Quarterbacks Have Shaped BYU-USU Rivalry In Past Decade

SALT LAKE CITY – When Utah State defeated BYU in Logan back in 2010, it changed everything in the Battle for the Wagon Wheel. For decades, BYU dominated the Aggies on an annual basis.

Ever since that game, the two teams have gone back-and-forth and produced some memorable, and even sometimes forgettable moments. Most of those moments center around the quarterbacks that have played in this rivalry in the past decade.

Diondre Borel, Utah State

Borel quarterbacked Utah State’s upset victory over BYU in 2010 to end a 10-game losing streak to the Cougars. Borel was nearly perfect in that win throwing for 193 yards on 10-or-13 passing. Utah State’s rivalry win that season over BYU led to the next great Aggie quarterback committing.

Chuckie Keeton, Utah State

Keeton committed to the Aggies after Utah State’s win over BYU in 2010. The Houston native started in four games against BYU and posted a 0-4 record against the Cougars. He had close calls. 2011 game in Provo was down to a tipped-pass. In 2012, the Cougars squeaked by 6-3. In 2013, a game that was in Logan, Keeton threw a pick-six to Kyle Van Noy on the opening drive. Then suffered a knee injury in the game. Keeton suffered another injury in 2014 that forced him to miss the 2014 Wagon Wheel game.

Riley Nelson, BYU

Nelson transferred to BYU from Utah State. Coming out of high school, Nelson was a star at Logan High and when he transferred from the Aggies after returning home from a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Aggie fans were not thrilled.

In 2011, Nelson stepped in off the bench to replace Jake Heaps with BYU down 24-13 to Utah State. Nelson led the Cougars on two touchdown drives to secure the 27-24 win in Provo.

Taysom Hill, BYU

Three of Taysom Hill’s four season-ending injuries he suffered in his career were in games against Utah State. The most devastating came in 2014. BYU was undefeated and ranked No. 18 in the country and had the highest odds of going undefeated that season. Hill suffered a leg injury and was done for the season. BYU lost that game and then lost the next three after that.

In four starts against the Aggies, Hill posted a 3-1 record and passed for 713 yards and ran for 172 to total 885 yards in four games.

While putting together a highlight video of Taysom Hill, I came across his four season-ending injuries. Heartbreaking. pic.twitter.com/5lLteHT29B

— Dave Noriega (@davenoriega) November 29, 2016

Darrel Garretson, Utah State

In relief of an injured Chuckie Keeton, Garretson started the 2014 rivalry game and led the Aggies to their first win in Provo in 26 years. Garretson carved up the struggling BYU secondary that season for 321 passing yards.

Tanner Mangum, BYU

Mangum posted a 1-1 record in starts against Utah State. The victory was a dominating performance in 2015’s regular-season finale in Logan to the tune of 51-28. Then last season, Mangum struggled in a loss where BYU was run off their home field by the Aggies offense. Last year’s rivalry game ended up being Mangum’s final start of his BYU career. Zach Wilson showed big-play ability in the final minutes of that loss to Utah State and the BYU coaching staff gave Wilson the reigns at quarterback after that.

Jordan Love, Utah State

Last year’s game was Jordan Love’s first start against BYU. Love threw four touchdown passes in a 45-20 over the Cougars. The last Aggie quarterback to start and lead Utah State to back-to-back wins over BYU was Tom Wilson 45 years ago.