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Logan • Call Saturday's game at Arkansas State a bit of a bonus game for the Utah State Aggies. In the future, if Utah State athletic director Scott Barnes has his way, such a game won't happen.
This season's schedule was one of the most difficult for Barnes to put together because the Aggies had two major changes. Their game with Boise State, originally scheduled as a non-conference game, became a league game during conference realignment, and Utah bought its way out of a game against the Aggies, leaving another hole.
Scrambling to fill the schedule with less than a year's notice, Barnes locked in a game with Arkansas State as insurance because he was afraid he couldn't find another school to play in such short notice.
However, he learned through his basketball contacts that Wake Forest was interested in scheduling a series, and Barnes jumped at the chance to schedule the ACC school, especially since the Demon Deacons could play in Logan this season and give the Aggies six home games.
Utah State will play at Wake Forest in 2017 and 2019 as part of the agreement.
The Aggies also kept their deal with Arkansas State, which will play in Logan next season.
In Barnes' perfect world, though, the Aggies would have one less game this year, since there is a chance Utah State could play 15 games if it makes it to the league championship game and goes to a bowl game.
"It's too long of a season," he said. "Playing a conference schedule and the chance to have a championship game, 13 is too much unless it's a perfect scenario."
Barnes said in the future, the Aggies won't schedule an extra game even with Hawaii on the schedule.
Teams that play Hawaii are allowed an extra game to help offset the travel costs.
But Barnes would rather let his team rest than play another game for a bit of revenue.
"As long as we have six home games, I want to keep it that way," he said.
As for that "perfect scenario," Aggie fans shouldn't consider in-state rivals Utah and BYU fitting that mold. Barnes is adamant the Aggies are at a point now where any agreements with the schools will be home-and-home deals going forward. He also doesn't want to play both schools in the same year to have more flexibility in scheduling.
Right now, the Aggies are scheduled to play BYU through 2018, with games in Logan scheduled for 2015 and 2017.
The Aggies will play at Utah next year, but with Utah hesitant to schedule home-and-home series with the Aggies, any future contests are doubtful.
"We're at a point where we feel it should be home-and-home," Barnes said.
Track meet
Utah State has already seen one fast team in Tennessee; now the Aggies expect another in the Red Wolves after watching tape. Utah State coach Matt Wells estimated Arkansas State could be the fastest team the Aggies have played since Louisiana Tech in 2012, a 48-41 overtime win for the Aggies.
"They will play at a very, very rapid, frantic pace," he said. "They'll sub four running backs, so many times that the refs don't always catch it. Hopefully these refs see it and stop the game to allow us to sub. That's part of the drill."
Of note
The Aggies last played Arkansas State in 2004, a 16-7 Arkansas State win. … Utah State's defense has forced seven turnovers in the last two games. … Utah State is gaining notoriety for its run defense, which is ranked fourth nationally (allowing 62.3 yards per game), but the Aggies' defense is also very good on third down, ranking 18th nationally in allowing opponents to convert just 28.6 percent of their third downs (14 of 49).
Twitter: @lyawodraska —
Utah State at Arkansas State
O Saturday, 5 p.m.