Famous Idaho Potato Bowl glance: Utah State vs. Akron
GAME AT A GLANCE
▪ Who: Utah State (6-6, 5-3 Mountain West) vs. Akron (7-5, 5-3 Mid-American)
▪ When: 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 22
▪ Where: Albertsons Stadium (36,387, FieldTurf), Boise
▪ TV: ESPN
▪ Series: First meeting
▪ Tickets: $20-$90, at ticketmaster.com; $24 for FitOne Family Field Day (pre-game NFL combine-type event at 10:30 a.m., lunch and game ticket)
▪ Notable events: Team arrivals and bowling, Dec. 18; Humanitarian Awards dinner, Dec. 19; Winter sports or go-kart racing day, Dec. 20; FCA breakfast, Mash Bash at The Village, Dec. 21
UTAH STATE AT A GLANCE
▪ Coach: Matt Wells (25-15, three years)
▪ Season recap: The Aggies lost nonconference games to Washington and Utah of the Pac-12, but started 4-2, including a 52-26 win over Boise State. They couldn’t keep their spot in the Mountain Division driver’s seat, going 2-4 after beating the Broncos, losing to San Diego State, New Mexico, Air Force and BYU.
▪ Offensive stats: 29.7 points per game (60th in FBS), 370.8 yards per game (92nd), 167.9 rushing yards per game (70th), 202.9 passing yards per game (82nd).
▪ Offensive player to watch: Senior QB Chuckie Keeton has missed 25 of the Aggies’ past 40 games with knee injuries, but still has the school record with 61 TD passes.
▪ Defensive stats: 27.0 points allowed per game (64th in FBS), 336.7 yards allowed per game (22nd), 156.2 rushing yards allowed per game (51st), 180.4 passing yards allowed per game (14th).
▪ Defensive player to watch: Junior LB Nick Vigil is tied for third nationally with 140 tackles and is second on the team with 12.5 tackles for loss. He also has a rushing TD.
AKRON AT A GLANCE
▪ Coach: Terry Bowden (18-30, four years at Akron; 158-92-2, 22 years)
▪ Season recap: Zips won four straight to clinch second-ever bowl (first since 2005). All seven wins came against teams that finished with losing records, but two losses came where Akron allowed only 14 points.
▪ Offensive stats: 24.0 points per game (100th in FBS), 364.1 yards per game (98th), 169.5 rushing yards per game (67th), 193.8 passing yards per game (96th).
▪ Offensive player to watch: Still listed as a receiver/linebacker, sophomore Jerome Lane switched from defense this season and the 6-3, 220-pounder leads with 750 yards on 35 catches and eight TDs.
▪ Defensive stats: 21.5 points allowed per game (27th in FBS), 328.5 yards allowed per game (17th), 89.8 rushing yards allowed per game (3rd), 238.8 passing yards allowed per game (87th).
▪ Defensive player to watch: Senior LB Jatavis Brown is the MAC Defensive Player of the Year (led the Zips with 108 tackles, 17.5 for loss and 10.5 sacks).
This story was originally published December 7, 2015 at 12:18 AM with the headline "Famous Idaho Potato Bowl glance: Utah State vs. Akron."