2018 Utah State Aggies football team

{{short description|American college football season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2023}}

{{Infobox college sports team season

| year = 2018

| team = Utah State Aggies

| sport= football

| image = Utah State Aggies logo.svg

| image_size = 150

| conference = Mountain West Conference

| division = Mountain Division

| short_conf = MW

| CoachRank = 21

| APRank = 22

| CFPRank =

| record = 11–2

| conf_record = 7–1

| head_coach = Matt Wells

| hc_year = 6th

| hc_games = regular season

| head_coach2 = Frank Maile

| hc_games2 = interim; bowl game

| off_coach = David Yost

| oc_year = 2nd

| off_scheme = Spread

| codef_coach1 = Frank Maile

| codc1_year = 3rd

| codef_coach2 = Keith Patterson

| codc2_year = 1st

| def_scheme = 3–3–5

| captain =

| uniform = 180px

| stadium = Maverik Stadium

| champion = New Mexico Bowl champion

| bowl = New Mexico Bowl

| bowl_result = W 52–13 vs. North Texas

}}

{{2018 Mountain West Conference football standings}}

The 2018 Utah State Aggies football team represented Utah State University in the 2018 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Aggies were led by sixth-year head coach Matt Wells during the regular season{{ref|Coaching change|[a]}} and played their home games at Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium. They competed as members of the Mountain Division of the Mountain West Conference. They finished the season 11–2, 7–1 in Mountain West play to finish in a tie for first place in the division with Boise State. Despite the tie, the conference does not credit them as divisional co-champions as a result of the head-to-head loss. They were invited to the New Mexico Bowl where they defeated North Texas. The 11 wins tied a school record.

Head coach Matt Wells was hired by Texas Tech on November 29; the team was led in the New Mexico Bowl by interim head coach and co-defensive

coordinator Frank Maile.{{cite news | title=Matt Wells named Texas Tech head football coach| url=https://www.everythinglubbock.com/news/local-news/matt-wells-named-texas-tech-football-coach-texas-tech-confirms/1628243928 | publisher=KLBK/KAMC | date=November 29, 2018 }} Wells finished with a 44–34 record in his six seasons at Utah State. On December 9, the school rehired Gary Andersen, six years after he left for Wisconsin.[https://www.hjnews.com/sports/usu/andersen-will-return-as-usu-s-head-football-coach/article_337c4b5e-b691-54ef-bdde-5ce03245fc35.html Andersen will return as USU's head football coach]

Preseason

=Award watch lists=

Listed in the order that they were released

class="wikitable"

{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Utah State Aggies|Award|Player|Position|Year}}

Rimington Trophy{{cite web|title=Rimington Trophy Press Release|url=http://www.rimingtontrophy.com/news/?article_id=100|date=May 30, 2018|access-date=July 14, 2018}}

|Quin Ficklin

|C

|SR

John Mackey Award{{cite web|title=2018 John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List Released|url=http://www.johnmackeyaward.com/uploads/3/4/7/9/34791900/2018_john_mackey_award_preseason_watch_list_-_final.pdf|date=July 20, 2018|access-date=July 20, 2018}}

|Dax Raymond

|TE

|JR

Lou Groza Award{{cite web|title=Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Announces 2018 Preseason Watch List|url=http://www.lougrozaaward.com/Current_Watch_List.html|date=July 25, 2018|access-date=July 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090817150753/http://www.lougrozaaward.com/Current_Watch_List.html|archive-date=August 17, 2009|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}

|Dominik Eberle

|K

|JR

Wuerffel Trophy{{cite web|title=Wuerffel Trophy Unveils 2018 Watch List|url=https://www.wuerffeltrophy.org/news1/wuerffel-trophy-unveils-2018-watch-list|date=July 26, 2018|access-date=July 26, 2018|archive-date=July 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726215108/https://www.wuerffeltrophy.org/news1/wuerffel-trophy-unveils-2018-watch-list|url-status=dead}}

|Jacoby Wildman

|DL

|JR

=Mountain West media days=

During the Mountain West media days held July 24–25 at the Cosmopolitan on the Las Vegas Strip, the Aggies were predicted to finish in fourth place in the Mountain Division.{{Cite web|url=https://themw.com/news/2018/7/24/boise-state-fresno-state-picked-to-win-2018-mountain-west-football-divisional-titles.aspx|title = Boise State, Fresno State Picked to Win 2018 Mountain West Football Divisional Titles}}

==Media poll==

class="wikitable"
align="center"

|align="center" Colspan="3" |Mountain Division

align="center"

{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Utah State Aggies|Predicted finish|Team|Votes (1st place)}}

align="center"

| 1

Boise State132 (22)
align="center"

| 2

Wyoming95
align="center"

| 3

Colorado State82
align="center"

| 4

Utah State78
align="center"

| 5

Air Force52
align="center"

| 6

New Mexico23

==Preseason All-Mountain West Team==

The Aggies had two players selected to the preseason all-Mountain West team.{{Cite web|url=https://themw.com/news/2018/7/24/2018-mountain-west-football-preseason-all-conference-team.aspx|title = 2018 Mountain West Football Preseason All-Conference Team}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-break}}

Offense

Dax Raymond – TE

Specialists

Dominik Eberle – K

{{col-end}}

Schedule

{{CFB schedule

| rankyear = 2018

| rankdivision = NCAA Division I FBS

| poll = AP Poll and CFP Rankings after October 30 released prior to game

| timezone = Mountain

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = {{tooltip|August 31|Friday}}

| time = 5:00 p.m.

| w/l = l

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| opponent = Michigan State

| opprank = 11

| site_stadium = Spartan Stadium

| site_cityst = East Lansing, MI

| tv = BTN

| score = 31–38

| attend = 73,114

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 8

| time = 6:00 p.m.

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| opponent = New Mexico State

| site_stadium = Maverik Stadium

| site_cityst = Logan, UT

| tv = Stadium

| score = 60–13

| attend = 18,223

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = {{tooltip|September 13|Thursday}}

| time = 6:00 p.m.

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| opponent = Tennessee Tech

| site_stadium = Maverik Stadium

| site_cityst = Logan, UT

| tv = Stadium

| score = 73–12

| attend = 15,011

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = September 22

| time = 8:15 p.m.

| w/l = w

| opponent = Air Force

| site_stadium = Maverik Stadium

| site_cityst = Logan, UT

| tv = ESPN2

| score = 42–32

| attend = 22,720

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = {{tooltip|October 5|Friday}}

| time = 7:00 p.m.

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| away = y

| opponent = BYU

| site_stadium = LaVell Edwards Stadium

| site_cityst = Provo, UT

| gamename = Beehive Boot, The Old Wagon Wheel

| tv = ESPN2

| score = 45–20

| attend = 58,087

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 13

| time = 2:00 p.m.

| w/l = w

| homecoming = y

| opponent = UNLV

| site_stadium = Maverik Stadium

| site_cityst = Logan, UT

| tv = Stadium on Facebook

| score = 59–28

| attend = 21,212

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 20

| time = 12:30 p.m.

| w/l = w

| away = y

| opponent = Wyoming

| site_stadium = War Memorial Stadium

| site_cityst = Laramie, WY

| gamename = rivalry

| tv = ATTSNRM

| score = 24–16

| attend = 18,378

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = October 27

| time = 2:00 p.m.

| w/l = w

| opponent = New Mexico

| site_stadium = Maverik Stadium

| site_cityst = Logan, UT

| tv = Stadium

| score = 61–19

| attend = 16,119

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 3

| time = 10:00 p.m.

| w/l = w

| away = y

| opponent = Hawaii

| site_stadium = Aloha Stadium

| site_cityst = Halawa, HI

| tv = SPEC HI

| score = 56–17

| attend = 21,476

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 10

| time = 2:00 p.m.

| w/l = w

| opponent = San Jose State

| site_stadium = Maverik Stadium

| site_cityst = Logan, UT

| tv = Stadium

| score = 62–24

| attend = 19,017

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 17

| time = 12:00 p.m.

| w/l = w

| away = y

| rank = 23

| opponent = Colorado State

| site_stadium = Canvas Stadium

| site_cityst = Fort Collins, CO

| tv = ATTSNRM

| score = 29–24

| attend = 19,226

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = November 24

| time = 8:15 p.m.

| w/l = l

| away = y

| rank = 21

| opponent = Boise State

| opprank = 23

| site_stadium = Albertsons Stadium

| site_cityst = Boise, ID

| tv = ESPN

| score = 24–33

| attend = 35,960

}}

|{{CFB schedule entry

| date = December 15

| time = 12:00 p.m.

| w/l = w

| nonconf = y

| neutral = y

| opponent = North Texas

| site_stadium = Dreamstyle Stadium

| site_cityst = Albuquerque, NM

| gamename = New Mexico Bowl

| tv = ESPN

| score = 52–13

| attend = 25,387

}}

}}

{{cite web |url=http://www.fbschedules.com/ncaa-18/2018-utah-state-aggies-football-schedule.php |title=2018 Utah State Aggies football schedule |work=FBSchedules.com |access-date=March 31, 2018}}

Game summaries

=At Michigan State=

{{see also|2018 Michigan State Spartans football team}}

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Aggies

|R1=7

|R2=7

|R3=10

|R4=7

|Home=No. 11 Spartans

|H1=6

|H2=14

|H3=7

|H4=11

}}

{{Clear}}

=New Mexico State=

{{see also|2018 New Mexico State Aggies football team}}

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=NMSU Aggies

|R1=7

|R2=3

|R3=3

|R4=0

|Home=USU Aggies

|H1=16

|H2=17

|H3=14

|H4=13

}}

{{Clear}}

=Tennessee Tech=

{{see also|2018 Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles football team}}

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Golden Eagles

|R1=3

|R2=3

|R3=3

|R4=3

|Home=Aggies

|H1=17

|H2=28

|H3=7

|H4=21

}}

{{Clear}}

=Air Force=

{{see also|2018 Air Force Falcons football team}}

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Falcons

|R1=0

|R2=14

|R3=3

|R4=15

|Home=Aggies

|H1=7

|H2=14

|H3=14

|H4=7

}}

{{Clear}}

=At BYU=

{{see also|2018 BYU Cougars football team|Beehive Boot|The Old Wagon Wheel}}

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Aggies

|R1=14

|R2=7

|R3=14

|R4=10

|Home=Cougars

|H1=0

|H2=7

|H3=6

|H4=7

}}

{{Clear}}

=UNLV=

{{see also|2018 UNLV Rebels football team}}

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Rebels

|R1=7

|R2=0

|R3=7

|R4=14

|Home=Aggies

|H1=14

|H2=28

|H3=7

|H4=10

}}

{{Clear}}

=At Wyoming=

{{see also|2018 Wyoming Cowboys football team|Bridger's Battle}}

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Aggies

|R1=7

|R2=3

|R3=14

|R4=0

|Home=Cowboys

|H1=3

|H2=0

|H3=10

|H4=3

}}

{{Clear}}

=New Mexico=

{{see also|2018 New Mexico Lobos football team}}

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Lobos

|R1=3

|R2=2

|R3=14

|R4=0

|Home=Aggies

|H1=28

|H2=24

|H3=9

|H4=0

}}

{{Clear}}

=At Hawaii=

{{see also|2018 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football team}}

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=No. 18 Aggies

|R1=28

|R2=0

|R3=28

|R4=0

|Home=Rainbow Warriors

|H1=3

|H2=0

|H3=14

|H4=0

}}

{{Clear}}

=San Jose State=

{{see also|2018 San Jose State Spartans football team}}

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Spartans

|R1=7

|R2=3

|R3=7

|R4=7

|Home=No. 14 Aggies

|H1=10

|H2=28

|H3=21

|H4=3

}}

{{Clear}}

=At Colorado State=

{{see also|2018 Colorado State Rams football team}}

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=No. 14 Aggies

|R1=3

|R2=7

|R3=10

|R4=9

|Home=Rams

|H1=0

|H2=7

|H3=3

|H4=14

}}

{{Clear}}

=At Boise State=

{{see also|2018 Boise State Broncos football team}}

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=No. 14 Aggies

|R1=7

|R2=7

|R3=0

|R4=10

|Home=No. 21 Broncos

|H1=7

|H2=10

|H3=3

|H4=13

}}

{{Clear}}

=Vs. North Texas–New Mexico Bowl=

{{see also|2018 North Texas Mean Green football team|2018 New Mexico Bowl}}

{{Linescore Amfootball|

|Road=Mean Green

|R1= 7

|R2= 0

|R3= 6

|R4= 0

|Home=Aggies

|H1= 14

|H2= 24

|H3= 7

|H4= 7

}}

{{Clear}}

Rankings

{{Further|2018 NCAA Division I FBS football rankings}}

{{NCAA Division I FBS CFP ranking movements

|year={{2018}}

|finalpollweek=15

|cfpfirstweek=9

|AP_pre=NR

|coaches_pre=NR

|AP_1=NR

|coaches_1=NR

|AP_2=NR

|coaches_2=NR

|AP_3=NR

|coaches_3=NR

|AP_4=NR

|coaches_4=NR

|AP_5=NR

|coaches_5=NR

|AP_6=RV

|coaches_6=RV

|AP_7=RV

|coaches_7=RV

|AP_8=RV

|coaches_8=RV

|AP_9=18

|coaches_9=20

|cfp_9=NR

|AP_10=14

|coaches_10=16

|cfp_10=NR

|AP_11=14

|coaches_11=13

|cfp_11=23

|AP_12=14

|coaches_12=15

|cfp_12=21

|AP_13=RV

|coaches_13=24

|cfp_13=NR

|AP_14=RV

|coaches_14=23

|cfp_14=NR

|AP_15=22

|coaches_15=21

}}

Players drafted into the NFL

{{see also|2019 NFL draft}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

{{CollegePrimaryHeader|team=Utah State Aggies| Round | Pick | Player | Position | NFL Club}}

6214Darwin ThompsonRBKansas City Chiefs

References