The 2020 Utah State Aggies football team represented Utah State University in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Aggies played their home games at Maverik Stadium in Logan, Utah as members of the Mountain West Conference. Head coach Gary Andersen, who was in his second year back at Utah State (sixth overall), coached the first three games before he was fired after going 0–3. Co-defensive coordinator Frank Maile was named interim head coach. In a season limited due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Aggies finished the conference-only season 1–5 to finish in 11th place in Mountain West play.

Following the season, the school announced Arkansas State head coach Blake Anderson would become the team's new head coach.

The final scheduled game of the season was canceled due to a Utah State player boycott.

Schedule Utah State announced its 2020 football schedule on February 27, 2020. The 2020 schedule consisted of six home and six away games in the regular season. On August 10, 2020, the Mountain West Conference announced the suspension of the football season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On September 25, the Mountain West announced the 2020 season would return with a revised eight-game, conference-only season beginning October 24. On November 18, the scheduled November 19 game against Wyoming was canceled by the Mountain West Conference due to rising COVID-19 cases in the Utah State program. On December 11, the scheduled December 12 at Colorado State was canceled as a result of a Utah State player boycott in protest of comments made by their university president that they perceived as discriminatory.

Player boycott of final game On December 11, a day before the scheduled final game of the season, it was reported that Blake Anderson would be named the team's new head coach. As a result of the announcement of the hire of Anderson and racially and religiously insensitive comments allegedly made by Utah State president Noelle Cockett, the Aggie players announced a boycott of the final game. The players had announced their support for the retention of interim head coach Maile, but were allegedly told by Cockett that Maile's religious and cultural background was a problem. Maile is of Polynesian descent and a Mormon. The players reported that it was not the first time issues of discrimination had occurred, citing a 2019 issue where the team's head equipment manager used a racial slur, but the manager ultimately continued his employment at the school.

Personnel Coaching staff After an up-and-down year, various changes were made to the Aggie coaching staff. Offensive coordinator Mike Sanford left to take the same position at Minnesota, and was replaced by North Texas offensive coordinator Bodie Reeder. Defensive coordinator Justin Ena was reassigned as the inside linebackers coach. Frank Maile, assistant head coach and tight ends coach, was reassigned to defensive coordinator. He had previously been Utah State's defensive coordinator from 2016 to 2018. Stacy Collins, special teams and running backs coach, was named co-defensive coordinator with Maile. Bojay Filimoeatu was moved from defensive ends to outside linebackers. Dave Schramm, the offensive coordinator at Weber State, was hired as the new running backs coach. Safeties coach Mike Caputo was let go and is now at Baylor with former Utah State defensive coordinator Dave Aranda.

Name Position Alma materJoined staff Gary Andersen Head coach Utah (1986) 2019 (previously 2009–2012) Frank Maile Co-Defensive Coordinator / Defensive Line Utah State (2007) 2016 (previously 2009–2013) Stacy Collins Co-Defensive Coordinator / Secondary Western Oregon (1998) 2016 Bodie Reeder Offensive Coordinator / Quarterbacks Eastern Illinois (2009) 2020 Justin Ena Inside Linebackers BYU (2001) 2019 T.J. Woods Offensive Line Azusa Pacific (2002) 2019 (previously 2009–2012) Jason Phillips Pass Game Coordinator / Wide Receivers Houston (2001) 2019 Bojay Filimoeatu Defensive Ends Utah State (2012) 2019 Dave Schramm Running Backs Adams State (1983) 2020 Mark Orphey Secondary Texas Southern (2010) 2019 Jordan Hicks Strength and Conditioning Georgetown (KY) (2005) 2019 Keegan Andersen Director of Player Personnel Utah State (2013) 2019 Source:

Game summaries At Boise State

Statistics USU BSU First downs 12 25 Total yards 203 450 Rushing yards 111 171 Passing yards 92 279 Turnovers 1 0 Time of possession 30:00 30:00 Team Category Player StatisticsUtah State Passing Jason Shelley 14/27, 92 yards, INT Rushing Jaylen Warren 23 rushes, 89 yards, 2 TD Receiving Deven Thompkins 5 receptions, 37 yardsBoise State Passing Hank Bachmeier 20/28, 268 yards, 3 TD Rushing George Holani 14 rushes, 100 yards, TD Receiving Khalil Shakir 7 receptions, 123 yards, 2 TD

San Diego State

Statistics SDSU USU First downs 30 11 Total yards 570 215 Rushing yards 407 103 Passing yards 163 112 Turnovers 0 3 Time of possession 37:10 22:50 Team Category Player StatisticsSan Diego State Passing Carson Baker 18/27, 163 yards, 2 TD Rushing Greg Bell 22 rushes, 157 yards, TD Receiving Kobe Smith 6 receptions, 64 yards, TDUtah State Passing Jason Shelley 13/21, 88 yards, TD, INT Rushing Devonta'e Henry-Cole 11 rushes, 27 yards Receiving Deven Thompkins 6 receptions, 55 yards, TD

At Nevada

Statistics USU NEV First downs 11 27 Total yards 210 542 Rushing yards 109 121 Passing yards 101 421 Turnovers 0 0 Time of possession 23:16 36:44 Team Category Player StatisticsUtah State Passing Jason Shelley 15/27, 96 yards, TD Rushing Jason Shelley 7 rushes, 34 yards Receiving Deven Thompkins 6 receptions, 30 yardsNevada Passing Carson Strong 36/52, 411 yards, 3 TD Rushing Toa Taua 12 rushes, 107 yards, TD Receiving Romeo Doubs 7 receptions, 137 yards, 3 TD

Fresno State

Statistics FRES USU First downs 25 12 Total yards 541 343 Rushing yards 119 199 Passing yards 422 144 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 33:49 26:11 Team Category Player StatisticsFresno State Passing Jake Haener 29/38, 422 yards, 4 TD, INT Rushing Ronnie Rivers 25 rushes, 132 yards, TD Receiving Jalen Cropper 10 receptions, 202 yards, 3 TDUtah State Passing Jason Shelley 9/24, 144 yards Rushing Jaylen Warren 9 rushes, 136 yards, TD Receiving Deven Thompkins 3 receptions, 92 yards

New Mexico

Statistics UNM USU First downs 25 22 Total yards 348 452 Rushing yards 196 209 Passing yards 152 243 Turnovers 2 2 Time of possession 31:05 28:55 Team Category Player StatisticsNew Mexico Passing Trae Hall 11/21, 63 yards Rushing Trae Hall 13 rushes, 70 yards Receiving Andrew Erickson 5 receptions, 55 yards, TDUtah State Passing Andrew Peasley 14/21, 239 yards, 3 TD Rushing Andrew Peasley 11 rushes, 118 yards, TD Receiving Justin McGriff 4 receptions, 99 yards, TD

Air Force

Statistics AFA USU First downs 24 14 Total yards 461 232 Rushing yards 334 109 Passing yards 127 123 Turnovers 0 2 Time of possession 34:54 25:06 Team Category Player StatisticsAir Force Passing Haaziq Daniels 7/9, 127 yards, TD Rushing Kadin Remsberg 11 rushes, 107 yards, TD Receiving Ben Peterson 2 receptions, 73 yards, TDUtah State Passing Andrew Peasley 17/32, 123 yards, TD, 2 INT Rushing Andrew Peasley 8 rushes, 53 yards Receiving Carson Terrell 2 receptions, 27 yards

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