Utah State @ Hawai'i preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 18, 2017 ) Hawaii 0, Utah State 38

Utah State is nationally ranked for the first time since 2012 -- and fourth time in school history -- as it visits Hawaii on Saturday in a Mountain West Conference game. The No. 20 Aggies, who boast the third-highest scoring offense in the country at 49.4 points per game, defeated New Mexico 61-19 last week for their seventh straight victory.

Utah State coach Matt Wells downplayed the Aggies' ascension into the Top 25, telling reporters: "We're done with the retweets and the pats on the back and all of that stuff. That ended (Monday) morning. I've told them that it's great. That recognizes what you've done so far. What we've done so far is get ourselves to the month of November for games that mean something. Really, there's not much more to make out of it than that." The Aggies have scored 60 or more points three times this season, boasting a balanced attack complemented by a nation-best eight non-offensive touchdowns, including four on kick returns. Hawaii has allowed 139 points during a three-game losing streak and is coming off a 50-20 loss at Fresno State, which also joined the poll at No. 23 to give the MWC two ranked teams. The Rainbow Warriors are led by sophomore quarterback Cole McDonald, who shares the lead nationally in touchdown passes (30) with Ohio State's Dwayne Haskins.

TV: Midnight ET, No TV. LINE: Utah State -18

ABOUT UTAH STATE (7-1, 4-0 MWC): Sophomore quarterback Jordan Love (64.5 percent completion rate) has 18 touchdowns against only four interceptions in helping the Aggies score 50 TDs this season -- 10 shy of the school record set in 2011. Junior running back Darwin Thompson boasts team bests of 561 yards and 10 touchdowns while senior wide receiver Ron'quavion Tarver leads the club with 37 catches and five scores. Senior safeties Gaje Ferguson, Aaron Wade and Jontrell Rocquemore have recorded two interceptions apiece with senior defensive end Adewale Adeoye recovering three fumbles, helping Utah State force 14 turnovers in its last five MWC road games.

ABOUT HAWAII (6-4, 3-2): Junior wide receiver John Ursua leads the nation with 14 touchdown receptions while junior Cedric Byrd has eight and junior JoJo Ward has six, including three of 50 yards or longer. Junior running back Dayton Furuta, a native Hawaiian, has emerged as the club's top ground threat with 436 yards, including a pair of 100-yard games, and two touchdowns. Junior defensive lineman Kaimana Padello boasts team highs of seven sacks and five quarterback hurries.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Aggies' winning streak is tied for the second-longest in school history behind the 1960 team, which won nine straight.

2. The Rainbow Warriors averaged 20.5 points in their last four games after averaging 42 in six contests to start the season.

3. Utah State has won four straight meetings, including 38-0 last season.

PREDICTION: Utah State 42, Hawaii 20