There’s a real argument to be made that the Utah State Aggies have their toughest schedule ever this year. With two non-conference road games against Power Four opponents and a new and improved conference, the road to bowl eligibility just got much harder for Utah State.
Here’s the Aggies’ 2026 schedule.
- Sept. 5 — vs Idaho State
- Sept. 12 — at Washington
- Sept. 19 — at Utah
- Sept. 26 — vs Troy
- Oct. 3 — at Boise State
- Oct. 9 — vs Washington State
- Week 7 — bye
- Oct. 24 — at Texas State
- Oct. 31 — vs Colorado State
- Nov. 7 — vs Fresno State
- Nov. 14 — at San Diego State
- Nov. 21 — at Oregon State
- Nov. 28 — Pac-12 flex game (projected to be at home against Boise State)
The Aggies don’t have their bye until Week 7, and their first six weeks are brutal. After opening up the year at home against FCS opponent Idaho State, they go on the road to Utah and Washington before returning home against Troy, which has won the Sun Belt championship twice in the past four years and lost last year’s championship to CFP-bound James Madison.
After that, Utah State finishes its first half of the season with two conference games: a road contest against Boise State, and a home one against Washington State. The Aggies lost to Washington State in last year’s Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
So, what does this all mean for Utah State’s chances at a bowl game? Firstly, a 6-6 record this year is not the same as a 6-6 record last year.
“Our team this year will have to play significantly better than a year ago, even for the same result record-wise,” said head coach Bronco Mendenhall. “That’s an awesome thing to basically play up, to change conferences and move forward, but I don’t think that we’d be comfortable with just that record.
“The brutal fact is that’s what I’m telling my team. We will have to be significantly better to have that same win-loss record based on our schedule. However, that doesn’t mean we settle for that. That just is the acknowledgment of that’s what is.”
So, how does Utah State avoid failing to become bowl eligible? Let’s start with the first six weeks.
- Sept. 5 — vs Idaho State
- Sept. 12 — at Washington
- Sept. 19 — at Utah
- Sept. 26 — vs Troy
- Oct. 3 — at Boise State
- Oct. 9 — vs Washington State
Assuming Utah State beats Idaho State, it would really like to get to its Week 7 bye with at least three wins. Getting a win against Washington or Utah would be massive, but let’s assume the Aggies lose both of those.
To get to 3-3, Utah State needs to beat Troy and split the games with Boise State and Washington State. If the Aggies aren’t at their best, there is a real chance they go into the bye week 2-4, or even 1-5 in the worst-case scenario.
That would mean they would need to dominate their remaining schedule to get bowl-eligible. Here’s the second half of the schedule.
- Oct. 24 — at Texas State
- Oct. 31 — vs Colorado State
- Nov. 7 — vs Fresno State
- Nov. 14 — at San Diego State
- Nov. 21 — at Oregon State
- Nov. 28 — Pac-12 flex game (projected to be at home against Boise State)
Texas State, Fresno State, San Diego State and a projected home game against Boise State is hard enough, but a road game at Oregon State also won’t make it any easier.
Since Utah State is a strong team at home, the easiest path to a bowl game if it is 3-3 is its home games against Colorado State, Fresno State and its flex game.
But if last year is any indicator, the Aggies struggle heavily on the road, so if they get into the bye week with a 2-4 record and need a road win, their best chance is likely to be at Oregon State or Texas State.
While the road to bowl eligibility will be tough, it’s one Utah State is pumped for.
“I think it is a blessing,” said quarterback McCae Hillstead. “Go pretty much right after fall camp, and all the work and development that we’re doing over the course of fall camp will show on those initial games.
“Being tested early, I think, will help us toward the back half of the season because we’re going to see what our team is made of. I think it’s a great opportunity.”