The Utah State Aggies opened their season with a 29‑17 defeat at Maverik Stadium against the Idaho State Bengals, a result that set the tone for a challenging year ahead.
Idaho State struck first when Mason Lindberg converted a field goal after Utah State’s opening drive stalled, and the Bengals quickly answered with a 15‑yard touchdown pass from quarterback McCae Hillstead to Eli Wood, giving the Aggies an early lead that vanished within minutes.
The Aggies’ offense, led by Hillstead, managed 178 passing yards and two touchdowns but was plagued by three interceptions and several stalled drives, including a crucial fourth‑down stop that halted a potential rally.
Defensively, Utah State forced key stops, with sacks recorded by Mataira Brown and Carson Tujague, yet the Bengals extended their advantage with a one‑yard touchdown pass from Jordan Cooke to Chedon James and another score that pushed the lead to 29‑17.
Special teams also played a role; graduate senior running back Javen Jacobs returned a punt 16 yards, positioning Utah State for a scoring drive that ultimately fell short.
Turnovers proved decisive, as multiple interceptions and a failed Hail Mary on the final play underscored the Aggies’ inability to capitalize on their 407 total yards of offense.
Looking Ahead
With the season opener in the books, Utah State will travel to Seattle to face the highly ranked Washington Huskies on September 12 at 1:30 PM MT, a contest that will be broadcast on the Big Ten Network.