What Is 2016 Utah State Aggies football team

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 2016 Utah State Aggies football team represented Utah State University in the NCAA Division I FBS football season, finishing with a 3–9 record under head coach Matt Wells. They competed in the Mountain West Conference's Mountain Division and played home games at Maverik Stadium in Logan, Utah.

Key Facts

The 2016 Utah State Aggies finished the season with a 3–9 overall record and 2–6 in Mountain West Conference play.
Head coach Matt Wells led the team during his fourth season, stepping down after the season to take a job at Texas Tech.
The Aggies played their home games at Maverik Stadium in Logan, Utah, which has a capacity of 27,387.
Quarterback Kent Myers started most games, throwing for 2,375 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions.
Utah State's only conference wins in 2016 came against New Mexico and UNLV.

Overview

The 2016 Utah State Aggies football team represented Utah State University during the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Competing in the Mountain West Conference's Mountain Division, the team struggled to maintain consistency, finishing with a 3–9 overall record and 2–6 in conference play.

Head coach Matt Wells entered his fourth season at the helm, marking it as his final year before departing for Texas Tech. The Aggies played their home games at Maverik Stadium in Logan, Utah, a venue with a capacity of 27,387 and a strong fan presence despite the team's on-field challenges.

Season Record: The Aggies finished with a 3–9 overall record, their worst performance since 2004, highlighting a significant drop from previous years' competitiveness.
Conference Performance: In Mountain West play, they went 2–6, with wins only against New Mexico and UNLV, both teams also struggling in the conference standings.
Head Coach:Matt Wells coached his final season with Utah State before accepting the head coaching job at Texas Tech, finishing with a 27–40 record over four seasons.
Home Stadium: Games were played at Maverik Stadium, located on campus in Logan, Utah, which has hosted Aggies football since 1968 and seats 27,387 fans.
Offensive Leader: Quarterback Kent Myers led the offense, throwing for 2,375 yards, 14 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, while also rushing for 313 yards.

How It Works

The 2016 season structure followed the standard NCAA Division I FBS format, with a 12-game regular season and potential bowl eligibility for teams with six wins. Utah State's schedule combined non-conference matchups and Mountain West games to determine postseason opportunities.

Regular Season: The Aggies played a 12-game regular season, including six home games and six away contests, facing both Power Five and Group of Five opponents.
Non-Conference Opponents: They opened against Weber State (FCS), then faced Wake Forest (ACC), Ole Miss (SEC), and New Mexico in non-conference play.
Mountain West Play: Conference games included matchups against Boise State, Colorado State, Wyoming, New Mexico, UNLV, and San Diego State, all part of the Mountain Division.
Bowl Eligibility: Teams needed at least six wins to qualify for a bowl game; Utah State fell short with only three victories, ending postseason hopes.
Player Eligibility: NCAA rules allowed four years of competition within five years; several key seniors played their final season in 2016, including QB Kent Myers.
Coaching Transition:Matt Wells announced his departure for Texas Tech in November, leading to speculation about the program's future direction.

Comparison at a Glance

Comparing the 2016 Aggies to recent seasons reveals a notable decline in performance and competitiveness:

Season	Overall Record	Conference Record	Bowl Game	Head Coach
2016	3–9	2–6	None	Matt Wells
2015	6–7	4–4	Arizona Bowl (L)	Matt Wells
2014	7–6	5–3	Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (W)	Matt Wells
2013	7–6	5–3	Poinsettia Bowl (L)	Matt Wells
2012	4–8	3–5	None	Gary Andersen

The 2016 season marked a downturn after several competitive years under Wells. While 2012 and 2016 both missed bowl games, the latter saw worse conference performance and fewer offensive highlights. The departure of Wells signaled a rebuilding phase for the program.

Why It Matters

The 2016 season was a turning point for Utah State football, reflecting broader challenges in sustaining success in the Group of Five landscape. It underscored the impact of coaching changes, player development, and conference competitiveness.

Program Transition: Matt Wells' departure to a Power Five job highlighted Utah State’s role as a stepping stone for coaches seeking larger programs.
Recruiting Impact: A losing season affected recruiting momentum, making it harder to attract top-tier talent in subsequent classes.
Conference Standing: The 2–6 conference record weakened Utah State’s Mountain West influence, reducing their playoff and bowl relevance.
Stadium Atmosphere: Lower attendance and fan engagement at Maverik Stadium reflected declining morale during the losing campaign.
Player Development: Several 2016 players, like Kent Myers, completed their eligibility, creating roster turnover for the incoming staff.
Future Rebuilding: The 2016 season set the stage for new head coach Gary Andersen’s return, who took over in December 2016 to stabilize the program.

The 2016 Utah State Aggies season, while disappointing, provided valuable lessons in program sustainability and the importance of leadership continuity in college football.