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College Football: Top 6 Group of Five coaches facing 2017 hot seat

By Zach Bigalke

NEW ORLEANS, LA - SEPTEMBER 24: Head coach Mark Hudspeth of the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns reacts during the first half of a game against the Tulane Green Wave at Yulman Stadium on September 24, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA - SEPTEMBER 24: Head coach Mark Hudspeth of the Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin Cajuns reacts during the first half of a game against the Tulane Green Wave at Yulman Stadium on September 24, 2016 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /
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PROVO, UT – OCTOBER 03: Head coach Matt Wells of the Utah State Aggies looks at a replay during their game against the Brigham Young Cougars at LaVell Edwards Stadium on October 3, 2014 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images )
PROVO, UT – OCTOBER 03: Head coach Matt Wells of the Utah State Aggies looks at a replay during their game against the Brigham Young Cougars at LaVell Edwards Stadium on October 3, 2014 in Provo, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images ) /

After Gary Andersen left Utah State to take the Wisconsin job after the 2012 season, offensive coordinator Matt Wells took over the reins at his alma mater. The Aggies played in the Mountain West championship game in his first season at the helm, but things have dissipated since. Last year Utah State missed out on a bowl game for the first time since 2010.

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To put things in perspective, though, Utah State played in only six bowl games overall prior to 2011. Their last came in 1997 prior to Andersen’s tenure in Logan. So the 2016 tumble can be viewed in two ways.

On one hand, it could be seen as an aberration. Utah State has evolved from an afterthought into a relatively consistent contender in the Mountain West. Six wins is imminently attainable with the schedule the Aggies face this season. On the other hand, we are seeing the effects of diminished recruiting. Now that Andersen’s players have cycled out of Logan, regression is inevitable.

Either way, Wells probably deserves another year even if the Aggies miss the postseason in 2017. The hot seat is a little drastic at this point for Utah State, given their recent history prior to 2011.

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