Looking Back At Utah State Football’s History With Air Force
Sep 10, 2025, 11:25 AM
LOGAN, UT- OCTOBER 8: Calvin Tyler Jr., #4 of the Utah State Aggies rushes in for a touchdown against Jamari Bellamy #25, Trey Taylor #7, and Jayden Goodwin #16 of the Air Force Falcons during the second half of their game October 8, 2022 Maverik Stadium in Logan, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/ Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Gardner/ Getty Images)
LOGAN, Utah – Utah State football is coming off a difficult loss to Texas A&M and setting its sights on beginning its final season of Mountain West Conference play against Air Force.
Multiple story lines converge when Utah State returns to Logan to host the Air Force Falcons on Saturday, September 13.
How To Watch, Stream, & Listen To Utah State Football Vs. Air Force Falcons
IT’S STRIPE THE STADIUM WEEK!! 🥳
Get your tickets now! 🔵 ⚪️
🎟️ ➡️ https://t.co/PPRkItocCW pic.twitter.com/fGze3qwyC1
— USU Football (@USUFootball) September 8, 2025
According to the USU archives, the series dates back to 1969. It truly began in 2013, after the Aggies joined the league. The Utah State is 5-7 against the Falcons, including a 3-2 mark in Logan.
Unless non-conference matchups are arranged down the road, 2025 marks the final time these programs will lineup across from each other.
Utah State Football needs a win for a .500 record vs. Air Force in the Mountain West Era
Surprisingly, Utah State and Air Force have never produced a game that ended with a field goal or less margin of victory on either side.
Indicative of the lopsided scores that have shown up recently, USU has been outscored 111 to 104 despite winning two of the past three series matchups.
𝑫𝒊𝒅 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒔𝒂𝒚 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝓮 𝑻-𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒓𝒕𝒔??? 👕
We’ve got 5,000 shirts to giveaway to students who come to our game against Air Force this Saturday! 😤#AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/tcqfk0Z9Zg
— USU Football (@USUFootball) September 9, 2025
The Aggies are 7-5 in Mountain West home openers, with a surprising amount of those coming against the Falcons.
USU opens league play against Air Force for the seventh time in its 13 MW seasons. They are 4-2 overall and 2-1 at home in conference openers against the Falcons.
September 2023 – Air Force 39 | USU 21
McCae Hillstead came off the bench to throw for 202 yards and three touchdowns after replacing Cooper Legas following a second-quarter injury.
Micah Davis, Terrell Vaughn, and Jalen Royals each caught a touchdown pass for the Aggies.
RELATED: Falcon Ground Game Carries Air Force To Win Over USU
.@Terrell_Vaughn6 gets @USUFootball on the scoreboard 🐮
📺: @CBSSportsNet pic.twitter.com/ygVDXPmcMZ
— Mountain West (@MountainWest) September 16, 2023
Air Force QB Zac Larrier completed 3 of 4 passes for 84 yards, but the Falcons couldn’t be stopped on the ground. Burk Owen (110 yards) and Emmanuel Michel (106 yards) each topped the century mark. The Falcons ran for 351 yards as a team and averaged 5.4 yards per carry.
October 2022 – USU 34 Air Force 27
The Aggies entered the final period trailing 24-20 but controlled the last 15 minutes to earn a double-digit win. Cooper Legas piloted two touchdown drives while relying on his legs and right arm to overcome the Falcons.
Legas connected with Terrell Vaughn on 4th-and-4 for a 34-yard touchdown that gave USU a 27-24 lead.
RELATED: Aggies End Four-Game Losing Streak With Win Over Air Force
COOPER LEGAS KEEPS IT FOR 7🤫😤
📺 @FS1 #AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/3QMOxeWJYd
— USU Football (@USUFootball) October 9, 2022
Utah State got the football back when Ajani Carter forced a fumble that Andre Grayson recovered at the 44-yard line. Legas led another scoring drive, running for 48 yards, including a 32-yard scoring scamper with seven minutes left.
The Aggie defense put the finishing touches on the win when Carter picked off a Haaziq Daniels pass with 3:51 left.
September 2021 – Air Force 45 | USU 49
USU trailed by double-figures in every quarter yet still managed to earn a wild 49-45 win to open MW play in 2021.
The two programs combined for nine touchdown plays of 20 yards or more.
RELATED: Peasley, Bonner Combine For Five TDs, Lead USU In Shootout Win Over Air Force
HOLY ROCKET!! 🚀
Andrew Peasley connects with Deven Thompkins for a 72-yard score and @USUFootball ain't done yet!! pic.twitter.com/ycN5Z9KAjC
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 19, 2021
QBs Logan Bonner (21-of-34) and Andrew Peasley (10-of-15) combined for 448 passing yards and five touchdowns. Aggie RB Calvin Tyler Jr. carried 19 times for 132 yards and two scores, including the game-winning touchdown from 61 yards out.
USU’s Deven Thompkins caught nine passes for 188 yards and a TD. Brandon Bowling added nine grabs for 136 yards and two TDs. Justin McGriff and Carson Terrell also caught touchdown passes.
Both programs combined for 1,247 yards of offense and 13 total touchdowns in the fireworks-filled battle.
December 2020 – USU 7 | Air Force 35
USU scored first in a chilly December game that kicked off with sub-freezing temperatures in Logan. Andrew Peasley hit Jordan Nathan from four yards out to cap a 15-play, 65-yard game-opening drive.
RELATED: Instant Takeaways From Utah State’s Loss To Texas A&M
The Aggies wouldn’t score again, surrendering 35 unanswered points to end a disappointing, Covid-shortened 2020 season.
October 2019 – Air Force 31 | Utah State 7
The Falcons jumped out to a 17-0 lead before Jordan Love could get going in another blowout loss.
Love’s only touchdown pass came on a 27-yard third-quarter completion to Siaosi Mariner. The future first-round pick of the Green Bay Packers finished 14-of-23 for 114 yards and one score.
The Aggies finished with 128 yards of offense, while allowing 472 yards.
How have Bronco Mendenhall teams performed in the Mountain West?
First-year Aggie head coach Bronco Mendenhall came to Logan as a Mountain West veteran.
On his third team and ninth season in the league, Mendenhall is 62-29 overall and 4-2 in bowl games. His 62 wins are fifth all-time and second behind Air Force’s Troy Calhoun (136-89) for active coaches.
RELATED: Mendenhall Has USU Focusing On Execution For Week 3
Bronco Mendenhall gives his recruiting pitch:
– Only 5 active coaches have won more games than him
– 115 Players sent to the NFL
– Not a better community on the planet than Logan, UT“The real question would be why wouldn’t you?” https://t.co/Nbv5EWZ1TU pic.twitter.com/W9RbrC3W4s
— Utah State Filmroom (@usufilm) April 19, 2025
Mendenhall is 42-13 in MW games, making him fifth in conference history in wins. His .764 win percentage is the sixth-highest in league history.
The former BYU head coach was named Mountain West Coach of the Year in 2006 and led BYU to back-to-back MW championships in 2006 and 2007.
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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.
