Previewing Utah State football’s 2026 schedule: Idaho State Bengals
Jul 21, 2026, 2:18 PM | Updated: 2:39 pm
LOGAN, Utah – The 2026 season draws near, complete with crisp mornings, tailgate parties, and the pageantry of another college football campaign.
Entering Year 2 of the Bronco Mendenhall era, the Utah State Aggies are preparing for their inaugural season in the new-look Pac-12.
After inheriting a program coming off a 4-8 campaign, Mendenhall guided the Aggies to a 6-7 record and a bowl berth in 2025 — Utah State’s 12th postseason appearance in the past 15 years.
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Just your average summer lawn care work! 🏡🔨
It’s all starting to come together now! 👀
🎟️: https://t.co/ogxb0J9CUS pic.twitter.com/0f3I3EjoI8
— USU Football (@USUFootball) July 18, 2026
Now, Utah State shifts its focus to proving it belongs in the Pac-12.
Mendenhall overhauled the roster this offseason, adding 41 new players, including 19 Power Four transfers.
The headliner is junior quarterback McCae Hillstead, who was named the starter after returning to Logan following a stint at BYU. The Lehi, Utah, native first suited up for Utah State as a true freshman in 2023 — he completed 3-of-5 passes against Idaho State in that 78-28 rout — and now takes the reins of an offense coordinated by Robert Anae, himself a Mendenhall reunion hire.
RELATED: BYU transfer McCae Hillstead named Utah State starting QB
Welcome to Merlin Olsen Field @pac12! 🤝
🎟️➡️ https://t.co/ogxb0J9CUS pic.twitter.com/Ja0TnJ6HsF
— USU Football (@USUFootball) July 21, 2026
Senior running back Javen Jacobs, a New Mexico transfer, gives the Aggies a physical presence in the backfield.
Linebackers Bronson Olevao Jr. and Harrison Taggart headline a defense that is tasked with improving on the 28.7 points per game it surrendered in 2025.
But before beginning conference play in early October against familiar foe Boise State, the Aggies will face another Potato State opponent, the Idaho State Bengals.
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Previewing the Idaho State Bengals
Utah State opens the 2026 campaign at home against the FCS-level Idaho State Bengals and fourth-year head coach Cody Hawkins.
Big Sky preseason projections peg the Bengals to finish in the top half of the league after going 6-6 last season.
No.s 4️⃣/5️⃣ in the 2026 preseason poll. Keep raising the standard📈 pic.twitter.com/XFDf41Nt1i
— Idaho State Football (@BengalGridiron) July 20, 2026
Idaho State trails defending national champion Montana State, Montana and UC Davis in the media poll and falls behind Northern Arizona as well in the coaches poll.
The Bengals are scheduled to open fall camp on Wednesday, July 29.
Idaho State Offense
Three Idaho State players were named to the 2026 Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-American list, headlined by running back Dason Brooks and wide receiver Chedon James.
A former ISU linebacker, Brooks moved to running back in 2024 and rushed for 506 yards and four touchdowns in 12 games, including a then-career-high 136 yards against Southern Utah.
He took another step forward in 2025, earning second-team All-Big Sky honors after topping 1,000 rushing yards with 10 touchdowns. Brooks had three multi-touchdown games and was named Big Sky Offensive Player of the Week twice, including after a 219-yard outing against UC Davis.
James is a 5-foot-9 senior who returns to Idaho State after stints at Fresno State in 2024 and Incarnate Word in 2025. He averaged 15 yards per reception last season, catching 21 passes for 314 yards and four touchdowns.
RELATED: Future NFL Hall of Fame LB Bobby Wagner reminds USU grads “We will win”
He was a first-team All-Big Sky selection in 2023 after hauling in 102 passes for 1,045 yards and eight touchdowns.
Redshirt senior offensive lineman Stryker Rashid also earned preseason All-American recognition. The Weber, Utah, native returns to anchor a unit that allowed just three sacks and led the nation in sack rate in 2025.
Under center, redshirt senior quarterback Jordan Cooke returns to lead Idaho State’s high-octane “Throwin’ Idahoans” offense.
Jordan Cooke is slingin it today @BengalGridiron up 21-0 pic.twitter.com/eniePVyEqD
— Big Sky Conference (@BigSkyConf) November 16, 2025
Cooke completed 58.8% of his passes (240-of-408) for 3,052 yards, 16 touchdowns and nine interceptions last season. He added 185 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
Idaho State Defense
The Bengals’ defense allowed 27.3 points per game last season and was outscored 91-47 in the fourth quarter.
Former Utah State safety Titan Saxton is competing for a starting job alongside former Boise State safety Troy Wilkey.
Utah natives Collin Lewis and Jake East join Weber State transfer Bronson Childs and BYU transfer Sani Tuala to anchor the defensive line.
Linebacker Nathan Reynolds, the team’s second-leading tackler last season, returns after registering 81 tackles. He figures to be joined by Jackson Irwin in the starting lineup. Irwin recorded four sacks and six tackles for a loss while being limited to eight games.
Week 1 | Utah State Aggies vs. Idaho State Bengals
Date: Saturday, September 5, 2026
Venue: Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium
Location: Logan, Utah
Kickoff: 5 p.m. MT
Despite Utah State’s up-and-down history as a successful program, the Aggies have dominated ISU over the years in one of their oldest rivalries. USU is 19-2 all-time against their neighbors to the north, and 16-1 at home, winning each of the past four head-to-head matchups by 20+ points.
The Bengals have been outscored 207-78 during that stretch.
What channel is Utah State football on?
The USU football game against Idaho State is available on CBS Sports Network.
Listen to the Utah State Aggies on KSL Sports Zone
| Platform | Where to Find It |
|---|---|
| Radio | KSL Sports Zone |
| Online | sports.ksl.com |
| Mobile | KSL Sports app |
Utah State Aggies 2026 Schedule (0-0, 0-0)
- Saturday, September 5 | Idaho State Bengals @ Utah State Aggies | 5 p.m. MT
- Saturday, September 12 | Utah State Aggies @ Washington Huskies | 1:30 p.m. MT
- Saturday, September 19 | Utah State Aggies @ Utah Utes | 1:30 p.m. MT
- Saturday, September 26 | Troy Trojans @ Utah State Aggies | 5:30 p.m. MT
- Saturday, October 3 | Utah State Aggies @ Boise State Broncos | 5:30 p.m.
- Friday, October 9 | Washington State Cougars @ Utah State Aggies | 7 p.m. MT
- BYU
- Saturday, October 24 | Utah State Aggies @ Texas State Bobcats | 5:30 p.m. MT
- Saturday, October 31 | Colorado State Rams @ Utah State Aggies | 1:30 p.m. MT
- Saturday, November 7 | Fresno State Bulldogs @ Utah State Aggies | 7:30 p.m. MT
- Saturday, November 14 | Utah State Aggies @ San Diego State Aztecs | 7:30 p.m. MT
- Saturday, November 21 | Utah State Aggies @ Oregon State Beavers | 8:30 p.m. MT
- Saturday, November 28 | Flex Game @ Utah State Aggies | TBD
Following Utah State football with KSL Sports Zone
Find Utah State football’s entire 2026 schedule here.
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Catch Utah State football live with Scott Garrard and former Aggie QB Kevin White on KSL Sports Zone radio. You can also stream every game online at sports.ksl.com or on the go with the KSL Sports app, available for download on iOS and Android.
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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.
