Bronco Mendenhall talks 'beginning of new era' as Aggies welcome start of season

LOGAN — The wait is over for the Aggies, who will kick off their 128th season of college football early Saturday evening at home against UTEP.

Saturday's opening kickoff at Maverik Stadium is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. It will be Utah State's first game under the helm of Bronco Mendenhall, who is entering his 19th season as a head coach. All but two of Mendenhall's first 18 teams were bowl eligible.

"What a privilege to be the coach at Utah State," Mendenhall said during his Monday press conference. "A lot has transpired in a year's time, a whirlwind from re-entering coaching at the University of New Mexico, and now being here. … It's the beginning of a new era. I feel the responsibility and the excitement of stewardship over this program. (My wife) Holly and I love the valley, we love really everything that we've seen here at Utah State. Huge opportunities, (but) lots of work to do, but we couldn't be more excited and thrilled."

Mendenhall and his staff have been tight-lipped, for the most part, about their team's roster. All practices and scrimmages during spring and fall camp were closed to the public and media, plus the Aggies have yet to release a depth chart

Mendenhall didn't address specific players during Monday's press conference, but did share his thoughts about how he felt his team has been coming together.

"Man, our guys are working hard. We're becoming a physical, hard-nosed team — (a) tough, resilient, high-effort football team is what I'm seeing demonstrated," Mendenhall said. "I really like my team. I like their urgency, I like their effort, I like their willingness, I like their hope, I like their believe, I like their camaraderie, I like their unity. Eventually we'll play really good football. How fast, it could be Game 1, but it might not. But the track and the trajectory that we're on I feel really good about."

Mendenhall, who was the head coach at New Mexico a year ago, went on to say it took a bit of time for him and his staff to properly dissect that Lobo squad. The Lobos lost their first four games during the 2024 campaign, followed by a three-game winning streak, and they were ultimately a couple of close loses away from recording a winning record. New Mexico went 5-7 in '24.

"It took through four games before we could even craft kind of schemes and strategies that really truly matched that institution, that team," Mendenhall said. "And then (we) put together a pretty nice stretch of success, but it took some discovery. As much as you try to do it against yourself in fall camp, it's difficult, especially at the front end. It doesn't mean it's impossible, but I would say in general and in college football with the number of players moving (from year to year), the number of coaches moving, most are finding it out as they go. The stable programs with existing staffs and with less transfers, I think they can probably know a little bit ahead of time than others (about how good their team is going to be)."

Mendenhall was asked about safety Ike Larsen, who was placed on "a short-term suspension from the USU Football team for a violation of team rules, effective today, Aug. 15, 2025," in a statement released to The Herald Journal. Brian Phillips of Big Blue USU Aggie News reported on social media that Larsen had received a six-week suspension a few hours before Utah State released its aforementioned statement.

The former BYU, Virginia and UNM head coach declined to comment when asked how long Larsen's suspension would be and said, "the comment that we released is standing and if there's any change in when and if there's any change, I'll keep you posted."

Mendenhall was also about about the Mountain West's new policy about requiring all of its teams to release injury reports prior to conference games. Under this policy, teams must identify which players are "questionable" or "out" two days before each intra-conference showdown, plus must provide a final update three hours before the opening kickoff.

"I was a proponent of the availability of reports," Mendenhall said. "I think it takes a burden off of our players. There's lots of interest in college football. Wagering has increased that interest. I'm not saying that's the only cause, but really anything we can do structurally to not have our players or our team in compromising situations, the better, so transparency is helpful."

Mendenhall did not address any injuries suffered during fall camp, inasmuch as it is not a Mountain West policy heading into non-conference games. However, he did leave that possibility open for future non-league contests.

"Most likely I'll do that because I believe in the concept and it probably will match whatever the opponents we're playing, whatever their conference does and maybe (we'll) reciprocate," he said. "Again, that's not a commitment yet, but just thinking kind of out loud right now."

Also representing the Aggies in Monday's press conference were graduate student quarterback Bryson Barnes and junior linebacker Bronson Olevao Jr., who were both on the team a year ago. This is Olevao's fourth season in the program and he will likely make his first career start Saturday against UTEP.

Olevao, when asked Monday about how excited he was to carve out a larger role on the team, instead focused on his teammates. Shane Hunter, USU's linebackers coach, raved about Olevao's leadership during a recent interview with the HJ.

"I'm super excited for my teammates and for my team because we've put in a lot of work this offseason," Olevao said. "… Just stepping into that role, I just want to be the best teammate that I can. I just want to do the things that my coaches ask and just serve my teammates, so I'm excited to play with them this year and I'm excited to see what we're capable of because the sky's the limit for us."

Getting "all 11 hats to the ball" will be the primary objective of USU's defense this season, Olevao asserted Monday. The former Highland High standout, like Mendenhall, raved about the close-knit nature of this team.

"We have a close brotherhood and I think the camaraderie and unity of our team is something special here and what we've built, especially ever since coach Mendenhall has come in," Olevao said. "You know, for me (who's) a guy that's been here for four years, it's been a little different. You know, I've been able to see a lot of different teams, a lot of players come and go, but I love the camaraderie of this team and the unity, and that's something we'll harvest this year moving forward. And if we play for each other, then there is a greater purpose in everything that we do, and we'll go a little bit harder, we'll last a little longer. And that's our identity is to 'play harder, faster and longer,' and do it for the good of this team."

Barnes, like Olevao, is primed for a breakout season. The former Utah signal caller is entering his sixth and final campaign at the collegiate level and this is the first time he will enter a season as his team's bona fide QB No. 1. The former Milford High star will also get to share his final season with his older brother, Blake, who is a linebacker for the Aggies, and veteran tight end Josh Sterzer. Sterzer's brother, David, is married to Barnes' sister.

"Growing up, you kind of really do everything with your little brother, and so to have him up here (is special)," Barnes said Monday. "I mean, the month of May, me and him did everything together as fall as working out and things like that go. And then I've had Josh the last two years and obviously I knew of Josh when I was back at Utah because, I mean, he's kind of brother-in-law, I guess you could call it. And so it is special. You know, it's really nice to have family up here and, yeah, it just makes Logan even better."

Barnes, who rushed for 193 and 185 yards, respectively, in USU's final two games last season, is chomping at the bit to compete under new Aggie offensive coordinator Kevin McGiven. McGiven, who spent the past seven seasons at San Jose State — primarily as the program's offensive coordinator — was also Utah State's OC in 2013 and 2014. The Aggies won 19 games during those two seasons.

"I would say this offense definitely utilizes my strengths more than last year's offense," said Barnes, who referred to McGiven's scheme as an ideal blend of what he ran at Utah and the USU scheme from a year ago. "Last year I did kind of end up becoming the primary runner and I wouldn't say it was necessarily planned to be that way, but this year obviously with my running ability there are (sets) that are going to utilize that, at least in my skill set, but it's also good in utilizing the passing abilities as well."

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