For the first time this season, Utah State was in the driver’s seat to close a game Saturday.
The season’s storyline has been the Aggies’ struggling offense, especially in the run game and quarterback play, but for the first time in 2026, the offense showed life in a 21-10 win over Troy.
It wasn’t perfect, but running back Javen Jacobs got involved and quarterback Grady Brosterhous had a career night in Utah State’s first win of the season.
“We’re finding our way,” said head coach Bronco Mendenhall. “We’re finding ourselves, we’re getting clearer what we are and how we are. I’d love to expedite it faster. I just appreciate the work (offensive coordinator) Robert (Anae) is doing...
“I can’t say this game was a must-win, but it kind of felt like it.”
The offense got started on the first play of the game, as Brosterhous hit Javon Robinson, who ran it for a 57-yard touchdown.
It was the first score for the offense since the Week 2 loss to Washington, as the Aggies got shut out last week by Utah.
While Utah State started strong Saturday, it struggled to execute for the remainder of the half after the touchdown. The Aggies failed to score, and a drive to open the second quarter was cut short after Brosterhous threw his fifth interception of the season.
However, the third quarter was the best the offense has played so far this year. First it marched 75 yards for a touchdown, and it followed that up with an 80-yard drive on its next possession for back-to-back touchdowns and a 21-10 lead.
In previous losses Utah State had virtually no run game outside of QB keepers, but Jacobs was effective Saturday and ran for 84 yards while scoring the first rushing touchdown of the year for the Aggies.
“I know it didn’t show for three weeks, but there has been an emphasis that has been increasing,” Mendenhall said. “Sometimes it just takes a play or enough volume to get some traction. We’re starting to reach into that phase where you saw some traction tonight.
“Besides Grady’s runs, Javon’s a really good player, and I was just really excited to see him have the touches, but also the manner in which he was running, and quite frankly, how we were blocking. There was improvement there.”
The offensive line wasn’t perfect, but it did only allow one sack after allowing nine total in Utah State’s first three games.
Brosterhous had a career night in both passing and rushing. He finished with 242 passing yards and 94 rushing yards.
Mendenhall confirmed that he’ll continue to start over McCae Hillstead.
“He’s a starter going forward, but that doesn’t mean McCae’s not being considered,” Mendenhall said. “He’s now available and he’s battling and he’s working and we’re training them both. Grady has the edge.
“Utah’s pretty good on defense, (but) I still saw improvement while the statistics didn’t show it. It’s been a while since he’s been a starting quarterback in Division I football, so he’s learning and growing. I think he’s captured our team just by how he goes about that. That doesn’t mean McCae is forgotten. It doesn’t mean he’s not being considered. It doesn’t mean he won’t play, but Grady did a nice job tonight.”
Defensively, the Aggies had one of their best games of the season. Despite giving up 395 yards, they held Troy to just one touchdown.
The Trojans failed to score in the second half.
The secondary especially had a nice outing. Cornerback Markie Grant had four pass breakups, and three different Utah State players picked off Troy quarterback Goose Crowder.
D’Angelo Mayes had one of the more impactful interceptions at the end of the first half. The Trojans were marching downfield, and he grabbed it with just 25 seconds remaining.
Mayes also added eight tackles and a pass breakup.
“There was a couple of stops like that that were super awesome,” said Mayes. “They were marching down and then people get picks or get a stop and whatnot.
“It’s just always awesome to have stuff like that and get off the field and get on to the next drive.”
Safety Brevin Hamblin led the way with 12 tackles and an interception, and David Kobongo added one in the fourth to put Troy away.
The Aggies got a surprise visit from Harrison Taggart, who rolled onto the field in a wheelchair to join his team for the coin flip. He had to be taken off the field in an ambulance during the Utah game and is still regaining his ability to walk.
“We didn’t know he was coming, and so we came out of the tunnel and there he is,” Mendenhall said. “But to let you know the kind of leader and how confident he is, he brought his swimming goggles and snorkel with him because after the game we spray water and he showed up prepared...
“When you show up with your freaking snorkel and your mask, that’s a different level of belief.”