PROVO — The BYU football team cruised to a big 51-28 victory over the Utah State Aggies to regain possession of the Old Wagon Wheel. Here are five reasons the win was particularly satisfying for Cougar fans.

BYU avenged last year's loss

Over a year later, Cougar fans, players and coaches were still feeling the sting of last season's loss to the Aggies. Prior to the beat-down Utah State put on in Provo, the 2014 campaign looked like it was going to be a memorable one for BYU. Quarterback Taysom Hill was putting up incredible stats and the team had beaten two Power 5 opponents. There was even talk of BYU going to a New Year's Six bowl or even the playoffs. That talk was abruptly halted when Hill left the Utah State game with a season-ending leg injury and BYU defenders couldn't stop the Aggies' offense. The Y was not able to change the past and tell Hill to throw the ball away instead of taking the awkward hit that ended his season. However, BYU did the next best thing and got revenge.

The win helped BYU finish the regular season with an undefeated record against the G5

Since the Cougars went independent in 2011, they have tried to prove that they are worthy of an invite to join a Power 5 conference. With no invite from a major conference looming, some BYU faithful have suggested that the Y accept an offer from a smaller conference such as the AAC or the Mountain West. The Cougars have bristled at this idea and insist that they are deserving of an invite from one of the Power 5 conferences. With the win over the Aggies, BYU finished the regular season with an 8-0 record against a group of five teams. That helps bolster BYU's efforts to garner an invitation to a major conference to play against teams that have more equal talent.

The Cougars won in convincing enough fashion that there cannot be any claims that the officiating was a major factor in the outcome

Utah State fans, just like fans all around the nation, don't like to accept defeat. Had it been a close game, Aggie fans could point to a controversial call or two as being the deciding factor in the game. In this contest, the Cougars didn't need any help from the whistle-blowers. The Y won in such dominating fashion that every viewer of the game would have to admit that the Cougs won the matchup fair and square. By winning by four scores, BYU left no doubt that it was the better team.

BYU ended Utah State's 14-game home winning streak

Overall, the Aggies have had a bit of a disappointing season. Utah State took a step back this year and entered the BYU game with a 6-5 record. Still, the Aggies have been tough to beat in Logan and were riding a 14-game home winning streak. Just as USU had brought a screeching halt to BYU's undefeated season in Provo last year, it's only fitting that the Cougars ended the Aggies' own run in Logan.

Tanner Mangum had arguably his best game of the season

BYU quarterback Tanner Mangum has had the best freshman season of any Cougar signal caller in program history. Before the USU game, he had already broken every meaningful record for BYU freshman quarterbacks. But he saved his best for the Aggies on a chilly day in Logan. As USU coach Matt Wells affirmed, Mangum did not look like a rookie quarterback. His decisions were good, his passes were crisp and he looked calm and composed in the pocket. He ended with four touchdown passes and no interceptions en route to a 176.85 efficiency rating. That number harkens back to BYU's glory days and the nickname "Quarterback U." Cougar fans have to be excited by the prospect of having him for three more years. Mangum played his best in the last regular season game of the year and progressed all season.

Dylan Cannon is a regular KSL.com contributor and can be reached at DylanCannon86@gmail.com or via twitter @DylanCannon11.

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