Gonna try to do a history of the team based off of memory.
We didn't get to the Big 12 until about 10-15 years from the start of the dynasty. We started off as a 1* program. We were mostly a 3* program during the MWC era with a couple of 2* years here and there. We won a lot of bowl games during that time, which is what mostly helped the prestige. Even though we didn't win the conference until that final year, I think we made two BCS bowls during this time, lost both.(one might of been when we were in the Big 12, but I can't remember).
When we got to the Big 12 we were finishing somewhere around 4th-6th in the conference each year. I believe we challenged for the Big 12 title 3 times, but lost every matchup. TCU and Air Force were almost always better than us every year, so that didn't help. We were usually a 4* program during this era with a couple of 3* and 5* years here and there. We were only relegated once during this era. The year after we got relegated we ended up winning the MWC to earn our back to the Big 12.
When we moved to the WAC-PAC 12 we started off in the WAC. We won the WAC our first year and have been in the PAC 12 since then. We have competed for the Pac 12 North title every year, but we have come up short every year.
We are currently ranked #9 in the preseason polls, and we are also a 5* program. The prospects we have been able to target seem like they have been the best talent we could ever go after. I tend to stick to our pipeline areas for recruiting (Texas, California, Utah, Arizona, etc...), but in the years we are a 5* program I will open up the recruiting East of Texas.
We are a run heavy team. We usually rush for 2500+ every year. We are heading into the season starting a Redshirt Freshman QB. He was a 4* recruit coming out of Tennessee, and is currently rated a 83, so I think he has a shot of becoming the best QB in Utah State history. We will either play a 3-4 or 4-3 based on the personnel. If it's about equal then I will go with a 4-3.
I think we are ranked a lot higher than we should be. The OL, LB's, and secondary are all average. The goal is to make a BCS game, but a more realistic scenario would be going 9-3 and winning whatever bowl game we go to.
Preseason AA:
DT Lawrence Moore - 2nd AA; 1st Pac 12
The Pac 12 is currently the best conference with 7 teams ranked in the Top 25, and 4 in the Top 10. Here are the teams currently in each conference:
We have a record of 272-196 since the dynasty has started. We have a Bowl Record of 15-15. We have had 27 winning seasons. Our record vs the Top 25 is 42-57. We have had 3 Conference Titles. We are 50-21 against rivals (Utah, BYU, & Wyoming). We have been ranked as high as #2. We have also had a Biletnikoff, O'Brien, and Maxwell award winner.
Some notable teams:
TCU has had the best record with 386-100. They have won 12 conference titles, 29-7 in bowls, and have won 4 National Championships. They have been dominating since the start.
Auburn has a record of 381-105. They have won 10 conference titles, 21-15 in bowl games, and have won 3 National Championships. They have been dominating since the start.
Florida has won 5 National Championships. They have been dominating since the start.
Georgia Tech has won 2 National Championships. They were dominating in the teen years. Haven't been competing for NC's since.
Penn State has won 4 National Championships. They were dominating in the 20's and 30's. Have slowed down a little bit, but are back on the rise.
Stanford has won 2 National Championships. They have been contenders just about every year.
Wisconsin has won 2 National Championships.
Air Force has won 4 National Championships. They have been dominating since the start.
UCF has won 2 National Championships.
Nebraska, Texas, USC, Ohio State, Nevada, Oregon, Oklahoma, and Alabama have all won one National Championship each. All of those teams have been pretty good with the exception of Oklahoma and Alabama. Alabama hasn't been a perennial contender and Oklahoma has been very mediocre for the most part.
Miami (FL), Florida State, LSU, Arkansas, and Oklahoma State have been terrible.
New Mexico State has been the worst team with a record of 120-317.
