Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes
Editor's note: Read the schedule preview for Robert Morris and USC in Part 1 here, Utah and Temple in Part 2 here, Boise State and UNLV in Part 3 here, New Mexico and Wyoming in Part 4 here, and Washington State and Hawai'i in Part 5 here.
LOGAN — This is the sixth and final installment of the series previewing Utah State football's 2024 schedule. After this, the real work begins for the Aggies, starting in fall camp.
Will the predictions of a seventh-place finish in the conference be correct? How will the team look under interim coach Nate Dreiling, and when will a new hire (if any) be announced? Those questions and others will start getting answered on Aug. 31.
San Diego State Aztecs
Date: Saturday, Nov. 23 (1:30 p.m. MDT, CBSSN)
Location: Maverik Stadium; Logan, UT
2023 record: 4-8 (2-6 Mountain West)
Final AP ranking: N/A
Last meeting: Nov. 4, 2023; Aggies won 32-24
The Aztecs are an interesting team in 2024.
They'll have a new head coach in Sean Lewis, who led Kent State for four years before spending last season as the offensive coordinator for Deion Sanders and Colorado. It'll be his task to turn around a team that won only two conference games and lost to Utah State last year.
And it seems like he'll have his work cut out for him.
Quarterback Jalen Mayden graduated, which puts the focus this year on underclassmen AJ Duffy and Danny O'Neil. Duffy and O'Neil are both on the team's depth chart for 2024, but with an "or" next to their names.
Duffy, a sophomore, played a bit for Florida State last year, and O'Neil is a true freshman. Lewis said he believes one of those players will win the starting spot, but that's very little experience to rely on.
Running back Marquez Cooper, a transfer from Ball State, could help the offense not just with his production capabilities but also his leadership and experience. He had 1,043 rushing yards alone last season. Plus, he was coached by Lewis at Kent State, so there's trust there.
The top receiver for the Aztecs last year was a tight end Mark Rodman, who transferred to Louisville. The team is trying to replace that production with the likes of transfers Ja'Shaun Poke, Jeremiah Mcclure and Louis Brown.
San Diego State wasn't a very good defensive team last season, giving up 6.3 more points per game than it scored. That was only one of the reasons the team finished last in the Mountain West.
The Aztecs were predicted to finish eighth in the conference — one spot below the Aggies. Utah State will be at home, which is an advantage. This could be one of few wins the Aggies pick up this year.
Colorado State Rams
Date: Friday, Nov. 29 (TBA, FS1)
Location: Canvas Stadium; Fort Collins, CO
2023 record: 5-7 (3-5 Mountain West)
Final AP ranking: N/A
Last meeting: Oct. 7, 2023; Aggies won 44-24
Utah State completes the regular season against a Colorado State team that didn't win more than two consecutive games in 2023.
But the Rams seem confident that with the collective experience that has been built over the last few years, they're primed for a good season.
Colorado State was part of several games that came down to 8 points or less. A couple of those games go the other way, and the complexion of last season is very different. That's positive momentum that could fuel the team to start 2024.
The Rams brought back quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi, who reportedly declined overtures — and big paydays — to transfer elsewhere. He threw for nearly 3,500 yards and 22 touchdowns last year. And he's still a sophomore.
Colorado State's top running back last year, Vann Schield, did not return this year. But still on the roster are Justin Marshall and Avery Morrow, who combined for 573 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
But the Rams relied on the pass last year for their points. Wide receiver Tory Horton is back, bringing with him his 1,136 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.
Former BYU player Dallin Holker signed with the New Orleans Saints, so the Rams won't have him. They also won't have Justus Ross-Simmons, who transferred to Syracuse after a stellar 2023 season.
The Rams were 54th in the country in total offense last year, and just 104th in total defense. With the Utah State finishing 25th in total offense, it stands to treason that the Aggies could again have the advantage in that area, particularly with how the last meeting between the two teams went.
