Man, looking back at the Utah State football schedule 2025, you kinda have to appreciate the absolute gauntlet Bronco Mendenhall stepped into for his first year in Logan. It wasn't just a "transition year." It was a full-on baptism by fire. If you followed the Aggies this past season, you know exactly what I mean—one week they’re dropping 50 on Nevada, and the next they’re heart-wrenchingly close to toppling a Mountain West powerhouse like Boise State.
Honestly, the schedule was a weird mix. You had these massive SEC road trips that felt like "payday" games but actually showed some real grit, followed by a Mountain West slate that was basically a weekly knife fight.
The Brutal Reality of the Non-Conference Slate
The season kicked off at Maverik Stadium on August 30th against UTEP. Most people figured this would be a comfortable tune-up, and it mostly was—a 28-16 win that gave fans a glimpse of the new-look offense. But things got real, real fast.
The very next week, the Aggies flew down to College Station to face Texas A&M at Kyle Field. Imagine standing in front of 100,000 people screaming while trying to run a spread option. It went about as expected—a 44-22 loss—but putting up 22 points on an SEC defense in that environment? Not too shabby.
- Aug 30: vs. UTEP (W, 28-16)
- Sept 6: at No. 19 Texas A&M (L, 44-22)
- Sept 20: vs. McNeese (W, 48-7)
- Sept 27: at No. 18 Vanderbilt (L, 55-35)
That Vanderbilt game on September 27th was a bit of a heartbreaker. Vandy was having a surprisingly good year (ranked No. 18 at the time!), and while the Aggies’ defense struggled to get stops, the offense actually kept it competitive for a while. It’s not every day a Mountain West team puts up 35 in Nashville.
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Surviving the Mountain West Grind
The conference schedule for 2025 was structured in a way that gave no breathing room. After the non-conference "sandwich" games, USU jumped headfirst into the MWC.
The Air Force game on September 13th was actually played earlier than usual in the season, and it was a statement. The Aggies handled the triple-option attack beautifully, winning 49-30. But then came the October slump. A trip to the Islands sounds fun until you’re playing a 10 p.m. MT game against Hawaii and lose 44-26. That one stung.
The Home Stand Highlights
If there’s one thing we learned from the Utah State football schedule 2025, it’s that Logan is still a tough place to play. The mid-October win against San Jose State (30-25) was a Friday night slugfest. It wasn't pretty, but it was essential.
Then you have the Nevada game on November 8th. Talk about a beatdown. A 51-14 victory where everything finally clicked. The Aggies looked like the team everyone hoped they’d be—explosive, fast, and disciplined.
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The Heartbreak at the Finish Line
The end of the regular season was just cruel. On November 15th, the Aggies went to Las Vegas to play UNLV at Allegiant Stadium. It went to double overtime. Seriously. Losing 29-26 in 2OT is the kind of result that keeps coaches up until 4 a.m.
They bounced back with a solid road win at Fresno State (28-17), but then came the finale. The Boise State game on November 28th.
It was a Friday afternoon, 2 p.m. kickoff. The "Old Lard" rivalry or whatever you want to call it. The Aggies lost by one point—25-24. One point! If a single play goes differently, the bowl conversation looks completely different.
Post-Season: The Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Because they finished 6-6 in the regular season, the Aggies stayed relatively local for their bowl game. They headed to Boise on December 22nd to face Washington State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
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It was cold. It was gray. And unfortunately, the Cougars were just a bit too much, winning 34-21. It capped off a 6-7 season that felt a lot better than the record suggests.
2025 Season Outcomes by the Numbers
- Overall Record: 6-7
- MWC Record: 4-4
- Points Per Game: Roughly 31.5 (Offense was legit!)
- Points Allowed: Roughly 29.4 (Defense needs some work.)
What We Can Learn from This Schedule
If you’re looking at these results to figure out what happens next, you have to look at the recruiting trail. Mendenhall’s first year proved that the Aggies can score with almost anyone, but the depth on defense just wasn't there yet for the late-game situations in Vegas or against Boise.
The Utah State football schedule 2025 wasn't easy. Playing two SEC teams on the road and a full MWC slate with no "easy" weeks is a tough ask for a first-year staff.
Actionable Next Steps for Aggie Fans:
- Check the 2026 Non-Conference Schedule: It’s already looking wild with a scheduled game against Utah on September 19th, 2026.
- Evaluate the Transfer Portal: With the season over, watch the defensive line departures. This was the biggest weakness in 2025.
- Season Ticket Deposits: If you want to be at Maverik in 2026, the renewal window usually opens shortly after the bowl cycle.
Basically, 2025 was the foundation. It was messy, it was exciting, and it was occasionally frustrating. But for a program in transition, finishing with a bowl bid and a handful of 50-point games is a solid place to start.