Bronco Mendenhall, who's been a successful head coach at BYU and Virginia and spent the past season trying to rebuild the New Mexico program, has emerged as a central focus in Utah State's search to replace Blake Anderson.
An Alpine, Utah, native, barely 100 miles south of Utah State's Logan campus, Mendenhall has logged 15-plus seasons in his native state of collegiate coaching.
Utah State has need a permanent leader for its program to transition into 2025 since new athletics director Diana Sabau and administrative leaders dismissed Anderson in late-July. Nate Dreiling served as Utah State's interim coach for the 2024 season, during which the Aggies just concluded an 4-8 campaign that ended in the misery of last weekend's come-from-ahead loss to rival Colorado State.
Dreiling has been under consideration for the job on a permanent basis as well.
Additionally, Utah State had deep talks with current BYU defensive coordinator Jay Hill, a former Weber State head coach who guided that program to record-setting success, about the head coaching position.
Montana State coach Brent Vigen also has spoken with the Aggies about the opening, numerous sources told FootballScoop.
Vigen, who's also in the mix for the top job at Fresno State, as FootballScoop reported last week, led Montana State to an undefeated season and top overall seed for the FCS Playoffs.
He's won 44 games and counting in his four seasons atop the Bobcats program; coincidentally, Vigen's Montana State squad opened up this 2024 season with a captivating, come-from-behind win on the road against Mendenhall's New Mexico Lobos.
During his 11-year stint atop BYU from 2005-15, Mendenhall steered the Cougars to 99 wins; the run included five seasons of 10 or more wins and four more campaigns of eight or more wins.
Taking over a rebuild at Virginia, Mendenhall endured a two-season atop his first year in charge of the Cavaliers and then immediately helped them qualify for postseason eligibility each of his final five seasons in Charlottesville -- punctuated by an Orange Bowl bid.
New Mexico hired Mendenhall before the 2024 season, and his impact was immediate.
The Lobos lost their first four games this season under Mendenhall and then rebounded with wins in five of their next seven games, a streak that gave them an opportunity to secure bowl eligibility last weekend at Hawaii.
Instead, the Rainbows jumped out to an 21-9 halftime edge and withstood New Mexico's rally.
But New Mexico leaders gave Mendenhall a multi-year deal upon his hiring, and after just one season at the helm, it’s FoorballScoop’s understanding that Mendenhall would owe a seven-figure buyout - north of $1.5 million - due within three years of a departure this early in the pact.