LOGAN, Utah – Thursday’s matchup between Utah State and Tennessee Tech will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs and although Tennessee Tech plays in the lower-division FCS, the Aggies aren’t looking past the Golden Eagles.

“You have to think of it as they’re still humans. It’s still bodies there. You can’t go in there thinking that we’re going to smash them,” said junior running back Gerold Bright. “You have to respect your opponent, but you don’t have to fear them. You have to understand that anybody is beatable. What we did last week does not matter. It’s all about who goes out and plays that day, and who plays their best game.”

The Golden Eagles, who play in the Ohio Valley Conference, are winless thus far into the 2018 season with losses to Kennesaw State and Chattanooga. After scouting the Golden Eagles, Aggie head coach Matt Wells feels their biggest threat is freshman quarterback Bailey Fisher.

“I like their freshman quarterback,” said Wells. “He has a little moxie to him. To me, he’s a tough, durable guy that throws a very catchable football.”

The biggest challenge for the Aggies this week will be preparing for Tennessee Tech on a shortened schedule. It’ll be the fourth straight year that Utah State has played a game on Thursday. Under Wells, the Aggies have a 4-1 record when playing on that day.

“This is a short week and for us to come off a late game Saturday night and to have an abbreviated practice schedule and meeting schedule and stuff like that, this will end up being a lot about us and our preparation, how our players handle it, how our coaches handle it, how we prepare our guys and our guys really buying into the next game and the next opportunity, and a chance to be 1-0 this week,” said Wells during his Monday press conference.  “That is all our guys are worried about – get to Thursday night and find a way to be 1-0. That challenge has been laid out and detailed out. Our guys are already lined up for Tennessee Tech in watching their tape.”