Andersen: We Run Utah State Football ‘Like It’s A Power 5 Program’

LOGAN, Utah – Utah State head coach Gary Andersen said that the Aggies run their football program similar to a Power Five team.

Andersen spoke about his team’s P5-like status when answering a question about recruiting during a press conference on Friday, December 13.

“We run this program like it’s a power five program, and we do not have that title, but the way our kids are treated, they walk out of here with the power five feel,” said Andersen. “That’s a big part of where we’re at, and that’s just not football-wise. That’s from everybody. Academics, training and weight room.”

More work to do, but @USUFootball is all smiles heading into the locker room with a 21-17 lead at Wake Forest! #AggiesAllTheWay | #AtThePeak pic.twitter.com/Q2N88ZOZZJ

— Mountain West (@MountainWest) August 31, 2019

The Aggies are currently members of the Mountain West Conference which isn’t considered a Power Five conference. Currently, the “Power” conferences consist of the Atlantic Coast, Southeastern, Big Ten, Big 12, and Pac-12.

The MWC is considered a “G5” or “Group of Five” conference. The other Group of Five conferences are the American Athletic, Conference USA, Mid-American, and Sun Belt.

Power Five programs have many advantages over G5 schools including College Football Playoff/bowl game access and television revenue.

LSU head coach Ed Orgeron shares his thoughts on @USUFootball before the Aggies head to Death Valley to take on the Tigers Saturday at 10am MT. #AggiesAllTheWay pic.twitter.com/aSV40n28t6

— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) October 2, 2019

In the last decade, Utah State has situated itself among the most successful schools from the Group of Five. The Aggies have recorded three 10+ win seasons and three Mountain West Conference titles since 2012. They won four bowl games during that span.

Andersen is in the first season of his second stint as head coach of the Aggies. He previously coached in Logan from 2009-2012.

Following the 2012 season, he left USU to take the head coach position with the Big Ten’s Wisconsin Badgers. In his last season with the Badgers, he led them to a Big Ten West Division title. In December 2014, Andersen moved to the Pac-12’s Oregon State Beavers. He was with OSU until 2017.

Andersen brought nearly five years of Power Five head coaching experience back to Utah State when he was hired as the Aggies’ head coach for the second time in December 2018 after Matt Wells left for the Big 12’s Texas Tech.