik Stadium · 25,513 · 20,723 avg in 2026
LastL 14–16 at Washington · Sat Sep 12 · James Jennette 1 sacks, 2 TFL, 2 tackles
Nextat Utah · Sat Sep 19 · 3:30 pm ET · Rice-Eccles Stadium · Utah by 28 · series 28-73-4, lost the last 3 · Game preview
Updated Tue Sep 15 · through week 2
Bronco Mendenhall's year 2 (2026): 0-2, behind Nate Dreiling's 6-7 in the same spot.
3Bronco 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 moved it — last 14 days
Position = mood · width = volume · color = the kind of feeling
The timeline where SDSU and Boise join the Big East would’ve been an interesting one as well…
The crowd’s loudest take by upvotes — read for mood, not as a side. The cohort read is the measured part.
Cohort sentiment is a source-weighted model read — never a quote pinned to a person.
Topics are model-labeled from Reddit — a rough signal of what this fanbase is circling right now.
~ our readUtah State fans are down on the program, with almost nothing concrete behind it yet.
✓ counted We read 70 posts from Utah State fans this week.
Forum Pulse
via USUFans
Press Pulse
12 quotes collected this season
What the beat said, in their own words.
In my first go here at Utah State as a true freshman — I wouldn’t say I was underprepared — I think that the moment was a lot, taking that all in at the time
Initially, the transfer portal can be chaotic, and you don’t know exactly what’s going to happen. I think that quickly after I entered, I saw it being a real possibility that I would return here, and then, following my visit, I just knew that this was the place for me. It’s definitely a different track returning to the school I was initially at
Coach Mendenhall — his mentality and his culture is so much different than any culture that I’ve ever been a part of, and I’ve really enjoyed and I felt a lot of personal development for myself, and as far as our team culture and how connected we are, I haven’t been as connected with a team really ever since I started playing football
Five Lenses
What people are saying right now
Fanbase health · Utah State
Audible (95 weighted voices in the latest week) and winning on the field (6-7 last season, 0-2 so far).
2 of 3 signals · on-field reading uses last season until 4 games are in · 0–100, bands at 26 / 51 / 76
More in this tab
Fan claims · every quote verified verbatim
If Hillstead was taller, Hillstead would have countless power conference offers. He is built like a shorter DB, RB, and WR, but he has quarterback arm and talent.
It doesn't matter, he plays a position where height is critical and 6'-0" is sort of the floor. 6'-2" and above is preferred.
Based on 3 comments across 3 threads · Aug 17, 2026–Sep 8, 2026 · via Merlin Olsen Field (Aggie Football)
We knew he was a bad coach, he proved it tonight, and we are all sad because there is little hope for the Utah State Aggies.
Based on 1 comment across 1 thread · Sep 6, 2026 · via Merlin Olsen Field (Aggie Football)
Most of us in July 2021 would have been ecstatic if told we would be 8-3 after losing at home to Wyoming.
Right now in the preseason you’ll be ecstatic, when we lose to CSU we’ll all be pissed, at season end we’ll be content
Based on 2 comments across 1 thread · Jul 30, 2026 · via Merlin Olsen Field (Aggie Football)
He's a very strange man and sometimes a little off-putting, and he was often cringey and self-righteous when he was in Provo.
Let's be real - there is more than a few on here and in the fanbase in general that will never like Bronco because of his time at BYU.
Based on 2 comments across 1 thread · Jul 8, 2026 · via Merlin Olsen Field (Aggie Football)
besides him being lame and boring, Sub .500 record since BYU Retired once already Semi-retired now Low expectations of USU Won't expand coaching circle No interest in promoting the team, school or fundraising Goofy NIL model/Maybe changed? No one seems to know how it works Annoying and condescending, thinks he is too good for USU but we are lucky his grandkids are in Utah Poor Portal recruitment Low ceiling Childish incentives
Based on 1 comment across 1 thread · Jul 8, 2026 · via Merlin Olsen Field (Aggie Football)
The names this fanbase says more than anyone else does — players, coaches, the places they keep coming back to. Not slang: these are the people carrying the conversation.
“Merlin Olsen Field (Aggie Football) • 7 days to kickoff iframe”
If we’re just looking at their collegiate career, I’d throw Phil Olsen up there too. Besides Merlin, he’s the only other consensus all-American if I’m
Merlin olsen was picked as the best athlete from utah by sport's illustrated Statistics: Posted
This place is full of boise state fans and so is merlin olsen stadium.
Merlin Olsen Field (Aggie Football) • Re: Gavin Allen, OL, Coming to Camp
Merlin Olsen Field (Aggie Football) • Re: Is the Media Deal $10-12 Million?
Merlin Olsen Field (Aggie Football) • Re: Why is there so little info about Aggie Football
Merlin Olsen Field (Aggie Football) • Re: Article on Malik Sika
Merlin Olsen Field (Aggie Football) • Re: Article on James Klopfenstein
Fanbase health · Utah State