Utah State football: Aggies huge underdogs to No. 7 Sooners

NORMAN, Okla. — Utah State might have been impressed with last year's game at Texas A&M, with 70,000 swaying fans clad in red and white.

That game will pale in comparison in most ways to tonight's season-opener at No. 7 Oklahoma, where more than 80,000 Sooner fans will give the Aggies a hearty welcome and then try to knock the stuffing out of their visitors in an attempt to prove to the nation last year was a fluke.

USU coach Gary Andersen leads the Aggies into the game after finishing 4-8 in his first season in Logan. He has a slew of returning starters at his disposal as well as some talented newcomers.

What Utah State does not have, however, is much of a chance to win — at least according to the experts, who have made Oklahoma a 33.5-point favorite.

"We know Oklahoma is going to be one of the best teams we will ever see," Andersen said. "The margin of error is going to be very small for us."

Bob Stoops, Oklahoma's veteran coach, could easily overlook the Aggies — but vows not to.

"We're anxious to get on the field and play Utah State. Gary Andersen has done a great job, if you look at what they did in a year's time last year," Stoops said. "As coaches, you look past the 4-8 record and look at how they played everybody and watching that game and breaking it down. At Texas A&M a year ago to start the year, they're throwing the ball in the end zone at the end of the game with a chance to tie it, down eight points 38-30."

As a fellow Big 12 Conference member, that score certainly caught Stoops' attention — it also gave the Aggies some confidence they can, in fact, play competitively against traditionally powerful teams.

Stoops also found out how skilled and dangerous some of USU's players are.

Though not nearly as deep across the board or as physically imposing in most cases, the Aggies present plenty of challenges for Oklahoma.

"I think their quarterback, Diondre Borel, is really a special player. Very talented, run-around guy that can really give you problems," Stoops said. "Unfortunately for them, their great running back Robert Turbin is out. That's unfortunate for any young guy in college to have to miss. Anyway, they have a very explosive offense. I think they were ranked 12th in the country a year ago in total offense. They've really done a good job in a year's period of time."

Stoops said the Sooners' defense will be tested.