# 2015 Utah State Aggies football team

The 2015 Utah State Aggies football team represented Utah State University in the 2015 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Aggies were led by third-year head coach Matt Wells and played their home games at Merlin Olsen Field at Maverik Stadium. This was Utah State's third season as members of the Mountain West Conference in the Mountain Division. They finished the season 6–7, 5–3 in Mountain West play to finish in a four-way tie for second place in the Mountain Division. They were invited to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl where they lost to Akron.

## Before the season
### 2015 recruits

US college sports recruiting information for 2015 recruits :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| Chad Artist WR | Logan, Utah | Logan HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | Jun 30, 2014 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 72 |||||||
| Viliamu Auwae OL | Kapolei, Hawaii | Kapolei HS | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 265 lb (120 kg) | Feb 9, 2015 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: |||||||
| Wesley Bailey DB | Huntsville, Ala | J.O. Johnson HS/Eastern Arizona CC | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | Feb 9, 2015 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: |||||||
| Dalton Baker TE | Payson, Utah | Payson HS | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 235 lb (107 kg) | Jan 30, 2015 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: |||||||
| Gerold Bright WR | Pensacola, Florida | Escambia HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | Jan 30, 2015 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: |||||||
| Preston Brooskby OL | Peoria, Ariz. | Sunrise Mountain HS/Glendale CC | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 290 lb (130 kg) | Dec 16, 2014 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: |||||||
| Chris Copier TE | South Jordan, Utah | Bingham HS/Snow College | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 250 lb (110 kg) | Dec 13, 2014 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: |||||||
| Cameron Haney CB | Los Angeles | Cathedral HS | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 175 lb (79 kg) | Feb 9, 2015 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 71 |||||||
| Jude Hockel OL | Walnut Creek, California | Northgate HS/Diablo Valley JC | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 295 lb (134 kg) | Jan 30, 2015 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: |||||||
| Harris LaChance DE | Herriman, Utah | Herriman HS | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 235 lb (107 kg) | Jan 30, 2015 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: |||||||
| Daniel Langi LB | South Jordan, Utah | Bingham HS | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | Jan 30, 2015 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: |||||||
| Dallin Leavitt S | Portland, Ore. | Central Catholic HS/BYU | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Devante Mays RB | Livingston, Texas | Livingston HS/Blinn JC | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | Jan 30, 2015 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: |||||||
| Wade Meacham OL | Layton, Utah | Layton HS | 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) | 260 lb (120 kg) | Feb 9, 2015 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 73 |||||||
| Joe Riggins LB | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | Cardinal Gibbons HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | Feb 9, 2015 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: |||||||
| Cade Smith QB | Salem, Ore. | West Salem HS | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | Dec 5, 2014 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: |||||||
| Mason Tobek LB | Puyallup, Washington | Cascade Christian HS | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | Oct 6, 2014 |
| Recruiting star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: |||||||
| Ben Wysocki OL | Seal Beach, California | Los Alamitos HS/UCLA | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 285 lb (129 kg) | |
| Recruiting star ratings: Rivals: N/A 247Sports: N/A |||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: ESPN: Not Ranked Top 25 |||||||
| Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "Utah State 2015 Football Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved February 1, 2015. "2015 Utah State Football Commits". Scout.com. Retrieved February 1, 2015. "2015 Player Commits". ESPN.com. Retrieved February 1, 2015. "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved February 1, 2015. "2015 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved February 1, 2015. |||||||

### Departures

The Aggies lost both their Defensive and offensive coordinators (DC Todd Orlando to Houston and OC Kevin McGiven to Oregon State)
Among notable player losses to graduation were S Brian Suite, LB Zach Vigil, DE B.J. Larsen, WR Ronald Butler, and OL Kevin Whimpey. Another notable loss was QB Darrel Garretson announcing that he would be transferring to Oregon State University.
On June 29, it was announced that Bruce "JoJo" Natson was released from the team for violation of unspecified team rules.

## Maverik Stadium upgrades

On May 18, 2015, demolition began on the west side of Maverik Stadium to make way for a new concourse, press box, and luxury box complex. Construction lasted throughout the season, and as a result, the stadium's capacity was temporarily reduced.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 3 | 7:00 pm | Southern Utah* | Maverik StadiumLogan, UT | | W 12–9 | 21,209 |
| September 11 | 7:00 pm | at No. 24 Utah* | Rice-Eccles StadiumSalt Lake City, UT (Beehive Boot & Battle of the Brothers) | ESPN2 | L 14–24 | 46,011 |
| September 19 | 3:00 pm | at Washington* | Husky StadiumSeattle, WA | P12N | L 17–31 | 59,464 |
| October 3 | 5:00 pm | Colorado State† | Maverik StadiumLogan, UT | ESPN3 | W 33–18 | 22,059 |
| October 10 | 8:30 pm | at Fresno State | Bulldog StadiumFresno, CA | CBSSN | W 56–14 | 30,540 |
| October 16 | 7:00 pm | No. 21 Boise State | Maverik StadiumLogan, UT | CBSSN | W 52–26 | 22,509 |
| October 23 | 8:30 pm | at San Diego State | Qualcomm StadiumSan Diego, CA | ESPN2 | L 14–48 | 25,898 |
| October 30 | 8:15 pm | Wyoming | Maverik StadiumLogan, UT (Bridger's Battle) | ESPN2 | W 58–27 | 20,964 |
| November 7 | 1:30 pm | at New Mexico | University StadiumAlbuquerque, NM | CBSSN | L 13–14 | 19,886 |
| November 14 | 12:00 pm | at Air Force | Falcon StadiumColorado Springs, CO | ESPN3 | L 28–35 | 20,083 |
| November 21 | 1:30 pm | Nevada | Maverik StadiumLogan, UT | ESPN3 | W 31–27 | 18,922 |
| November 28 | 1:30 pm | BYU* | Maverik StadiumLogan, UT (Beehive Boot & The Old Wagon Wheel) | CBSSN | L 28–51 | 22,509 |
| December 22 | 1:30 pm | vs. Akron* | Albertsons StadiumBoise, ID (Famous Idaho Potato Bowl) | ESPN | L 21–23 | 18,876 |
| *Non-conference gameRankings from AP Poll released prior to gameAll times are in Mountain time |||||||
    Schedule Source:

## Game summaries
### Southern Utah

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Thunderbirds | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
| • Aggies | 5 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 12 |

### At Utah

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Aggies | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| • Utes | 7 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 24 |

### At Washington

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Aggies | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
| • Huskies | 3 | 14 | 14 | 0 | 31 |

### Colorado State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Rams | 3 | 7 | 0 | 8 | 18 |
| • Aggies | 3 | 14 | 6 | 10 | 33 |

### At Fresno State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Aggies | 7 | 22 | 14 | 13 | 56 |
| Bulldogs | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |

### Boise State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| #21 Broncos | 3 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 26 |
| • Aggies | 17 | 28 | 7 | 0 | 52 |
The Aggies' victory over the Broncos marked not only the first win over Boise State since 1997, but also the first home victory over a ranked opponent since defeating Fresno State in 1991.

### At San Diego State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Aggies | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| • Aztecs | 17 | 17 | 0 | 14 | 48 |

### Wyoming

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Cowboys | 7 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 27 |
| • Aggies | 14 | 16 | 7 | 21 | 58 |

### At New Mexico

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Aggies | 0 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 13 |
| • Lobos | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |

### At Air Force

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Aggies | 14 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 28 |
| • Falcons | 14 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 35 |

### Nevada

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Wolf Pack | 7 | 14 | 6 | 0 | 27 |
| • Aggies | 0 | 7 | 14 | 10 | 31 |

### BYU

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Cougars | 10 | 14 | 14 | 13 | 51 |
| Aggies | 7 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 28 |

### Akron–Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Zips | 7 | 6 | 7 | 3 | 23 |
| Aggies | 0 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 21 |