Utah St-BYU Preview Capsule

Published Oct. 2, 2014 8:32 p.m. ET

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UTAH STATE (2-2) at No. 18 BYU (4-0), 10:21 p.m. EDT Friday (ESPN)

Line: BYU by 21.

Series Record: BYU leads 46-34-3.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

The Aggies and Cougars are playing for ''The Old Wagon Wheel,'' a traveling trophy that's been part of the rivalry since 1948. BYU has won the last three games. Utah State suffered a big blow when it was revealed Wednesday that senior QB Chuckie Keeton may miss the rest of the season after hurting his surgically repaired left knee again. Keeton was injured in the second quarter of the Aggies' 36-24 win against Wake Forest on Sept. 13.

KEY MATCHUP

BYU's linebackers against Utah State QB Darell Garretson. Alani Fua and Bronson Kaufusi have a combined five sacks this season. Garretson stepped in for Keeton on Sept. 20 in a 21-14 overtime loss at Arkansas State. The sophomore completed an 81-yard TD pass to Hunter Sharp, which is tied for the 13th-longest pass play in school history.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Utah State: WR JoJo Natson is just four catches away from 100 in his career. He would be the 17th player in school history to reach that mark. Natson also leads the team in rushing with 158 yards this season.

BYU: RB Jamaal Williams has carried the ball 443 times in his career without losing a fumble. He has 296 yards rushing this season and three TDs.

FACTS & FIGURES

Utah State's opportunistic defense has caused 11 turnovers over its last three games. ... Utah State junior OL Taani Fisilau turns 23 on Friday. ... LaVell Edwards, whose name is on BYU's stadium, is a 1952 Utah State alum. Edwards was inducted into the Aggies' Hall of Fame in 2011.... USU WR Hunter Sharp has had back-to-back 100-yard receiving games against Wake Forest and Arkansas State. ... The Cougars are wearing their alternate royal blue uniforms. ... BYU will retire Jim McMahon's No. 9 jersey in a halftime ceremony. He's also being inducted into the school's athletic Hall of Fame. ... QB Taysom Hill is averaging 107 yards rushing, the third-most in the country among QBs.