10 moments that defined the 2024 season – Deseret News

The 2024 season was, in many ways, a season to forget for Utah State football.

For the third straight season, the Aggies finished the year with a losing record. Utah State’s four wins were the fewest for the program – in a season longer than 12 games – since 2016.

The Aggies were losers after several blowouts, couldn’t stop the opposing offense for most of the season, and were unable to accomplish virtually any of the goals they set out to achieve early on. of the year.

But it wasn’t all bad.

There was a thrilling victory over a rival, offensive production galore and record-breaking individual performances. Oh, and some blowouts in favor of Utah State.

It was, overall, a season with some pretty high highs and several devastating lows.

About right for a program that has now entered a complete rebuild under new head coach Bronco Mendenhall.

Here are 10 moments, games or decisions that defined the 2024 Utah State football season

Blake Anderson firing: You can’t accurately talk about the Aggies’ season without talking about their former head coach. As of early July, Anderson was the second-longest tenured head coach in the Mountain West Conference. He had won a conference title at USU and despite 6-7 consecutive seasons, there was optimism that Utah State could win the conference crown again in the fourth year of his mandate. That optimism, however, disappeared in a flash when Utah State announced on July 2 that Anderson had been placed on leave and that the university’s intention was to fire him, assistant athletic director Jerry Bovee and the football program’s director of player and community development, Austin Albrecht. . Anderson was officially fired on July 18, and defensive coordinator Nate Dreiling was named the team’s interim head coach. Anderson’s firing led to the hiring of several coaches – an attempt to put experience around Dreiling, then 33 – as well as a change in roles for many members of the team. coaches. All less than a month before fall camp begins. The fallout from the decision to fire Anderson also continues, as Anderson sued USU for $15 million in damages on November 20.

Utah State head coach Blake Anderson has been fired ahead of the 2024 football season. | Steve Conner, Associated Press

Death of André Seldon Jr.: Former Michigan Wolverine and New Mexico State Aggie, Andre Seldon never got the opportunity to play for USU, despite transferring to the program before the 2024 season. Just two days after Anderson’s official firing, Seldon died in a cliff diving accident at Porcupine Reservoir in Cache Valley. It was a cruel blow for a team already facing the unexpected dismissal of its head coach. Seldon was one of the few players who followed Dreiling from New Mexico State to Utah State and was expected to be a key figure in the Aggies secondary, perhaps even be a catalyst for a much hoped for – and necessary – improvement in defense. Instead, Seldon’s death was a devastating emotional blow to a program that was desperate for stability heading into the season.

New Mexico State cornerback Andre Seldon defends during an NCAA football game against UTEP, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023, in El Paso, Texas. | Andres Leighton

Bryson Barnes to the rescue: The Aggies started the season at home against a low-level FBS program in Robert Morris and things didn’t go well at first. With a new starting quarterback in Spencer Petras, the Aggies struggled to do anything on offense for half the game and, to add insult to injury, Petras limped off the field just before halftime with an injury that would sideline him for the next two. games. Things looked bad for Utah State, then Bryson Barnes took over. Barnes led the Aggies on a 26-0 run in the second half, helping the Aggies recover from a 14-10 halftime deficit. He did some of it with his legs – Barnes finished the game with 88 yards rushing and a touchdown – and a bit more through the air (198 passing yards, two touchdowns and an interception). Barnes’ 63-yard touchdown run early in the fourth quarter sealed the victory and endeared the University of Utah transfer to Aggie fans everywhere.

The upset bid against rival Utah is woefully insufficient: After the season-opening win over Robert Morris, Utah State played back-to-back games against Power Four conference opponents. The first was at USC and, unsurprisingly, the Aggies were handled. The 48-0 loss was par for the course for USU against (perceived) high-end programs. The following week, USU hosted rival Utah in the rematch of the Battle of the Friars. The Aggies didn’t get blown out in this game and led 14-3 early in the second quarter. Things were working very well for USU – the offense was moving the ball effectively against the Utes’ stout defense and the much-maligned Aggies defense was playing well. A giveaway in the end zone by wide receiver Kyrese White (Utah defensive back Smith Snowden ripped a touchdown reception out of White’s hands); two missed field goals by kicker Elliott Nimrod, including one blocked; and a Barnes interception, all combined to keep the Aggies from hanging with the Utes leaving Maverik Stadium with a 38-21 victory. A perceived moral victory at the time, but as the season progressed, it became clear that this was a true missed opportunity for Utah State.

Late-season collapse at Temple: The Owls were a bad football team in 2023 and finished the season 3-9 overall. So when Utah State arrived in Philadelphia, the Aggies were expected to come away with an easy victory, even with a 1-2 record and an interim head coach. And for a while, it looked like it was going to happen. Pennsylvania native Rahsul Faison went on a rampage against the Owls in the first half and nearly overwhelmed the entire Temple offense single-handedly. Utah State led 14-0 early in the game and took a 21-17 lead going into the break. Just before halftime, Temple kicker Maddux Trujillo kicked a 64-yard field goal in a foreshadowing of what was to come. Everything went Temple’s way in the second half. USU’s defense was non-existent and the offense couldn’t generate points when it counted. The result? Temple outscored USU 28-8 in the second half and won the game 45-29. It can be argued that the loss to Temple ended Dreiling’s bid to permanently become the Aggies’ head coach. It was a brutal performance against mediocre competition, well below anything USU would have hoped for.

Jalen Royals NFL moment: After falling to 1-3 to start the season, wins became extremely difficult to come by for the Aggies. USU lost the next game, a road trip at Boise State, in convincing fashion. The Aggies followed that loss with a similar loss at home against UNLV. The Aggies rallied in the second half in both games, but unnecessary time points only made the final scores more palatable. There were some real positives, though, against the Broncos in particular – from Jalen Royals to be specific. The Aggies’ star receiver had been held in check – by his standards – through the first four games of the year, but he had a blast against Boise State. The Royals hauled in nine passes for over 200 receiving yards and two touchdowns, one of which arguably became the highlight of the season for USU. The Royals’ performance garnered national attention and told everyone who hadn’t yet realized that he was going to be an NFL wide receiver.

Late interception all but ends hopes of bowl eligibility: Losers of five straight games, the Aggies hosted Mendenhall and New Mexico in early October looking for their first win since early August. The game was a shootout from the start, with neither defense proving capable of playing against two of the best offenses in the Mountain West Conference. UNM quarterback Devon Dampier was intercepted three times in the game, but it was a late pick from Aggie QB Spencer Petras that decided things. After New Mexico took a 50-45 lead with just over a minute remaining, the USU offense had a chance to drive down the field and steal a victory. Instead, just a few plays into the game, Petras was intercepted and that was that. While still technically possible, a 1-6 record through the first seven games meant USU would miss a bowl game.

Field goal for the rivalry victory: After so many setbacks, including several heartbreaking ones, the Aggies finally came out on the winning side against Wyoming. Down many starters, including the Royals, the Aggies struggled for most of what turned out to be an ugly rivalry game against the Cowboys in Laramie. Ugly or not, a drive led by Petras late in the fourth quarter allowed the Aggies to come away with the victory. All they needed was a 40-yard field goal from kicker Tanner Cragun. Cragun delivered, with his result giving USU their second win of the season and first against a rival since 2018.

Bryson Barnes unleashes: For much of the season, Barnes played sparingly behind Petras, entering the game in obvious short-yardage situations where he could give the Aggies a first down. An injury to Petras’ throwing arm late in the second quarter of the Aggies’ game against San Diego State, however, gave Barnes an opportunity to lead the offense, and he ran with the opportunity. Literally. Barnes led USU to a blowout victory over the Aztecs, rushing for the most yards by an Aggie quarterback in a game ever. He rushed for 193 yards and a touchdown against the Aztecs, and was also nearly perfect as a passer, completing 13 of 15 passes for 139 yards and three touchdowns. It was arguably one of the best single-game performances by a quarterback in program history.

Epic collapse, perfect end of season: Riding a two-game winning streak to the season finale, Utah State had the look and feel of a team that had things figured out. And for a while, against Colorado State, it continued. Late in the third quarter in Fort Collins, Utah State took a 30-13 lead and seemed assured of victory. What happened next was worthy of a season of extreme highs and incredible lows. Colorado State outscored Utah State 29-7 in the fourth quarter, thanks to two interceptions thrown by Barnes to great effect. It was an epic collapse, defined by poor decisions and even worse execution from the Aggies. And although USU made an effort to recover, scoring a touchdown with 14 seconds left and then recovering the next onside kick, it was too little, too late. Utah State’s season ended the same way the majority of the season ended.