Utah State has had its ups and downs in its first year under Bronco Mendenhall, but the overall feeling about the team is that it’s definitely moving in the right direction.
The Aggies lost twice to Hawaii and New Mexico, but beat Fresno State in their final three games of the regular season and played close games with Mountain West championship game opponents Boise State and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.
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Utah State extended its season with its sixth win over Fresno State and announced Sunday it has accepted an invitation to play in the famed Idaho Potato Bowl against Washington State in Boise.
This will be the Aggies’ fifth trip to the Potato Bowl since 2011. Kickoff will be at noon (MST) on December 22 and will be televised on ESPN.
“I love that it’s so close to Logan and allows our fans to attend games without impacting the schedule,” Mendenhall said.
“I love that our team has the extra opportunity to prepare and practice and that our program can continue to grow, but more importantly, I’m really grateful to be able to be with this particular group more.”
The Aggies (6-6) will get a glimpse of what the new Pac-12 football will look like when they take on the Cougars (6-6) in Boise.
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Washington State faced two Mountain West opponents in the regular season, San Diego State and Colorado State, and won both games convincingly.
“I’m really excited about this game,” Mendenhall said. “I think the regional flavor of this game is good for not only Utah but Washington state. I love this game. I think there’s a lot of intrigue. I think (it’s) two good football teams that are very motivated.
“I think they’re a good football team. When you look at the schedule, the teams they play, if you look at the Mountain West games, they beat San Diego State, I wouldn’t say pretty easily, but convincingly.”
However, Washington State is in the midst of a tumultuous time, falling victim to Penn State’s coaching search.
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Penn State signed Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell to an eight-year contract, and the Cyclones later filled the coaching void with Washington State head coach Jimmy Rodgers.
Rodgers will not coach the Cougars in the bowl game against Utah State. However, Washington State interim athletic director Jon Harlow said the rest of the coaching staff will stay to finish the season.
Cougars defensive coordinator Jesse Bobbitt will serve as interim head coach for the bowl game.
“It’s rare that I see (coaching changes before a bowl game) impact a team in a noticeable way,” Mendenhall said. “Sometimes they are almost scornful of leaving, sometimes they are more motivated…
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“I think about the players especially, and the circumstances that they’re in. I think it’s a really, really tough experience because I know bowl games are usually an opportunity to celebrate and enjoy your team and your accomplishments, and I still think that could happen. It just makes it more difficult.”
Utah State’s last appearance in the famed Idaho Potato Bowl was also the school’s last bowl eligibility, in 2023. In that game, the Aggies were defeated by Georgia State 45-22.
In fact, Utah State is 1-5 in total bowl appearances in six appearances since 1997. Its only win in a bowl game was a 41-15 victory over Toledo in 2012.
All told, the Aggies have won just six of 17 bowl games in school history. Their last bowl win was a 24-13 victory over Oregon State in the 2021 Los Angeles Bowl.
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Betting odds show Utah State could get its seventh bowl victory in school history, as the Aggies currently hold a four-point advantage over Washington State.
“I love this team,” Mendenhall said. “I appreciate their hard work, the way they compete, the way they fight and the reception they gave me in my first year taking over this program.
“I think they represent our community and this institution at a high level in a lot of different ways, and I’m excited to see them succeed.”
