LOGAN, Utah — Led by three rushing touchdowns from running back Tyler Allgeier, No. 13 BYU football beat Utah State 34-20 at Maverik Stadium on Friday.
The win moved BYU to 5-0 to begin the season for just the seventh time in program history and first time in back-to-back seasons.
Allgeier carried the ball 22 times for a career-high 218 yards and three touchdowns, putting the game away in the fourth quarter with his 67-yard run to set up his third score.
BYU's defense stopped the run all night, limiting the Aggies (3-2) to just 22 rushing yards on 35 carries, their lowest output since 2019. Linebacker Ben Bywater led the Cougars defensively with nine total tackles, including seven solo tackles, one sack and three tackles for loss. Fellow linebacker Max Tooley also added four tackles on three solo and 1.5 tackles for loss. Defensive backs Malik Moore and Jakob Robinson both recorded interceptions.
BOX SCORE
PHOTO GALLERY
POSTGAME NOTES
First Quarter
Utah State got the ball first and picked up one first down before quarterback Logan Bonner threw an interception on 3rd and 11 that was picked off by Malik Moore at the BYU 26-yard line. The Cougars scored in three plays thanks to a 42-yard completion from Baylor Romney to Puka Nacua and a 22-yard touchdown rush by Allgeier to take an early 7-0 lead 3:24 into the game.
After an Aggie three-and-out, BYU drove to the Utah State one-yard line aided by three completions of 10+, but a Baylor Romney fumble on 3rd and goal brought kicker Jake Oldroyd onto the field, who nailed a 49-yard field goal to put the Cougars up 10-0 with 5:06 remaining in the first quarter.
On Utah State’s ensuing possession, it again picked up one first down before settling for a 52-yard field goal by Connor Coles, making it 10-3 with 3:20 left in the quarter.
BYU followed with Baylor Romney completions to four different Cougars and rushes from both Allgeier and Lopini Katoa, driving to the Aggie 21 before the end of the first.
Second Quarter
The Cougars scored three plays into the second quarter on a 15-yard pass from Baylor Romney to tight end Isaac Rex, going ahead 17-3 with 13:42 remaining in the half.
Utah State then slowed it down, taking 7:34 off the clock while going 75 yards on 18 plays, scoring on a 21-yard touchdown pass to make it 17-10 with 6:08 left in the second quarter.
BYU answered with a 59-yard rushing touchdown by Allgeier on 3rd and 2, taking a 24-10 lead at the 4:09 mark of the quarter.
Going 11 plays and 47 yards in 3:14, the Aggies drove to the BYU 28-yard line but the Cougar defense forced a 45-yard field goal, and it was 24-13, BYU with 55 seconds remaining in the second quarter.
Baylor Romney led the Cougars down to the Utah State 29-yard line, setting up a 46-yard field goal for Oldroyd, but his kick went wide left to end the half.
Third Quarter
Quarterback Jacob Conover made his first career appearance as BYU opened the second half with the ball but the Cougars’ went three-and-out on their first two possessions.
The BYU defense held strong for a 4th-down stop after Utah State had gotten down to the BYU 33-yard line, giving Conover and the Cougars the ball back with 7:47 remaining in the third quarter.
After another three-and-out, however, BYU was forced to punt, and Rehkow pinned the Aggies at their own 11.
Defensive end Tyler Batty forced a fumble that slowed Utah State’s ensuing possession after USU recovered but lost yardage. The Aggies punted back to BYU as the two teams traded empty possessions to start the second half.
Conover settled in on the Cougars’ following drive, completing passes to three different BYU wideouts. A Katoa rush had the Cougars down to the Utah State 18, closing out a scoreless third quarter.
Fourth Quarter
A three-yard rush and incomplete pass to start the fourth set up Oldroyd for a 32-yard field goal, putting BYU ahead 27-13 with 14:22 remaining in the quarter.
Utah State then put together a 14-play, 90-yard drive to draw within a touchdown, making it 27-20, BYU, with 9:52 left in the fourth.
The Cougars answered yet again as Allgeier rushed 67-yards on their first play from scrimmage to the Aggie 1 before punching it in two plays later to put BYU back up by 14 at 34-20 with 8:40 to go in the game.
After forcing a Utah State punt, BYU got the ball back with 6:24 remaining and went exclusively run, calling eight rushing plays before Rehkow’s punt was downed at the Aggie 2 with 1:58 remaining.
Three plays later into the Utah State drive, Jakob Robinson intercepted quarterback Andrew Peasley’s pass, allowing the Cougars to kneel out the in-state victory and keep the Wagon Wheel in Provo.
BYU returns home to host Boise State on Saturday, Oct. 9 at 1:30 p.m. MDT. The game will be broadcast on either ABC or ESPN.