This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The best thing about Saturday's matchup between BYU and Utah State is the game matters to both teams, even beyond the rivalry aspect.
No way can the loser claim to have completed a fully satisfying regular season. Boise State gets some credit for that declaration, because supposed signature victories for both BYU and USU have been devalued by the Broncos' struggles lately. So only by winning the Wagon Wheel can the Cougars or Aggies feel good about themselves going into their bowl games.
You could make a case for either team needing the victory more than the other, but my answer is BYU.
My logic is based on numbers and perception. If the Cougars (8-3) can get to 10 wins, regardless of their bowl destination and opponent, that would be a breakthrough in a year when freshman quarterback Tanner Mangum has provided hope for the program's future. While the Cougars haven't beaten a great team, their losses to UCLA, Michigan and Missouri are mostly forgivable. A second consecutive loss to USU would be tougher to justify, disregarding the Aggies' rise in this decade.
This is the Cougars' only in-state game in 2015 (aside from the possibility of a Las Vegas Bowl meeting with Utah), and they need to re-establish themselves in Utah. As a team that's eligible for a fifth straight bowl appearance, USU (6-5) has just enough credibility to make this game a meaningful opportunity for BYU.
The Aggies themselves need a victory to avoid being viewed as underachieving this season. USU once stood 4-2, but as of last Saturday's third quarter, the Aggies faced the possibility of not becoming bowl-eligible. They rallied from 20 points behind against Nevada, so there's no longer any danger of a 5-7 finish. Yet after losing to New Mexico and Air Force (just as Boise State did) in November, the Aggies need another victory over BYU just to clinch a winning record. Otherwise, they could finish 6-7 by losing a bowl game.
So there's no question that winning — or losing — Saturday would alter the reviews of 2015 for each program. That will make it fun to watch unfold, which is all anyone can ask of a regular-season finale.
Twitter: @tribkurt