How much does winning bowls matter to USU?

It was a nice football year for Utah State, with a 7-6 record. The fact USU played in a bowl game for the first time in 14 years is significant. So is the fact it won five games down the stretch.

At the same time, you have to ask: How much further ahead would the program be if the Aggies had defeated Ohio in the Potato Bowl?

If you ask coach Gary Andersen, the answer is “not much.”

Asked specifically after the Potato Bowl whether it made any recruiting difference if a team wins or loses in bowls, he said no. Once you get on national TV, if you play well, “it’s not going to hurt you in the home (recruiting).”

I’ve never recruited, but I disagree. Winning always looks better to recruits than losing.

It’s true that most potential recruits can see the Aggies could as easily have won their game against Ohio, a 24-23 decision. But Andersen’s former employer, Utah, won nine straight bowl games. That’s a big selling point.

So for the Aggies, the obvious leap is to start winning bowl games. Regularly attending them is one thing, but winning them is a bragging point a coach can note repeatedly to both media and his recruits.

As the saying goes, there’s no substitute for winning – any time, any place.