Familiar faces add another layer to Utah State’s in-state matchup with Utah
Sep 15, 2026, 10:53 AM
The Utah State Aggies travel to Salt Lake this weekend for a matchup with the No. 17 Utah Utes. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
LOGAN – Utah State’s matchup with Utah already had enough built-in intrigue.
The Battle of the Brothers is an in-state rivalry with a long history. It’s also a chance for the Aggies to turn last week’s defensive progress at Washington into their first win of the season.
But for Bronco Mendenhall, this week adds another layer. Many familiar faces are on the opposite sideline.
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Utah offensive coordinator Kevin McGiven worked with Mendenhall in Logan last season, orchestrating a breakout season for wide receiver Braden Pegan. Quarterback Devon Dampier is a player Mendenhall knows well from his time at New Mexico. And Utah head coach Morgan Scalley is someone Mendenhall has watched grow from a standout player into one of the region’s top defensive minds.
That familiarity gives Utah State a reference point. But Mendenhall was careful not to make it sound like it gives the Aggies an answer key.
“I think both,” Mendenhall said when asked whether knowing Utah’s personnel and coaches helps. “You’re talking about intimate moments of an entire year’s worth of a season, an offseason.”
Then came the respect.
“First of all, they’re all amazing people,” Mendenhall said. “So Kevin McGiven, a great person and a dear friend of mine, and a very good football coach.”
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Kevin McGiven brings a familiar offense, but not an easy one
McGiven’s presence makes this matchup especially interesting.
Mendenhall knows McGiven personally and professionally. He knows how he thinks, how he teaches, and how he builds an offense. He also knows that familiarity only goes so far once the ball is snapped.
“I think, a really skilled offensive coordinator, so I know him well,” Mendenhall said.
That knowledge may help Utah State identify starting points during preparation, but Mendenhall said the Aggies still have to execute against what Utah does best.
“In terms of, does that lead to tendencies or et cetera? Yeah, possibly as a starting point,” Mendenhall said. “But the skill set and the ability really requires execution, no matter what they choose to do.”
That is the hard part.
Utah’s offense has looked explosive early, and Dampier is a QB who can stress defenses in multiple ways. Utah State’s defense took a clear step forward in a 16-14 loss at Washington, but the challenge changes this week.
Against Washington, the Aggies faced a mobile quarterback who could extend plays. Against Utah, they’ll face a quarterback who is central to the entire structure of the offense.
Devon Dampier is the straw that stirs Utah’s drink
Mendenhall did not hide his admiration for Dampier.
The Utah quarterback played for Mendenhall at New Mexico, giving the Utah State coach a firsthand look at what makes him difficult to defend.
“Devin Dampier, same thing,” Mendenhall said. “What a great young man and really a talented, dynamic football player.”
Utah State’s challenge is that Dampier isn’t just a passer who can run when protection breaks down. He is a designed part of Utah’s run game, RPO game and scramble game.
The senior is off to a fast start, completing 31-of-42 passes for 437 yards and five touchdowns against one interception. He’s added 80 yards and two rushing scores as the Utes have piled up points during a 2-0 start.
Dampier’s 195.7 passer efficiency leads the Big 12.
DAMPIER TO PEGAN 🎯
Devon Dampier connects with Braden Pegan for a 7-yard @Utah_Football TD
📺 ESPNU pic.twitter.com/JkegXFIDdM
— Big 12 Conference (@Big12Conference) September 4, 2026
Mendenhall said that makes him different from Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr., who hurt the Aggies at times with his mobility.
“They are comparable, but different,” Mendenhall said. “Devin, I’ve seen some magical things from him. He’s so hard to sack.”
That elusiveness stood out to Mendenhall long before this week.
“That’s an entire year in New Mexico, seeing unblocked players in two and three, and he spins around, and he jukes, and he jives, and he’s out of the pocket, and he throws just a dart, or he’ll pull it down and run,” Mendenhall said.
The description sounded less like a scouting report and more like a warning.
“He runs for speed and power, even though he’s not a big player,” Mendenhall said. “He’s just dynamic, and a really skilled playmaker, and he makes it look easy.”
USU’s defensive discipline will be tested
For Utah State linebacker James Jennette, the plan starts with discipline.
Dampier’s ability to make defenders miss can turn one missed assignment into a big play. Utah’s offense also stresses defenders by forcing them to make quick decisions in space.
“He definitely is a shifty quarterback,” Jennette said. “We just have to make sure that everybody does their job. All of us up front, on the edges, keep him contained, making sure that we’re rushing where we’re supposed to.”
That fits with what Mendenhall said about Utah’s offense.
The Utes use motion, misdirection, and option-like concepts to make defenders choose between responsibilities. Utah State’s defense, which looked more connected at Washington, will have to show that improvement can travel.
“Utah uses a lot of conflict plays, and so you’re trying to have a player kind of be asked to do two jobs and create scenarios for that to happen,” Mendenhall said. “Misdirection and discipline and eye control are really critical to that.”
Mendenhall compared the challenge to defending option football—not identical, but similar, since one breakdown can affect the entire structure of the defense.
Jennette said the Aggies have to prepare for every part of Dampier’s role.
“For us, it’s just recognizing it on film, making sure that we get a totality of their offense to make sure that we’re prepared for design runs, scrambles, regular runs, just to be ready for everything that they have,” Jennette said.
Braden Pegan adds another familiar piece
Dampier is not the only Utah player Mendenhall knows.
He also mentioned receiver Braden Pegan as one of the familiar faces that gives this game a different feel.
“Same, I would say, with Pegan,” Mendenhall said.
Braden Pegan’s impact through two games has gone beyond his receiving production. Morgan Scalley on Braden Pegan vs Utah State:
“He’s everything I hoped he’d be. It’s so much fun seeing these guys block for each other and playing team football. He’s been a team player. He’s on…
— Steve Bartle (@BartleKSLsports) September 14, 2026
With McGiven calling the plays, Pegan exploded for 60 catches, 926 yards, and five touchdowns in his lone season with the Aggies, earning First Team All-Mountain West honors before following McGiven to Utah and the Big 12.
The production hasn’t dipped in Utah’s varied attack. Pegan has seven catches for 113 yards and a TD, while adding a rushing score in the Week 1 opener against Idaho.
Mendenhall did not go deep into Pegan’s role, but his inclusion said enough. Utah State’s staff has firsthand knowledge of multiple pieces in Utah’s offense, and those connections make this matchup more layered than a typical nonconference game.
Still, Mendenhall kept returning to the same point: knowing a player is different than stopping him.
“Point of reference, just because I know their capabilities, and I know how skilled they are, that gives you a great reference point,” Mendenhall said.
Morgan Scalley’s rise no surprise to Mendenhall
The familiarity extends beyond Utah’s offense.
Mendenhall also knows the type of program Utah has built defensively, and he has followed Scalley’s rise from player to coordinator to head coach.
“Really good football player,” Mendenhall said of the first-year head coach.
Scalley’s defensive background is central to Utah’s identity. Mendenhall said the Utes’ system has been strong for years, and the continuity still shows even with Scalley now leading the program.
“Obviously, his career as a defensive coordinator in this system is very strong, as most of the coordinators that Utah have been on that side of the ball,” Mendenhall said.
🗣️ Head coach Bronco Mendenhall, graduate OLB James Jennette and graduate WR Eli Wood recap last week and preview USU’s game at Utah this weekend.
📺 Watch the full press conference here: https://t.co/hViBsv2BQm #AggiesAllTheWay | #ShowMe pic.twitter.com/OuifhtnWye
— USU Football (@USUFootball) September 14, 2026
Utah’s defense has already looked the part this season, especially in the secondary. Mendenhall pointed to the Utes’ talent, coaching and continuity as reasons for their early success.
“No. 1, they’re talented. No. 2, they’re coached really well. And No. 3, maybe, the system has been in place and has been able to compound for a long, long time,” Mendenhall said.
Even with a new coordinator, Utah’s defensive answers have remained consistent.
“Even though the coordinator is different, the answers, the rhythm, the cadence, the processes, the whole thing, this is just the next version with experienced players,” Mendenhall said.
Mendenhall said he is not surprised Scalley has started strong as Utah’s head coach.
“Here comes the next generation of just really skilled and capable leaders,” Mendenhall said. “Morgan already is off to a strong start as the head coach, but I think it’s to be expected if you look at his playing career and coaching career. And so I don’t think it’s surprising anyone that he’s doing well.”
Familiarity meets rivalry week
The rivalry element is unavoidable, even if Utah State is trying not to let it dominate the week.
Mendenhall has coached in plenty of high-emotion games in the state, but this will be his first Utah State-Utah matchup from the Aggies’ sideline. His approach remains steady.
“I haven’t participated in the Utah State-Utah game yet,” Mendenhall said. “So what I can speak from is just baseline, and execution and concentration ends up winning the game.”
USU wide receiver Eli Wood said the players understand the meaning of the game, but they are not changing their preparation because of it.
“Obviously, we understand this is an in-state rival for us,” Wood said. “We’re treating this like any other game. We’re preparing like any other game.”
That may be the balance Utah State has to strike this week.
The Aggies know the opponent. The fan bases know the history.
But familiarity will not be enough to get Utah State its first win.
“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.”
Utah State showed progress last week at Washington, especially on defense. Now, against familiar faces in a familiar in-state spotlight, the Aggies have a chance to prove that progress can turn into something more.
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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.
