Gamers from the Utah State Aggies and the UConn Huskies push each other after a useless play on the Maverik Stadium in Logan on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022. The Aggies received 31-20. Ben B. Braun, Deseret Information
How will the 2023 school soccer season pan out for Utah State?
Your guess is nearly as good as Blake Anderson’s.
The Aggies’ head coach made that clear at Mountain West media days.
“No one is aware of what they received proper now,” Anderson informed KSL Sports activities. “The folks which can be rating don’t know. We received 39 new scholarship gamers on our roster. I do not know what sort of soccer crew we have now. Neither does anyone else.”
It was that form of offseason for Utah State.
Earlier than even the top of the 2022 season, the Aggies began dropping gamers to the switch portal. And dropping gamers. And dropping gamers.
Since then, although, Anderson and firm have rallied, including the aforementioned 39, 30 of whom are four-year transfers or from the JUCO ranks.
Easy put, the 2023 Aggies received’t look very similar to the 2022 Aggies, who didn’t look all that very similar to the 2021 Aggies, who didn’t appear like the 2020 Aggies.
Within the fashionable period of school soccer, change — dramatic change — appears the one fixed.
So Anderson and the Aggies did what they needed to to adapt this offseason.
“We've got attacked the portal in probably the most strategic means we will with the place we’re at,” Anderson informed Bridget Howard and Jesse Kurtz of the Mountain West Community. “We received the championship Yr 1 by permitting an ideal COVID senior class and a extremely good switch class to gel.
“We didn't have the success with that final 12 months. Accidents performed a giant issue, however this 12 months with the attrition, NIL, all the issues that occur, it’s just a little bit bigger of a quantity.”
The Aggies themselves received’t be the one new-look factor in 2023.
Competitors shall be completely different within the Mountain West this season, with divisions executed away with.
A casualty of that change is the lack of Wyoming on the schedule, however by the look of issues the Aggies can have no scarcity of high quality opponents.
Right here’s our “most-difficult-opponent-for-Utah State” rankings for 2023:
1. At Iowa
Utah State performs one opponent from a Energy 5 convention this season, the Iowa Hawkeyes, on the highway within the season opener. The Aggies historically haven’t fared properly in highway video games in opposition to P5 opponents, although USU is 1-1 in stated video games below Anderson with a win at Washington State and a loss at Alabama.
Iowa shall be no straightforward activity because the Hawkeyes have been persistently good to nice below long-time head coach Kirk Ferentz, successful six or extra video games yearly since 2013, and in 21 of the final 22 seasons.
The Hawkeyes are projected to have one among, if not the finest defenses in all of school soccer, are anticipated to contend for the Huge Ten West division title (Iowa acquired 16 first place votes, ending simply behind Wisconsin), and have a notable new quarterback in Michigan switch Cade McNamara.
Iowa is coping with a on-going sports activities wagering scandal that features members of the soccer program, which Ferentz addressed at Huge Ten media days.
“It’s not a lot of gamers, interval,” he stated. “... I’m hopeful this is a chance with the NCAA to possibly rethink two issues: what the, quote/unquote, punishments or penalties may be which can be, I might say, truthful and related to the world we’re residing in proper now. After which most likely the larger factor is there’s a possibility proper now, I feel, for higher training course of, if you'll.”
2. Boise State
The Aggies get to host the Broncos this season, after dropping in Boise 42-23 final 12 months. Boise State has had Utah State’s quantity through the years, successful 22 out of 27 matchups, together with seven straight.
The Broncos are the preseason favourite to win the Mountain West Convention this 12 months, and are projected to win between eight and 9 video games by ESPN, with a 74.5% probability of beating the Aggies.
With Taylen Inexperienced at quarterback the Broncos have arguably probably the most dynamic participant within the convention and head coach Andy Avalos and firm are assured that they've or will shore up weak point alongside each the offensive and defensive strains, to say nothing of the Broncos’ protection as an entire, which misplaced a number of stars to the professionals.
“Extraordinarily enthusiastic about the place our crew is at,” Avalos informed Bronco Nation Information’ BJ Rains at Mountain West media days. “... You need guys occurring and getting photographs to play within the NFL. That's what you wish to occur. And now we have now a contemporary group of men who've a willingness to be taught. We've got younger guys who've some miles that must be placed on their legs and that's what we intend to do.”
3. At Air Power
In the course of the Troy Calhoun period, Air Power has persistently competed at or close to the highest of the MW. Issues have taken a flip for the higher lately, although, because the Falcons have received 10 or extra video games in three of the final 4 seasons.
The Aggies, nevertheless, have crushed Air Power in every of the final two conferences. Can Utah State make it three straight? The Falcons have been picked to complete second within the MW behind Boise State, and have been one among solely 5 groups to obtain a primary place vote.
Furthermore, Air Power, returns an skilled protection and has a 72.7% probability of beating Utah State, in accordance with ESPN’s projections.
The Falcons do have to switch quarterback Haaziq Daniels and fullback Brad Roberts, which Calhoun believes shall be troublesome, going as far as to check this upcoming season to the 2013 season, when Air Power when simply 2-10 total.
“That 12 months was an actual problem,” Calhoun stated at MW media days. “Which may be the case with the place we are actually, too.”
4. Fresno State
The Bulldogs have been the perfect crew within the MW final season, successful 10 video games and the convention title, solely to cap issues off with a victory over Washington State within the LA Bowl.
Traditionally, Utah State has fared properly in opposition to Fresno State, no less than lately, successful three of the final 4 assembly, together with two on the highway.
The Bulldogs are anticipated to beat the Aggies this time round — ESPN provides Fresno State a 62.9% probability.
Fresno State has some critical inquiries to reply getting into the season, although significantly at quarterback in the case of discovering Jake Haener’s successor.
Per head coach Jeff Tedford, that's the No. 1 query for Fresno State and can come right down to a three-way battle between Logan Fife, Josh Wooden and UCF switch Mikey Keene.
“Begin on the quarterback place,” Tedford stated at MW media days.
Per Motion Information’ Stephen Hicks and Alec Nolan, Tedford believes the present model of Fresno State is extra aggressive all-around then final 12 months, which is saying one thing.
5. James Madison
Picked to complete first within the East division of the Solar Belt Convention, forward of each Appalachian State and Coastal Carolina, James Madison is arguably probably the most fascinating of the Aggies’ non-conference opponents this 12 months.
A former FCS powerhouse that transitioned to the FBS ranks final season, the Dukes didn’t miss a beat, successful eight video games final season whereas being ineligible to play in a bowl.
Expectations are increased this season, win the Solar Belt championship increased, although James Madison should first discover a quarterback.
“The quarterback place is extensive open,” James Madison head coach Curt Cignetti stated at Solar Belt media days, per The Every day Information Document, earlier than expressing excessive confidence about whomever the crew lands on.
“Yearly we’ve been at James Madison, we’ve led the convention in scoring, and all three of our quarterbacks have been participant of the 12 months in our convention,” Cignetti stated.
The Aggies host James Madison, although ESPN considers this 12 months’s contest a close to toss-up, favoring the Aggies at 52.7% %.
6. At San Diego State
It may be just a little shocking to see the Aztecs this far down the record contemplating Utah State has to journey to San Diego and the Aztecs are frequently among the finest groups within the MW, however this place has extra to do with the crew’s listed above SDSU than SDSU itself.
The Aztecs ought to as soon as once more be one of many higher groups within the MW, and have a professional probability to win the convention, although they aren't favourite.
ESPN tasks SDSU to win between six and 7 video games in 2023, putting the Aztecs solidly in the midst of the convention.
Utah State historically has struggled to win in San Diego, strolling away victorious thrice in 11 conferences.
Nonetheless, the Aggies received on their final journey in 2021 and SDSU doesn’t look like fairly the powerhouse it has been in latest seasons.
7. At UConn
The Huskies gave Utah State some issues at residence in Logan final season and that was within the first 12 months of the Jim Mora Jr. period.
Getting into Yr 2, UConn is predicted to solely be higher, which implies the Aggies journey to Storrs is that rather more fascinating.
Of all of the video games on the Aggies’ schedule in 2023, UConn will most likely be the bellwether. Win and Utah State seemingly is a bowl-caliber crew. Lose, the Aggies could possibly be in for a protracted season.
It doesn't matter what, Mora believes he can accomplish vital issues at UConn, significantly if the Huskies safe an invitation to a P5 convention in some unspecified time in the future.
“Within the NFL, I didn’t obtain my final objective of successful a Tremendous Bowl. I received very shut however didn’t ever get it executed,” Mora informed CT Insider. “That bothers me. At this degree, I perceive the place we’re sitting proper now. Individuals will take a look at that assertion and say, ‘He’s a idiot. Can’t win a nationwide championship at UConn.’ Nicely, I've to imagine that, finally. I’m not speaking about this 12 months. However we will. And that’s what I’m working in direction of. In any other case, I wouldn’t do that.”
8. At San Jose State
The Spartans have been one of many higher tales within the MW since head coach Brent Brennan took over, with SJSU even successful the convention in 2020.
The Spartans have taken a slight step again the final couple of years, although, going 5-7 in 2021 and 7-5 in 2022. Throw within the 2019 season, when the SJSU completed 5-7 and this system may need confirmed to be a strong, if unspectacular program, exterior of outlier lightning in a bottle seasons.
This coming season doesn’t seem, at first look to be prone to be a particular marketing campaign for the Spartans, however the Aggies should journey to California and aren’t favored, with ESPN giving SJSU a 65.6% to tug out the win in opposition to Utah State.
San Jose State brings again most of its offensive firepower from 2022, however the offensive and defensive strains are critical query marks. Brennan was assured at MW media days that the Spartans can have solutions, although.
“I‘m actually excited to see what that appears like after we begin working towards subsequent week, as a result of they’ve labored extremely exhausting this offseason,” he informed the Mountain West Community. “And the expansion in that group goes to have quite a bit to say with how we go as a crew.”
9. Colorado State
The rebuild in Fort Collins below head coach Jay Norvell was by no means going to be a single season deal so fittingly the Rams are thought of one of many simpler opponents on the Aggies schedule.
That doesn’t imply will probably be a simple win for the Aggies, although. Keep in mind, Utah State barely defeated CSU final season and by all accounts the Rams must be higher in 2023.
The Rams have recruited properly early on below Norvell and there's an expectation that earlier than too lengthy CSU shall be in competition for the MW championship. Simply possibly not this season.
As DNVR’s Justin Michael writes, “One of many causes that Norvell left Nevada for CSU is as a result of he believes that it may be one which contends for championships and performs in New Yr’s Six Bowls. The kind of soccer program that finally strikes as much as a much bigger convention.”
“That’s why we got here to Colorado State,” Norvell informed Michael. “And I feel we’re on that course.”
10. Nevada
The Wolfpack are in a tricky place. Below the aforementioned Norvell, Nevada had its moments, however has since been relegated to being thought of one of many worst groups within the MW.
The preseason media ballot has the Wolfpack No. 11 within the league, forward of solely New Mexico, and ESPN tasks Nevada to win between 5 and 6 video games, which all issues thought of wouldn’t be an unsuccessful season.
The Aggies are clear favorites in opposition to Nevada, given a 61.4% probability to win by ESPN, and seeing as the sport is in Logan, a win over the Wolfpack must be one thing of an expectation for USU.
11. At New Mexico
Thought-about the worst crew by far within the MW, New Mexico must be one other opponent the Aggies could make fast work of, even in a highway setting.
The Lobos haven’t received greater than three video games in a single season since 2016, and within the three years below head coach Danny Gonzalez have received a mixed seven video games, together with simply two final season.
New Mexico is without doubt one of the hardest jobs within the nation and for one more 12 months no less than it seems just like the Aggies can chalk up the assembly as a victory.
Utah State has defeated New Mexico six straight instances in spite of everything.
12. Idaho State
Utah State is aware of the exhausting means that FCS opponents aren’t to be ignored, after dropping at residence to Weber State final fall, however Idaho State isn’t Weber State.
The Bengals received only one sport final season, in opposition to Cal Poly, and in any other case struggled mightily of their one and solely 12 months below Charlie Ragle. Cody Hawkins is now the pinnacle coach, however it's exhausting to imagine that any main enchancment will come Yr One.
Per ESPN, Utah State has a 92.7% probability to defeat Idaho State, and that may be promoting the Aggies brief.