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LOGAN — Utah State is currently sitting with a losing record of 3-4 after seven weeks of action. Certainly no player or coach for any team will tell you they are happy with a 3-4 record, but the Aggies have lost to some pretty good teams.
Here's a look at why Utah State fans can still be optimistic about the season.
Aggies' record is deceiving
Utah State's four losses come to Iowa, Air Force, James Madison and Fresno State. Those four teams have a combined record of 24-2, with their only losses coming to a strong Wyoming team and a seventh-ranked undefeated Penn State team.
Those teams are almost all ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, as well, with Air Force at No. 22 and Iowa at No. 24. The other two are both receiving votes, putting them at No. 26 and No. 30, respectively, if the poll was extended.
Only one of the Aggies' losses comes by more than 10 points, two were decided by just one score. At the end of the day, though, almost winning never counts toward bowl eligibility or conference championships.
"You know, there's been a lot of talk about the four opponents that we've lost to and their records, (they've) been good, good teams," Aggies head coach Blake Anderson said. "But we're capable of being a good team, as well, and so that's the frustration is getting past that point of some of the untimely mistakes and issues that have kept us from being able to get over the hump against teams that we're really close to beating."
Offense is loaded with playmakers
The Aggies offense, in general, has been playing at a high level, racking up 477.9 total offensive yards per game, which is the 15th best average in the FBS and the best in the Mountain West. The Aggies score 37.3 points per game, the 16th best average in the FBS and the second best in the Mountain West.
They've also had a variety of breakout playmakers, including quarterbacks Cooper Legas and McCae Hillstead who have had impressive performances and thrown for a combined 21 touchdowns. Hillstead is a true freshman and Legas is a senior with an additional year of eligibility.
At the receiver spot, Jalen Royals and Micah Davis have seen an increased amount of targets as teams focus on Terrell Vaughn. The trio of receivers has been a dangerous threat deep; the three average 239.6 total receiving yards per game and three receiving touchdowns per game. Vaughn is likely the only departure from the group at the end of this season.
Tight end Broc Lane has also added some key receptions in the passing game but has not been as necessary with the strong trio of receivers producing so much in that aspect of the offense.
A deep trio of running backs has kept defenses honest, with Robert Briggs Jr, Davon Booth and Rahsul Faison each averaging more than 5 yards per carry and rushing for more than 1,000 combined yards this season. Each has another year or more of eligibility.
And, of course, the inexperienced offensive line, who returned just one starter this season, has been impressive. It is highly unlikely that any team can maintain a top-20 offense in the FBS without an efficient offensive line.
Now, the trick for the Aggies will be to keep as many of these playmakers as possible in a world that is now motivated by NIL-generated money from attractive Power Five offers in the transfer portal.
Bowl eligibility is still likely
Of course, no team wants to sit midseason thinking about whether or not they will qualify for a bowl, especially a team who won their conference championship just two seasons ago. But that's where the Aggies are at right now.
At 3-4, bowl eligibility initially looks much more challenging for the Aggies than it did a month ago. ESPN's Football Power Index gives the Aggies a 73.1% chance to reach six wins, though.
In fact, the Aggies are actually favored by ESPN in three of their final five contests: on the road against San Diego State and New Mexico, and at home against Nevada. The other two games, this week at San Jose State and their penultimate contest at home against Boise State, are close to 50-50 odds.
The Aggies' final five opponents have a combined record of 10-23, and not a single one has a record that is .500 or better (then again, the Aggies don't either, but we already went over that). Per ESPN, the Aggies have an 8.5% chance of winning each of their final five games.
Certainly, a 1-2 record in conference play doesn't look great, but given that those games were played against Colorado State, Air Force and Fresno State, the Aggies aren't sitting in a bad spot.
And above all, the Aggies are currently playing their best football. Anderson called the team's last performance against Fresno State "the most complete game we've played all year."
