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Provo • Maybe it is because the BYU Cougars came extremely close to losing to Utah State the last couple of times the Aggies visited LaVell Edwards Stadium.
Or perhaps it is became USU has one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the country, when healthy, in Chuckie Keeton.
Whatever the case, BYU seems to have a newfound respect, even an appreciation, for its in-state rival from Logan, if comments made during Monday's news conference in Provo mean anything. The No. 18 Cougars (4-0) play host to the 2-2 Aggies on Friday at 8:15 p.m. MDT. The 84th meeting, the battle for the Old Wagon Wheel, will be televised nationally by ESPN.
BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall even complimented the Aggies and managed to get in a subtle jab at the Utes in the same breath, saying the game is more important than normal, "considering only one in-state team will play us this year."
Utah and BYU won't play this year or next, but Mendenhall said the BYU-Utah State series (the Cougars have a commanding 46-34-3 advantage and haven't lost to USU in Provo since 1978) will continue to be played and will likely grow even more intense.
"It is probably the featured game in-state, and it means a lot that the two teams honor tradition," Mendenhall said. "This particular game matters a lot to both teams, and [playing] the Friday night before [LDS General] Conference makes it a great event."
Not only that, Mendenhall acknowledged that USU's improvement started by coach Gary Andersen and continued by second-year coach Matt Wells is part of the reason the Cougars will schedule home-and-home deals with the Aggies instead of two-for-ones or three-for-twos.
"Yeah, I think Utah State has done a nice job," Mendenhall said. "But it is also a sign that, as an independent, we need games, and we need to do what we have to do to get games. So it is both."
In 2015 and 2016, BYU and USU will meet in late November, which is even better for the Cougars, who have struggled to find meaningful games and quality opponents late in the season as a football independent.
"It is a rivalry game, especially because we don't get to play Utah this year," BYU offensive lineman Kyle Johnson said.
BYU defensive end Remington Peck caused a mild stir Monday morning when he said he had heard from friends at USU that Keeton, who missed the last game and a half with an injury, was going to apply for a medical redshirt this season. However, USU officials and coach Matt Wells quickly shot down that notion at their news conference, and Wells said Keeton was going to practice Monday "and we will see what is going on."
Mendenhall and another BYU defender, Skye PoVey, talked as if they were preparing to face either Keeton or backup Darell Garretson, or both.
"Chuckie's ability to create, and his leadership and experience, certainly you have to acknowledge," Mendenhall said. "But by preparing for him, really anything else besides that, you are kinda ready for."
Garretson threw for 268 yards in the Aggies' 21-14 overtime loss at Arkansas State.
"Obviously, both quarterbacks have strengths and something different they bring to the table," said PoVey. "But I think we are preparing [for both] either way."
Twitter: @drewjay —
Utah State at No. 18 BYU
P Friday, 8:15 p.m.
TV • ESPN