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LOGAN — "We want Bama."
The sign has a habit of appearing on television screens across the country throughout the fall — often an ominous signal that originates from a student section of a school soon to play Alabama.
Utah State was no exception this past weekend.
At the end of the Aggies' 31-20 win over Connecticut on Saturday, the telecast flashed to the HURD student section, and there it was:
Meanwhile in Utah… pic.twitter.com/pgmgm02MY7
— Jim_Waltman (@JimWjr) August 27, 2022
Utah State does, indeed, play Alabama on Saturday (5:30 p.m. MDT, SEC Network). The Crimson Tide are ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll to open the season and feature 2021 Heisman winner Bryce Young at quarterback, along with a host of other future NFL talent.
So does Utah State really want Bama?
Well, let's take a look at the numbers. The Crimson Tide are paying the Aggies $1.9 million (that number was confirmed to KSL.com through a state records request) to play them in Tuscaloosa. For Utah State, that's an extremely lucrative dollar figure.
Sources: Alabama adds 2022 home game w/Utah State. Bama will pay Aggies $1.91 million, 3rd highest amount ever for a visiting team. Florida paid Colorado State $2M (as part of McElwain buyout) for 2018 game & Auburn paid Tulane $1.937M for 2019 game
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) May 2, 2018
How lucrative?
The pay-game could cover the cost of both head coach Blake Anderson's first-year salary ($1 million) and basketball coach Ryan Odom's first-year salary ($800,000), minus the bonuses. It is more than the ticket sales from the entire 2019 Utah State football season ($1,683,729).
So yes, Utah State wants Bama.
"It's a necessary evil," Anderson said during a Monday press conference. "We've got an athletic department that we've got to fund, and this is something that we've got to do. ... We're not a place that can do without this type of game. So we know what it is and we know what we need to do."
Beyond the paycheck, there are aspects to Saturday's game worthy of excitement for the program.
The buyout game is an annual occurrence. The Aggies are often blown out, but some games have been close. Jordan Love and Utah State led Michigan State with just over five minutes left in the game in 2018; in 2012, a last-second missed field goal was the difference in a 16-14 loss at Wisconsin; and in 2011, Utah State blew a 10-point lead with 3:28 left in the game to reigning national champion Auburn.
This game, however, is different. It is not against a top-25 ranked team set for a 9-3 or 10-2 season, it is a matchup against arguably the greatest coach and dynasty in college football history — a team that has "no weaknesses." On top of that, the Aggies are a 41.5-point underdog, according to Las Vegas sportsbooks.
Anderson's advice to his team: Enjoy it. Embrace it. Want it.
"I love the idea of testing yourself against the best — we all do —so why don't we get into this," Anderson said. "Go into a great environment against a Hall of Fame head coach, against Heisman Trophy winners and go put a great team on the field, play our best, and make them earn everything they get."
Logan Bonner, who was Arkansas State's backup quarterback when Anderson and the Red Wolves faced Alabama in 2018 in a 55-7 Crimson Tide win, understands what the Aggies are up against.
"We're expecting to see the same thing this year," Bonner said. "Really good team, some of the best players on the planet, and just really good opportunity to compete with the best.
"Just go out there and don't be surprised if you make a play. We're on scholarship, too. We can make plays, too. Just be confident and know your job and do your best and see what happens."
How it translates Saturday remains to be seen. If the same Aggies team that showed up in the first quarter against UConn last week appears in Tuscaloosa Saturday night, the Week 1 game is over by the end of the first quarter.
"We're gonna put together a game plan that if it works perfectly puts us in the game," Anderson said. "We've seen these games in the past get out of hand. We've seen his games be competitive. And every once awhile, this game goes opposite of what everybody thinks it's going to be."
The Aggies are excited about the opportunity. The hope for fans will be for the team to be competitive and limit injuries. And no matter what happens, as long as Utah State shows up, the price tag attached to the game makes it a win for the Aggies.
