CollegeFootballDigestfrom CooperSearch

2003 Utah State

3–⁠9 (3–⁠3 Sun Belt Conference), coached by Mick Dennehy.

Schedule and results

Utah State in 2003, game by game: lost at Utah 20–40; lost at No. 23 Nebraska 7–31; lost at No. 16 Arizona State 16–26; won vs. UL Monroe 28–10; lost at New Mexico 7–34; lost vs. Wyoming 21–48; lost at North Texas 27–37; won vs. Arkansas State 49–0; won vs. Middle Tennessee 41–20; lost at New Mexico State 21–26; lost vs. Troy 14–23; lost at Idaho 13–20+49−27Lost 20–40 at Utah-20UtahLost 7–31 at No. 23 Nebraska-24No. 23 NebraskaLost 16–26 at No. 16 Arizona State-10No. 16 Arizona StateWon 28–10 vs. UL Monroe+18UL MonroeLost 7–34 at New Mexico-27New MexicoLost 21–48 vs. Wyoming-27WyomingLost 27–37 at North Texas-10North TexasWon 49–0 vs. Arkansas State+49Arkansas StateWon 41–20 vs. Middle Tennessee+21Middle TennesseeLost 21–26 at New Mexico State-5New Mexico StateLost 14–23 vs. Troy-9TroyLost 13–20 at Idaho-7Idaho
Each game’s margin, wins above the line and losses below.
DateOpponentResultElo
Aug 28atUtahL 20–⁠4030%
Sep 6at23NebraskaL 7–⁠3122%
Sep 13at16Arizona StateL 16–⁠2624%
Sep 27vsUL MonroeW 28–⁠1070%
Oct 4atNew MexicoL 7–⁠3430%
Oct 11vsWyomingL 21–⁠4864%
Oct 18atNorth TexasL 27–⁠3721%
Oct 25vsArkansas StateW 49–⁠055%
Nov 1vsMiddle TennesseeW 41–⁠2052%
Nov 6atNew Mexico StateL 21–⁠2646%
Nov 15vsTroyL 14–⁠2351%
Nov 22atIdahoL 13–⁠2051%

Elo: a pregame chance from scores alone.

How it ended: Lost to Idaho 20–⁠13; unranked in the final AP poll; tied for 3rd in the Sun Belt Conference.

In program history: The 110th-best season in program history by end-of-season Elo (of 120 on file).

Players on this team

Before 2004 our records hold honors and the draft; these are the players whose college years here, from their Wikipedia articles or their honors, include 2003.

Record
3–⁠9
Conference
3–⁠3 tied for 3rd in Sun Belt Conference
AP final
Unranked
Points
264–⁠315
Coach
Mick Dennehy
Elo
1322 −93 this season
SP+ rating
-17.0 No. 101 of 117; offense No. 108, defense No. 82
SRS
−10.4 No. 93 of 117 in Division I-A
Recruiting class
No. 89
Offensive coordinator
Bob Cole
Defensive coordinator
David Kotulski

Drives and havoc

Points per trip inside the 40Average startHavoc
Offense0.0own 28— allowed
Defense-0.4own 40— caused

A trip inside the 40 is a drive that reaches the opponent’s 40-yard line; points per trip is how many it scored on average (allowed, on defense). Average start is where drives began (the defense’s line is where its opponents started). Havoc is the share of plays ending in a tackle for loss, a forced fumble, an interception or a pass broken up. From CollegeFootballData.com.

Top recruits in the 2003 class

Leon Jackson III PRO★★★No. 682
Matt Reese OT★★No. 1050
Jake Thompson OT★★No. 1050
Tony Pennyman WR★★No. 1050
Tamarkus McElvane WR★★No. 1050

247Sports composite rankings via CollegeFootballData.com; national rank in the class.

The 2003 class by position

SignedStarsRating
Quarterbacks13.00.800
Running backs12.00.767
Receivers52.00.767
Offensive line52.00.767
Defensive line22.00.767
Defensive backs42.00.767
Whole class182.10.769

High-school signees by position group, with their average stars and 247Sports composite rating (out of 1), via CollegeFootballData.com. Athletes are signees with no set position.

Drafted in 2004

The 2004 draft
Rd 3Chris Cooley TEWashington Redskins

2003 Sun Belt Conference standings

TeamConf.OverallAP final
North Texas7–⁠09–⁠4
Louisiana3–⁠24–⁠8
Arkansas State3–⁠35–⁠7
Middle Tennessee3–⁠34–⁠8
Utah State3–⁠33–⁠9
Idaho3–⁠43–⁠9
New Mexico State2–⁠53–⁠9
UL Monroe1–⁠51–⁠11

Ordered by conference winning percentage, then conference wins. Division splits and tiebreakers aren’t applied.