Last season, Utah State football surprised a lot of outsiders by playing in their first bowl game since 1997.
After winning the WAC this season, the Aggies return to the postseason, marking their first back-to-back postseason bowl appearances since 1961.
The Aggies accepted a bid to the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl for the second consecutive season, where they hope to redeem themselves after falling on the last drive against Ohio last year.
The Aggies will again face a Metro Athletic Conference opponent, though the opponent is yet to be determined.
The Aggies are coming off what can arguably be the best season in program history. They finished 10-2 and were only two field goals away from an unbeaten season.
Utah State also finished as one of the best defenses in the country, and the national respect for the program is evident with its first ever BCS ranking, coming in at 24.
The Aggies will keep an eye on Friday’s MAC championship game between Kent State and Northern Illinois.
A Kent State win coupled with a UCLA loss will vault the Flashes into the BCS, affecting Utah State’s opponent.
The Famous Potato Bowl gets the third selection from the MAC, which will be altered if they qualify for a BCS spot.
The pool of potential opponents includes Ball State, Toledo, and Bowling Green. The game will be played on Saturday, Dec. 15.
BYU is not as exited with how its season played out, finishing at 7-5. But the Cougars played well enough to qualify for the Poinsettia Bowl, which will be played on Thursday, Dec. 20. The Cougars will face off with former conference opponent and host San Diego State.
This will be the Cougars 31st bowl appearance and eighth-consecutive season appearing in a bowl. Last year also marked a third consecutive victory in a bowl game after defeating Tulsa in the Armed Forces Bowl.
Overall, the Cougars are 12-17-1 all time in the postseason.
BYU hosts volleyball regionals this weekend
After successfully hosting the NCAA women’s soccer tournament the last few weeks, BYU will host another regional event this weekend as women’s volleyball begins their tournament this week.
BYU, ranked No. 12 overall, will host New Mexico State on Friday, with the winner playing on Saturday against either Oklahoma or Arizona State.
The Cougars earned an automatic bid by finishing first in the West Coast Conference. They enter the tournament with an overall record of 26-3 after completing a grueling schedule.
Nine of BYU’s opponents this season made the NCAA tournament, with the Cougars going 11-3 against tournament teams.
First and second round games will be played at the George A. Smith Fieldhouse, with the winner advancing to the Omaha Regionals hosted by the University of Nebraska next weekend.
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