USU Football will play in First Responder Bowl
DALLAS — Utah State Football (6-6) will face Memphis (6-6) in the First Responder Bowl on Dec. 27 at Gerald J. Ford Stadium in Dallas.
“Love the matchup against Memphis,” head coach Blake Anderson said. “It’s a great place to go. There’s so much to do in Dallas. The venue is phenomenal and the matchup is good. So there’s nothing negative about it.”
It will be the eighth meeting between the two teams, the first since a 31-26 Memphis win in 1977. The Tigers lead the series 4-3 with the last Aggie win coming in 1971, 7-6.
The game will be a homecoming of sorts for 13 Aggies from the Lone Star State. That list includes running backs Calvin Tyler Jr. and Bailee Davenport, cornerbacks Ajani Carter and Jaden Smith, defensive end Byron Vaughns, linebacker Josh Williams, defensive tackles Tavian Coleman and Poukesi Vakauta and quarterbacks Levi Williams and Bishop Davenport. Other Texans include quarterback Logan Bonner and running back Robert Briggs who are both expected to be sidelined with injuries. Running back John Gentry who entered the transfer portal is also from Texas.
Anderson, defensive coordinator Ephraim Banda, running backs coach Chuckie Keeton and senior defensive analyst Ethan Morriss are also from Texas. For Anderson, the location of the bowl will provide him a chance to see his mother and brother during the holiday season who cannot travel due to health concerns.
“It’s just a super cool feeling to be able to go home and finish up the season,” Anderson said.
Some injured Aggies inlcuding Carter, defensive end John Ward and cornerback Michael Anyanwu may be able to play in the game, according to Anderson.
“We’ll look at each one of those situations individually,” Anderson said. “Those are the three that probably make the most sense to get back in this type of timeframe. The rest of them are out for the year and expected to need even surgical procedures either right now or through the holidays.”
Additionally, Anderson does not think any Aggies will sit out the bowl.
“I don’t think we’re in that position here this particular year,” Anderson said. “I would anticipate that every one of our guys that has any aspirations of playing at the next level, is gonna take full advantage of being able to show that against a good opponent on a national stage one more time.”
Anderson also expects the bowl appearance to help the Aggies recruiting and “visibility” in Texas.
“Play well on a big stage with everybody watching that particular day, and show our logo and our brand right there in Texas and in the Metroplex,” Anderson said. “It just continues to build what we’re trying to do.”
The matchup will be a head-to-head between two of the top group of five conferences, the Mountain West and American Athletic conferences. For Anderson, the entire league competing well in their bowls is important for the Mountain West’s future.
“In 2024, when they open up the playoff to 12 teams, the Mountain West needs to be the strongest league in the country, and put ourselves in a position to have a team in that playoff,” Anderson said. “We need to go out and take this game extremely seriously. Every team in our league does.”
Regarding Memphis, they tied for eighth in the American Athletic Conference this season with wins over Navy, Temple and Tulsa. Despite six losses, the Tigers gave trouble to then-No.25 Tulane, losing 38-28, and then-No. 25 UCF dropping that game by a touchdown 35-28.
On Nov. 26, the Tigers lost in the same stadium where the bowl will be played when SMU beat Memphis 34-31.
USU is the fourth Mountain West Team to be invited to the First Responder Bowl joining Air Force, Boise State and UNLV. The Falcons have been the only Mountain West champions of the bowl, beating Louisville 31-28 last year, while Boise State’s game in 2018 was canceled.
Featured image from Air Force game.