Aggies’ full focus is on Colorado State as they look to continue special season
The Utah State football team has grown used to exceeding outside expectations this season.
Before the season started, the Aggies were picked to finish fourth in their six-team division. They were projected as the 70th best team in the nation by SBNation. USA Today slotted them at 74th. College Football News wasn’t nearly so optimistic, ranking the Aggies at 96.
Now, with two weeks left in the season, the Aggies maintain a No. 14 ranking in the AP Poll, have broken into the College Football Playoff rankings for the first time in program history, and they control their own destiny to not only play in, but to host the Mountain West Conference championship game.
But first thing’s first. Taking care of Colorado State.
“The big focus in the end is putting yourself with a chance to win a championship, and then the small focus is who is it each and every week,” said USU head coach Matt Wells following the team’s blowout victory over San Jose State on Saturday. “It’s on to round seven, Colorado State.”
Tom R. Smedes/AP Photo While a Mountain Division championship likely awaits the Aggies in Boise on Nov. 24, Wells said his team hasn’t had any issue keeping focused on their matchup with the 3-7 Rams.
“We want to be on a collision course for a Mountain West championship. Our goals are consistent around here, I’ve said that since when I got hired,” he said. “That’s our sole focus. That’s all we’re worried about.”
While on paper Utah State will be heavily favored in this contest, Colorado State has won three of its past four games against the Aggies, including a 27-14 victory in Logan last season.
Playing in Fort Collins presents a challenge for Utah State as well. The Aggies have won just one game there in their past four trips dating back to 1978.
“In the past, they have been a challenge for us and we are not going to look past them,” said USU junior tight end Dax Raymond. “This is a big game for us.”
Wells called last season’s game against Colorado State “embarrassing,” and said that the team is anxious to get another shot at the Rams. CSU, however, is fielding a much different team than the one which won at Maverik Stadium last October.
Following last season, Colorado State was burdened with the task of replacing 13 starters. With just four returning players on the offensive side of the ball and five returners on defense, this year’s Rams were ranked by Phil Steele Magazine as the least experienced team in college football.
One thing which has remained consistent for Colorado State, however, is continued success when it comes to finding 1000-yard receivers. Tennessee-transfer Preston Williams looks to be the fifth player in the past five years to join that fraternity, currently sitting at 951 yards on the season.
Tom R. Smedes/AP Photo “He looks like a grown man on tape. That’s an SEC receiver, obviously, but he’s been playing at a high level. He’s an NFL-type kid, has tremendous hands, speed and is a very good route runner,” Wells said of the junior. “We better know where he is on the field every single snap.”
Sophomore Collin Hill has come out on top of a season-long quarterback controversy in Fort Collins, taking the starting job from senior Washington-transfer K.J. Carta-Samuels. Leading the charge in the running game is senior running back Izzy Matthews, a four-year contributor for the Rams.
Statistically speaking, Colorado State is just another below-average defense the Aggies will face in a season in which they have seen plenty of them. The Rams rank 119th in the nation in scoring defense, allowing opponents an average of 38.5 points per game. They also rank second-to-last in the conference at stopping the run, allowing 210 rushing yards per game.
Still, Wells and his squad know about the dangers which can come with complacency.
“It’s a new stadium and it will be Senior Day, so they will be emotional,” Wells said. “They have very talented young men and it’s a team that has a lot of talent and can rally together.”
While fans, media and boosters of the program can’t help but think about what may be ahead for this Aggie team as they continue a special season, Saturday is the only thing on the mind of those within the program.
“There is a motto that our coaches always repeat, ‘Respect all, fear none.’ Our coaches, as a defensive unit, do a good job of keeping our eyes on that week’s opponent; we don’t look ahead,” said USU junior linebacker Tipa Galea’i. “We are aware of who is ahead of us, but our main focus is always on the team that we have in front of us.”
–jadencrockettjohnson@gmail.com
Twitter: @jadenjohnson00