A 4-8 season doesn’t reflect well on anyone. No matter the circumstances around it.
That was the reality for Utah State football in 2024.
There were plenty of reasons for the rough record, but it was a dismal year in the end — the worst record in a complete 12-game season for the Aggies since the three-win season in 2016.
It is a campaign that the team is eager to move on from, under new head coach Bronco Mendenhall.
“Our team to this point, man they are working really hard,” Mendenhall said on KSL Sports radio last week. “They are unified. I think they are determined. I think they want a better season and a better program than last year’s results showed.
“Eleven of the last 14 seasons have been bowl seasons for Utah State, so success isn’t foreign to the program. I think the kids are determined to make sure everyone understands that last year was not typical and was a one-off, rather than what is normal. I sense a degree of hunger and urgency, and quite frankly an initial belief and excitement about the direction we are going to go.”
Mendenhall isn’t ready to talk about the state of his roster just yet. The team is still being rebuilt after all, with the latest additions being New Mexico defensive end transfer Antoineo Harris Jr. and Western Kentucky wide receiver transfer Demick Starling, per Brian Phillips of Big Blue USU Aggie News.
“Still really really early and the earlier it is the less accurate I will be,” Mendenhall said. “... In terms of looking at each position and what the depth and talent look like, and how the schemes develop — too early on all that."
It is likely that Mendenhall and his staff will be able to land the requisite talent Utah State needs, though.
Based off Mendenhall’s track record as a head coach, but also USU’s track record as a program.
As bad as things were last season, Utah State wasn’t actually lacking in talent. On the roster or on the coaching staff.
Take this — as of Jan. 29, eight now former Aggies who played on the 2024 team have transferred to Power 4 programs.
That group includes:
- Max Alford, an injury-prone yet talented in-state linebacker who landed at BYU.
- Teague Andersen, a multi-year starer on the USU offensive line, who will next play for NC State.
- Rahsul Faison, the Aggies’ star running back who has transferred to South Carolina
- Jaiden Francois, a starting defensive back who will suit up for Duke.
- DJ Graham, a former Oklahoma wide receiver/defensive back who has returned to the Big 12 with Kansas.
- Will Monney, at one point USU’s third string tight end last season, but will next play for Oklahoma State.
- Blaine Spires, the Aggies' top edge rusher last year before injuries ended his season. Spires will next play for Pitt.
- Otto Tia, an ever intriguing wide receiver who will now play for Utah, after making good on some off his potential last season.
Two additional former Aggies have made their way to Power programs — 2025 signees Dalton Anderson and Filimone Fangupo. Anderson is now at Washington State, while Fangupo is at Utah.
And that is only the former Aggies who moved up a level of competition.
Plenty of other now former Aggies are still at the Group of Five level, in the Mountain West or Sun Belt, especially.
Some moved down to the FCS level but still landed at notable programs in that tier, like Montana.
And then there are the players who’ve moved on from college football.
Like wide receiver Jalen Royals, who is currently projected to be a Day 2 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Royals has impressed during practice ahead of the Senior Bowl, though.
Then there are guys like quarterback Spencer Petrasl, tight end Broc Lane and offensive lineman Wyatt Bowles, to name a few.
None are all that likely to be drafted — if they do it will be in one of the later rounds — but any of them could latch onto an NFL roster or practice squad.
It wasn’t just the players, though.
A few USU coaches from 2024 have made the move to a higher level of football.
Case in point, former offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach Kyle Cefalo is now at Cal. And former offensive line coach Cooper Bassett is at Oklahoma State, as is former tight ends coach DJ. DJ Tialavea.
Other former Aggie coaches have stayed at the Group of Five level, including former interim head coach Nate Dreiling, how is now the defensive coordinator at Arkansas State.
No one would have confused the 2024 Aggies with a Power conference team, but based on talent alone USU could have — maybe even should have — contended for a top three spot in the Mountain West last season.
After all, Colorado State finished No. 3 in the conference with a 8-5 overall record and if not for an epic collapse Utah State had the Rams beat on their own field in the regular season finale.
USU collapsed in that game though, and at no point were the Aggies really in contention for a spot at the top of the conference.
Despite no shortage of talent, especially on offense, Utah State was bad last year and blame for the 4-8 season falls at the feet of all involved too. Coaches and players.
With Mendenhall comes a new era of Aggie football, though, and if Mendenhall does what he’s done at previous stops things should turn around in Logan and quickly. History has proven that talent finds its way to Utah State. Even if it doesn’t always stay for too long.