BYU vs Utah State: 5 Things You Didn't Know About the Battle for the Old Wagon Wheel

Stakes are sky high for both BYU and Utah State when the two teams renew their rivalry on Friday. Both the Cougars (1-3) and the Aggies (2-2) are looking to bounce back from disappointing starts. This should make the annual Battle for the Old Wagon Wheel feel even more intense than usual.

BYU has had the upper hand in this rivalry series for a long time. The Cougars hold a 48-35-3 series lead and have won 31 of 36 games over USU dating back to 1974. Utah State has made it closer in recent seasons, however, with upset victories in 2010 and 2014.

The Battle for the Old Wagon Wheel is rich with dramatic finishes, memorable performances and fun history. Here's a few things you probably didn't know about one of the Beehive state's oldest football rivalries.

1. This is BYU's only trophy game

Out of all the rivalries BYU has established in nearly 100 years of football, only one features a traveling trophy. The Cougars and Utah State battle for possession of the Old Wagon Wheel. It is a replica wagon wheel similar to ones used on wagons that transported Mormon pioneers across the plains to Utah in the 19th Century.

The traveling trophy was first introduced in 1948. USU won possession of it the first year after claiming a 20-7 victory over BYU. Before the Cougars turned the tables in the mid 70s, the Aggies won 18 of the first 27 trophy games.

Utah State has an additional trophy game with Wyoming. The Aggies and the Cowboys battle annually for a rifle owned by Jim Bridger, a 19th Century fur trapper. That traveling trophy was introduced shortly after the two schools renewed their rivalry when USU joined the Mountain West Conference.

2. Utah State was BYU's first opponent

BYU marks 1922 as the official start of its football program. (The Cougars played a few games before the turn of the century when the school was still known as Brigham Young Academy). The first game of that season was against Utah State, then known as Utah Agricultural College.

Like most games in those early years, things did not go well for BYU. Utah State throttled the Cougars 42-3 in Provo. The Aggies won or tied the first seven games in the rivalry series before BYU finally broke through in 1929. That year, the Cougars edged Utah State 7-6 in Logan to ignite a four-game winning streak against the Aggies over the next four seasons.

3. Utah State is the only regular season opponent BYU played as a no. 1 ranked team

Shortly after beating Utah 24-14 in 1984, BYU climbed atop both major polls for the first time in school history. The Cougars headed into their regular season finale with Utah State as the nation's top-ranked team.

BYU made quick work of the Aggies, winning 38-13 to close out an undefeated regular season. The Cougars churned out 523 total yards on offense and forced USU to punt 13 times. Robbie Bosco threw for 338 yards and a touchdown to lead BYU.

4. BYU set multiple records in a loss to Utah State

Odds didn't appear to favor Utah State when BYU made the trek up to Logan on Halloween weekend in 1993. The Aggies were just 2-5 overall after enduring a five-game losing streak that included defeats to Utah, Baylor and Nevada by a combined 10 points. BYU had won 10 straight in the series up to that point, by an average margin of 29.2 points.

Utah State snapped the streak in memorable fashion, edging the Cougars in a 58-56 shootout. Aggies QB Anthony Calvillo threw for 472 yards and five touchdowns. BYU QB John Walsh was equally impressive in the game. Walsh threw for 619 yards and five touchdowns, although he did toss a pair of interceptions in the loss.

Walsh set a school-record for most passing yards in a single game which still stands. The Cougars also set an NCAA record at the time for most points scored by a losing team in a game.

5. BYU twice had 100-yard kickoff returns for touchdowns against Utah State

Only four BYU players in the modern era have returned a kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. Two of them pulled off that feat against Utah State.

Eric Mortensen did it first. He took it end zone to end zone against the Aggies in 1988. Mortensen's return came during the second quarter and put the Cougars on the board after USU took a 3-0 lead. BYU seized momentum and pulled away for a 38-3 win.

Tyler Anderson joined Mortensen in the 100-yard return club five years later. Anderson took it to the house against Utah State in 1993. His touchdown pulled BYU to within six after USU took a 27-14 lead early in the third quarter on a 40-yard pass Calvillo to Cotie McMahon. The Aggies eventually hung on to win 58-56.