LOGAN, Utah – Utah State football junior quarterback McCae Hillstead has been named the America First Credit Union USU Student-Athlete of the Week for the period ending on Sunday, Nov. 1. The award is voted on by a state-wide media panel.

With their sponsorship of the student-athlete of the week, America First Credit Union donates funds directly to support student-athlete scholarships.

Hillstead helped lead Utah State to a season-best offensive performance against Colorado State, completing 17-of-22 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown while adding a career-high 79 rushing yards on 11 attempts. Hillstead accounted for 252 yards of total offense and two touchdowns, including an 18-yard touchdown scramble in the second quarter for his first career rushing score. He accounted for 73 of the 78 yards on the scoring drive, which also featured his first career reception, a 44-yard gain on a trick-play pass from graduate wide receiver Anthony Garcia. The Aggies scored a season-high 31 points and totaled a season-best 464 yards of offense, including a season-high 247 rushing yards. 

This is Hillstead's first time in his career being named the AFCU USU Student-Athlete of the Week.

Utah State football (3-5, 2-2 Pac-12) remains at home for its lone back-to-back home stand of the 2026 season to face off against Fresno State on Saturday, Nov. 7, at 7:30 p.m. (MT). The game will be broadcast on USA Network.

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Nominees from other sports for USU Student-Athlete of the Week included:
SOCCER - Sophomore forward Kunie Hirai (Boise, Idaho) led Utah State to a 1-0-0 week with a 5-0 win at Oregon State on Friday. Against the Beavers, Hirai scored a brace with goals in the 36th and 72nd minutes, the first brace of her career. In 40 minutes of action, she tallied a team-high four shots, two of which were on goal. 

VOLLEYBALL - Junior outside hitter Sami Blackett (Orem, Utah) led the Aggies with 23 kills in a five-set win over Washington State last week. Her 23 kills are the second-most by an Aggie this season. Blackett hit .233 on a team-high 60 attempts in the match. She recorded her sixth double-double of the season with 11 digs and added an ace, assist and two blocks.

MEN'S GOLF - Junior Chase Goetschel (Trabuco Canyon, Calif.)  placed third at 2-under 214 (68-73-73) to lead Utah State at the Monterrey Collegiate Classic. Goetschel opened with a 4-under 68, tallying six birdies in the first round. His performance marked his sixth tournament under par and fourth career top 20 finish. His opening-round 68 was his seventh career round in the 60s and 15th career round under par.

MEN'S CROSS COUNTRY - Junior Joshua Armstrong (La Verkin, Utah) earned First-Team All-Conference honors after finishing fifth at the Pac-12 Cross Country Championships. He paced the Aggies for the second straight race, posting the team's fastest 6k this season, running a personal best 23:35.6. Armstrong is the first men's cross-country athlete to earn first-team honors since 2020. His performance elevated the team to a runner-up result, scoring 56 total points for their best result at a conference championship since 2020. 

WOMEN'S CROSS COUNTRY - Senior Natalie Swain (South Jordan, Utah) led the Aggies for the fourth time this season to cross the finish line in fifth place at the Pac-12 Cross Country Championships, earning First-Team All-Conference recognition. This is Swain's second all-conference selection and first career appearance on the first team. Swain finished the 6k in 20:14.1 to help the Aggies to a fourth-place result, earning 85 team points. Swain maintained her position from start to finish, never leaving the top five after the first 2,000-meter split. 

2026-27 America First Credit Union USU Student-Athlete of the Week Winners
Aug. 31 — Ellie Hendrix, Soccer
Sept. 6 — Jedediah Megargel, Cross Country
Sept. 13 — Solena Sellers, Soccer
Sept. 20 — Mia Lopez, Soccer
Sept. 27 — Grady Brosterhous, Football
Oct. 4 — Hadli Barrera, Soccer
Oct. 11 — Xavier Calvelo, Men's Tennis
Oct. 18 — Sabina Pintea, Women's Tennis 
Oct. 25 — Terezia Mlkva, Women's Tennis
Nov. 1 — McCae Hillstead, Football

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