Utah State football prepares for a high-stakes road matchup against No. 17 Washington in Seattle on Saturday, Sept. 12, following a 29-17 loss to Idaho State in their season opener on Sept. 5. The Aggies, currently 0-1, must overcome a series of turnovers and red-zone struggles to find momentum in their upcoming conference slate.
Season Opener Struggles
The Aggies' season began with a hard-fought contest at Maverik Stadium on Saturday night, Sept. 5. Despite accumulating 407 yards of total offense, Utah State fell to the Idaho State Bengals due to four turnovers and three instances where drives were halted on downs. The loss leaves the Aggies with a 0-1 record for the 2026 season.
Offensive and Defensive Highlights
The game saw early momentum for the Aggies, who responded to an initial Idaho State field goal with a 23-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback McCae Hillstead to junior wide receiver Rex Haynes on the opening play from scrimmage. Hillstead later connected with graduate senior wide receiver Eli Wood for a 15-yard touchdown to cap an eight-play, 75-yard drive.
However, the Bengals responded with a one-yard touchdown plunge by quarterback Jordan Cooke on a 4th-and-goal. While Utah State managed to reclaim a 17-16 lead in the second half through a four-yard touchdown pass from Hillstead to graduate senior receiver Demick Starling, the lead was short-lived. Idaho State's Mason Lindberg added a 43-yard field goal to reclaim the lead, and a subsequent 41-yard field goal from Lindberg extended the Bengals' advantage to 29-17.
Individual Performance Statistics
Quarterback McCae Hillstead finished the game with 178 yards on 15-of-30 passing, recording two touchdowns and three interceptions. He also contributed 43 rushing yards on nine carries. Graduate senior quarterback Grady Brosterhous entered the game in relief, completing five of 13 passes for 67 yards, including one interception, and adding 35 yards on 10 carries.
On the ground, graduate senior running back Javen Jacobs led the Aggies with 80 rushing yards on 20 carries. He also contributed four receptions for 27 yards. The receiving corps saw production from Eli Wood, who recorded six catches for 90 yards and a touchdown, and Javon Robinson, who added three catches for 31 yards.
Defensive Standouts
The Aggie defense saw standout performances from senior linebacker Harrison Taggart and sophomore safety David Kabongo, who each recorded eight tackles. Junior linebacker Mataira Brown and sophomore defensive tackle Carson Tujague both recorded sacks. Additionally, junior linebacker Asher Cunningham and senior linebacker Tevis Tuha recorded tackles-for-loss, while sophomore safety Charger Doty and senior safety Brevin Hamblin recorded the team's only pass breakups.
Upcoming 2026 Schedule
The upcoming schedule for Utah State presents a rigorous path through the 2026 season. Following the game against Washington in Seattle, the Aggies will travel to Salt Lake City to face No. 20 Utah at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Sept. 19.
Later in the season, the team will host Troy on Sept. 26 and Boise State on Oct. 3. The Aggies also have home games scheduled against Washington State on Oct. 9 and Colorado State on Oct. 31. Their remaining non-conference and conference matchups include trips to Texas State on Oct. 24, San Diego State on Nov. 14, and Oregon State on Nov. 21, with a home game against Fresno State on Nov. 7.
Season Outlook
As the season progresses, Utah State will look to build on its cumulative statistics as recorded by the university athletics department. The team's performance in the upcoming road games will be critical as they navigate a schedule featuring several ranked opponents, including Washington and Utah.
Ticket Information
Fans can monitor the Aggie football program for updates via social media and official university channels. Season tickets and single-game tickets remain available through the USU Online Ticket Office.
