Utah State (2-4, 1-1 Pac-12) at Texas State (3-3, 1-1 Pac-12). Saturday, Oct. 24, 7:30 p.m. ET (6:30 p.m. Central), UFCU Stadium, San Marcos, CBS Sports Network.
Your hosts are Hyrum Tolleson, a Utah State fan from a Cache Valley dairy who's been up before the sun since he was 8, and Yesenia Calderwood, a Texas State fan who floats the San Marcos River with a sun hat and a radio.
Hyrum: A river float sounds lovely, Yesenia. Come see Logan sometime. The ice cream's on me.
Yesenia: Ice cream and a river float? Now you're speaking my language, Hyrum. Come on down. Eat 'em up, Cats!
Players to watch
Texas State quarterback Brad Jackson has completed 106 of 157 passes for 1,439 yards, 14 touchdowns and five interceptions. Running back Torrance Burgess Jr. has 838 yards and five touchdowns on 108 carries. Receiver Chris Dawn Jr. has 29 catches for 348 yards. Defensive back Jayden Bradley leads with 44 tackles, and Tymere Jackson has 2.5 sacks.
Utah State quarterback Grady Brosterhous has 914 yards, seven touchdowns and six interceptions. Receiver Eli Wood has 36 catches for 472 yards and five touchdowns. Running back Javen Jacobs has 393 yards. Safety Brevin Hamblin leads with 50 tackles and has an interception.
Hyrum: Eli Wood is a fine young man. Six catches, 84 yards and a score last time out.
What happened last week
Texas State beat Colorado State 66-27 on Oct. 15. Jackson went 14 of 19 for 213 yards and a touchdown and ran 13 times for 181 yards and three more scores. Burgess ran 24 times for 224 yards and four touchdowns.
Utah State had a week off after beating Washington State 17-16 on Oct. 9. Brosterhous threw for 150 yards and a touchdown, and Jacobs ran for 62 yards and a score.
Yesenia: Seven rushing touchdowns between two guys. Whoa, that's a waterfall.
Injuries and availability
The Pac-12 doesn't publish an official availability report, and no injury news had surfaced for either team as of Oct. 18.
What the coaches are up to
G.J. Kinne has led Texas State since December 2022. His offense leads FBS at 562.3 yards a game, runs for 303.5 a game (third) and converts 56.1% of third downs (fourth).
Bronco Mendenhall is in his second season at Utah State, hired Dec. 6, 2024. His defense allows 23.5 points a game. His offense averages 14.5 points, which ranks 136th.
Player storylines
Texas State's run game meets a Utah State run defense allowing 140.8 yards a game. Utah State's best shot is through the air. Texas State's pass defense allows 297.3 yards a game, 137th in FBS. Finishing drives is the Bobcats' issue. They score on 71% of red-zone trips, 128th. Utah State is 0-3 on the road.
What's happening on campus
It's Homecoming in San Marcos, and fans are asked to wear throwback colors. Both teams are in year one of the rebuilt Pac-12. Kickoff is 6:30 p.m. Central.
Anything else fun and true
Texas State's home, UFCU Stadium, was built in 1981 and seats 28,388, and it gets loud for a Homecoming night. Utah State's two-point loss at Washington was one of the closest calls of its season. Texas State visits No. 21 Boise State next.
Hyrum: Bend, don't break. That's the dairy way, Yesenia.
Yesenia: Go with the flow, Hyrum. The river always gets there.
The Cover Window
My call: Texas State Bobcats 34, Utah State Aggies 23.