Previewing Utah State football’s 2026 schedule: Troy Trojans

LOGAN, Utah – After two Power Four road tests, the Utah State Aggies return to Logan to close out their 2026 non-conference slate.

Utah State hosts the Troy Trojans at Maverik Stadium on Sept. 26 in a Week 4 matchup — the first meeting between the programs since 2004 and Troy’s first trip to Logan since 2003.

The game offers the Aggies a pivotal chance to build momentum before Pac-12 play begins.

𝕋𝕙𝕖 ℕ𝕖𝕨 𝔼𝕣𝕒 𝔸𝕨𝕒𝕚𝕥𝕤 👀

Updated game times & network selections for the season are here! 📅⏲️

🎟️: https://t.co/ogxb0J9CUS pic.twitter.com/pLBnyKlnQw

— USU Football (@USUFootball) May 27, 2026

Troy, coming off an 8-6 season and a Sun Belt Championship Game appearance, presents a legitimate test — particularly on the defensive side of the ball, where the Trojans return Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year Donnie Smith. But an offense that ranked last in the Sun Belt in yards per game and significant roster turnover could make the Trojans vulnerable on the road.

USU will be looking to even the all-time series at 2-2. The Aggies traveled to Troy in 2002 and 2004, with the Trojans visiting Logan in 2003. A victory would be the program’s first against Troy at home.

Previewing the Troy Trojans

Head coach Gerad Parker enters his third season guiding the Troy program.

Troy went 4-8 in Parker’s first season but improved to 8-6 in Year 2, falling to James Madison in the Sun Belt Championship Game after going 6-2 in conference play during the regular season.

A stout defense led the way. The Trojans ranked third in the Sun Belt, allowing just 23.9 points per game.

Doing hard things together 🤘 pic.twitter.com/7Hm5Q5LWEj

— USU Football (@USUFootball) July 24, 2026

On the other side of the ball, Troy’s offense was inconsistent at best. The Trojans were 8-0 when gaining more than 310 yards of total offense and 0-6 when they fell short of that mark.

Parker brought in former Tarleton State offensive coordinator Adam Austin to retool the unit and reverse the trend.

Troy Trojans Offense

The Trojans’ offense left a lot to be desired in 2025.

The unit finished last in yards per game in the conference, and returns quarterbacks Goose Crowder and Tucker Kilcrease but lost its leading rusher and two key receivers to Power Four programs.

Crowder began the season as the starter before a Week 3 injury sidelined him for six games. He returned late in the season and finished with 1,327 passing yards, leading the team with 11 touchdowns against five interceptions.

The Goose is loose! Goose Crowder takes it in for the Troy touchdown!@TroyTrojansFB pic.twitter.com/HQf6wEPXeX

— College Football Zone (@CollegeFBonX) December 6, 2025

Kilcrease took the snaps with Crowder unavailable, finishing with 1,537 yards through the air, nine touchdowns and six interceptions.

Troy’s offense will feature an almost entirely new receiving corps following the departures of DJ Epps (West Virginia) and Roman Mothershed (LSU).

In the backfield, 2025 second-string running back Jordan Lovett is joined by Purdue transfer Jaheim Merriweather. Merriweather enters as a junior with limited experience — 17 career rushing attempts for 79 yards and three catches for 21 yards.

Troy Trojans Defense

Of the nine returning starters from 2025, hybrid LB/DE Donnie Smith may be the most consequential.

The senior defensive end was named to the All-Sun Belt first team after leading the league and finishing eighth nationally with 11 sacks. He added 44 tackles and 13.5 tackles for loss.

Sack No. 1⃣1⃣ for Donnie Smith this season 🤯 pic.twitter.com/XdeCMi3UYh

— Troy Trojans Football 8x⚔️ (@TroyTrojansFB) December 17, 2025

Returning linebackers Luke Hodge and TJ Thompson will join Smith as part of a reworked defensive front.

Hodge ended the year with 42 stops and 2.5 tackles for loss. Thompson had 44 tackles and a sack while playing in all 14 games last season.

Transfers Ty Clemons (Clemson), Keno Jones (Barton College) and Bryce Steel (Boston College) bolster the front seven.

Clemons, a 6-foot-3, 296-pound defensive lineman, will get an immediate chance to fill a void in the middle of the defense.

Jones was named Conference Carolinas co-defensive player of the year and earned All-America honorable mention last season after registering 114 tackles, nine tackles for loss and three sacks. He also forced a fumble, recovered three fumbles, and broke up six passes.

Steel appeared in 11 games for Boston College last season, starting two, and finished with 16 tackles and one quarterback hit.

The secondary is a significant question mark for the Trojans. Leading defensive back Jaquez White transferred to Tennessee, and Kaleno Levine’s eligibility expired.

Safety Marcus Goree Jr. transferred in from Tennessee — essentially swapping roster spots with White — while Jonathan Pennix arrived from Southern Miss. Pennix had 22 tackles, six passes defended and two interceptions as a sophomore last season.

Looking Ahead

Troy’s defense, anchored by Smith and reinforced through the transfer portal, gives the Trojans the foundation to compete. However, until the offense proves it can consistently move the ball under a new coordinator and with a largely rebuilt skill group, there is a ceiling on what this team can accomplish.

For Utah State, the Week 4 matchup is the kind of game the Aggies need to win at home before diving into a demanding first Pac-12 schedule.

Week 4 | Utah State Aggies vs. Troy Trojans

Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026

Venue: Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium

Location: Logan, Utah

Kickoff: 5:30 p.m. MT

What channel is Utah State football on?

The USU football game against Troy is available on CBS Sports Network.

Listen to the Utah State Aggies on KSL Sports Zone

Following Utah State football with KSL Sports Zone

The Aggies open the 2026 season against Idaho State on Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium on September 5. Kickoff is at 5 p.m. MT.

Find Utah State football’s entire 2026 schedule here.

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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.

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