The reason, of course, is that Riley Nelson, the starting quarterback in seven USU games two years ago, announced in late May that he is transferring to BYU when he returns from his LDS Church mission in Barcelona, Spain, next spring.
Some USU fans never will forgive the homegrown star for bolting, acknowledged his father, Keith Nelson, who said, "There has been some interesting dialogue, back and forth."
Kickoff is at 6 p.m. at Romney Stadium as the No. 8 Cougars (4-0) and Aggies (1-3) meet for the 78th time.
As far as BYU is concerned, the Riley Factor is a nonissue because most of the Cougars are unfamiliar with Nelson. He didn't play when BYU beat Utah State 38-0 in 2006 in Provo.
Nelson became a "recruitable athlete" per NCAA rules after he was out a year, so BYU coaches cannot comment on him until he signs a national letter of intent next February.
"I can't discuss anything to do with any of our recruits," BYU quarterbacks coach Brandon Doman said Monday when asked if the Cougars expected a frostier-than-normal reception from the Aggie faithful in Logan on Friday.
Nor can BYU coaches talk about where Nelson fits into their future quarterbacking plans. However, Doman does talk freely about quarterbacks already in BYU's program, and what the Cougars are looking for as they search for junior Max Hall's eventual replacement.
His comments in that regard provide some insight as to why BYU is accepting Nelson into the program and giving him a scholarship now, after not offering one when he graduated from Logan High as an All-American quarterback and the most prolific prep passer in Utah schoolboy football history. Many see it as an odd fit, because Nelson is an undersized, running quarterback, and BYU's attack calls for mostly dropback passing.
"The most important thing for me, in evaluating these young men, is how much grit they have," Doman said. "Grit would eventually translate into their leadership ability and playmaking ability. Because you get into games, and your backs get against the wall - you are in third and long, you have to come from behind - and you need to know: Does that quarterback possess the intangible ability to play great - not good - but great in those situations?"
Doman said a quarterback's size or arm strength does not matter to BYU coaches as much as those other intangibles, noting that Heisman Trophy candidate Hall "doesn't have the biggest arm around."
The transfer that dominated sports talk radio shows in Utah for nearly a week also begs the question: Will Nelson start for BYU in 2010?
If he's healthy, Hall will undoubtedly be the starter in 2009 and Nelson will battle Brenden Gaskins to be the backup, unless he redshirts.
The battle in 2010 will be tight. James Lark returns from a church mission to Russia in January of 2010 and will get the advantage of participating in spring ball. Jason Munns returns from Mexico in May of 2010.
drew@sltrib.com
