Utah State football to play eight conference games, two nonconference games

The Utah State football team will play eight conference games and two nonconference games if the fall season returns this year.

The Mountain West Conference announced Wednesday that the schedules for football, women’s soccer, women’s volleyball and men’s and women’s cross country will start no later than the week ending Sept. 26. Football teams, if they choose to play games, can play eight within the conference and two outside of them.

The MW’s decision is “designed to allow additional time to monitor ongoing developments related to the status of the COVID- 19 virus, continue all necessary preparations for the potential return to competition and retain the opportunity for student-athletes to participate in their respective sports,” the conference said in a statement.

This schedule change affects the Aggies as well as BYU. An independent program, BYU has three MW games (half of their remaining schedule) on its 2020 schedule. The Cougars are scheduled to host Utah State on Oct. 2 and San Diego State on Nov. 14, and play at Boise State on Nov. 6.

With the schedule not starting until Sept. 26, it appears the Aggies will lose the game scheduled on Sept. 12 against Southern Utah University. It has no other nonconference games currently scheduled.

In addition, the fall seasons for men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s tennis, swimming and diving, indoor track and field, softball and baseball have been canceled, the conference said.

“The health and welfare of our student-athletes and campus communities continue to be paramount in our decision-making process,” MW Commissioner Craig Thompson said. “The modified fall structure as presently configured allows flexibility and time for our athletic programs to be in the best possible position to play collegiate sports this season.

“There is still a lot of work to be done and many important decisions to be made. Today’s announcement provides a path forward as we navigate the weeks ahead.”