Can Utah State’s defense take another step against No. 17 Utah?
Sep 14, 2026, 5:44 PM
Takeaways from Utah State's Week 3 press conference with Bronco Mendenhall, LB James Jennette, and WR Eli Wood. (Photo courtesy Brian Preece)
(Photo courtesy Brian Preece)
LOGAN – Bronco Mendenhall wasn’t trying to spin Utah State’s 16-14 loss at Washington into something it wasn’t.
The Aggies had a chance to beat a Big Ten opponent on the road and came up short.
But the way Utah State played in Seattle looked different than it did a week earlier. And after a frustrating season opener against Idaho State, that mattered.
“I like their competitive spirit. I like their execution. I like their will,” Mendenhall said. “Obviously, we were a play short from having the outcome we wanted, but I saw significant improvement in my team.”
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That improvement showed up most clearly on defense.
USU held Washington to 16 points, played with more physicality and gave the Aggies a chance to win late. It wasn’t perfect, but it was a noticeable step forward for a team still trying to find its identity in Mendenhall’s second year.
Mendenhall said there are “different types of losses,” and Saturday’s game fell into a much different category than the opener.
“Beating a lesser opponent doesn’t mean you actually played well, and sometimes losing to a really strong opponent doesn’t mean you didn’t play well,” Mendenhall said.
For Utah State, the Washington game reminded them that progress and frustration can exist at the same time.
“Collectively, we did move. Collectively, we did play better,” Mendenhall said. “Man, just a play or two short of having the outcome we wanted.”
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A more connected defense
Linebacker James Jennette felt the difference.
The Aggies were disappointed with the outcome, but Jennette said the defense took a real step in how it played together. More communication. More energy. More celebrating each other.
“We definitely are disappointed in the outcomes between both the two games,” Jennette said. “From a defensive standpoint, we’re continuing to build the bond that we have for each other, continuing to get closer and continuing to go out there and have fun.”
That may sound simple, but for a defense still learning to play together, it mattered.
Jennette said the biggest improvement from Week 1 to Week 2 was the way position groups fed off one another.
“The biggest improvement that I saw was D-linemen getting really excited when DBs break on the ball, DBs getting excited when D-linemen make tackles and just really becoming one true defense,” Jennette said.
That showed throughout the game.
Washington had moments, but Utah State didn’t let the game get away. The Aggies forced the Huskies to work for points and kept the offense within striking distance until the final minutes.
Jennette also had one of Utah State’s standout defensive plays when he came flying into the backfield for a sack against Washington.
For a player later in his college career, the moment carried extra meaning.
“It felt great,” Jennette said. “I’m definitely grateful for the opportunity that Coach Mendenhall gave me by bringing me here and just being able to show America, show the world, my talents.”
Too strong 💪@asher_cngham6 with the sack! pic.twitter.com/wR8FRrHlk0
— USU Football (@USUFootball) September 12, 2026
Those are the kinds of moments Utah State will need more of as the season moves forward.
The Aggies are still building depth, consistency, and trust on both sides of the ball. But plays like Jennette’s sack — and the defensive effort as a whole — gave Utah State something tangible to point to.
The improvement wasn’t just effort-based, either.
The graduate transfer from Virginia Tech credited defensive coordinator Nick Howell for keeping the plan clear enough for players to play fast.
“Coach Howell does a great job making the defense simple so that we don’t have to go out there and think too much,” Jennette said. “Everybody knows exactly what they’re supposed to do when they’re supposed to do it.”
Grady Brosterhous makes encouraging first start as offense searches for answers
While the defense made strides, Utah State’s offense remains a work in progress.
The Aggies had chances at Washington, but turnovers and an inconsistent run game kept them from finishing drives. Mendenhall was direct when asked about the rushing attack.
“Our traditional run game, meaning non-quarterback runs, is not being efficient or effective to this point,” Mendenhall said. “We not only need to look at what we’re doing, but how we’re doing it and with whom.”
That evaluation includes the offensive line, running backs and even the receivers.
Wide receiver Eli Wood, who has quickly become one of Utah State’s most reliable offensive players, said the receivers have to do more to help the run game get going.
“Wide receivers have touchdown blocks on basically every run play,” Wood said. “As a receiver group, we have not done a good enough job of sticking our nose in there and getting a body on a body.”
Zero quit from GB9!@gbrosterhous12 x @Eli_wood_14 pic.twitter.com/faV8lz2uNi
— USU Football (@USUFootball) September 12, 2026
Wood has been one of the bright spots for the Aggies through two games. He has six receptions in each contest and a touchdown in both.
Mendenhall said Wood’s consistency has made him a player the offense trusts in critical situations.
“He’s tough, he’s physical, he makes contested catches,” Mendenhall said. “He’ll run, he’ll block, he’ll tackle on special teams. Just the way he’s wired, he is a perfect fit for me and our program.”
Aggies must find a way to end turnover woes
The passing game has had production, but interceptions have stalled Utah State too often through the first two weeks.
Wood said those mistakes can’t simply be placed on the quarterback.
“It’s easy to point a finger at the person who’s throwing the ball, but in reality, it’s rarely completely on a quarterback on an interception,” Wood said. “When the ball’s in the air, it’s our job to come down with it.”
That accountability fits the theme of Utah State’s week.
The Aggies aren’t hiding from the mistakes that cost them against Washington, nor are they ignoring the areas where they improved.
That balance will matter if Utah State is going to turn a better performance into a better result.
Battle of the Brothers rivalry matchup awaits
The next opportunity comes quickly.
Utah State now shifts toward an in-state matchup with No. 17 Utah, a game that brings history, familiarity and a different kind of challenge.
Mendenhall knows the rivalry element will be part of the week. But he also made it clear that emotion alone won’t decide anything.
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“Motivation won’t be the issue,” Mendenhall said. “It’s the process and the mastery of assignments and technique and execution that will end up yielding the outcome.”
For now, though, Utah State leaves Week 2 with something it didn’t have after the opener: a performance it can build on.
The Aggies didn’t get the win at Washington. But they found signs of the team they want to become — especially on defense.
Now the question is whether those signs can hold up when the next test arrives.
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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
Parts of this article were generated with the assistance of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team.
