Bowl Eligibility On The Line As Utah State Hosts San Jose State

Nov 17, 2022, 7:35 PM

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Utah State football team rushes onto the field prior to their game against Weber State on Saturday, September 10.

Digital Sports Producer

LOGAN, Utah – With bowl eligibility on the line, the Utah State Aggies close out the home portion of the 2022 season as the San Jose State Spartans head to Logan.

Utah State (5-5, 4-2) is set to host the San Jose State(6-3, 4-2) at Maverik Stadium on Saturday, November 19. USU is 3-2 at home this year.

One last time at HOME!

🏟 Maverik Stadium
⌚️ Saturday | 7:45 PM MT
📺 @FS1

NOTES ➡️ https://t.co/oMWY4E7zM2
TICKETS ➡️ https://t.co/kUEHk5pT4C #AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/ANXaMFW6at

— USU Football (@USUFootball) November 15, 2022

If I told you in July that Logan Bonner would be limited to four games; Cooper Legas and Levi Williams would go down with injuries in the seventh game of the season; and that head coach Blake Anderson would be forced to call on true freshman Bishop Davenport to start a game under center, you probably wouldn’t think the Aggies would have any shot at a bowl game.

Such is the life for a Utah State team that has suffered through a rash of injuries that have forced more than 30 freshman to contribute in-game. Add to that, off-field distractions as they get ready to play their last home game of the year.

With a win, USU becomes bowl eligible for the 10th time in the last 12 years after playing in just six bowl games in its first 119 years.

Keys To The Game

The Spartans average 27.1 points per game, fifth in the Mountain West . Utah State is seventh in the league, averaging 22.1 points per contest.

Watch the full @CoachBrennan press conference as the Spartans head to Utah State this Saturday at 7:45 p.m. on @FS1‼️

🗣️ https://t.co/VXt8M35qn7 #AllSpartans | #ClimbTheMountain pic.twitter.com/FkTrVsXgzO

— San José State Football (@SanJoseStateFB) November 16, 2022

Statistically speaking, defense is the biggest separator for these teams. The Aggies have the second worst defense in the Mountain West, as they allow 208 rushing yards per game. Fortunately for Utah State defensive coordinator Ephraim Banda and the Aggie defense, SJSU’s rushing attack comes in as the worst in the conference, averaging only 82.4 yards per game.

Utah State has made 11 interceptions this season. Redshirt-freshman safety Ike Larsen leads the way with four picks and a number of other big plays this season. Turnovers have been tough to come by as San Jose State’s four offensive turnovers and five turnovers overall are the second best in the country. SJSU’s +10 turnover margin is sixth in the nation.

IKE FREAKING LARSEN!!!!@IkeLarsen19 pick 6️⃣‼️#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/ANGrbFLeTv

— USU Football (@USUFootball) November 13, 2022

USU’s secondary will have their work cut out for them facing junior quarterback Chevan Cordeiro. Twice named MW Offensive Player of the Week, Cordeiro went 170 pass attempts before a tipped ball resulted in his first interception of the season. Cordeiro will challenge the Aggies through the air (2,420 yards, 14 TD’s) and on the ground (eight TD’s).

San Jose State comes in with the leagues third best scoring defense, allowing 19.3 ppg. The Spartans are second in the Mountain West, allowing just 124.4 yards per game. SJSU’s secondary limits opponents to 204 yards per game.

Senior Day

With this being the final home game of the year, Utah State will be honoring 10 seniors prior to Saturday evening’s kickoff. Quarterback Logan Bonner, wide receivers Brian Cobbs & Justin McGriff, place-kicker Connor Coles, offensive linemen Chandler Dolphin, Jacob South & Alfred Edwards, safety Hunter Reynolds and running back Calvin Tyler Jr.

All-Time Series

The Spartans lead the all-time series by a slim margin at 19-20-1. Utah State is 11-8 against San Jose State in Logan. With 41 games played, the Aggies have played SJSU the fifth-most in school history. Only Utah (112), BYU (91), Colorado State (78) and Wyoming (72) have faced the Aggies more often.

Recent history between these two programs has swung the Aggies way with USU winning the last nine games played, including a 48-17 road win last year and a 62-24 home win in 2018, which is the last time the two teams played one another in Logan.