Utah State got the outcome it was after as the Aggies topped Upon, 31-20 in the first game of the season to open with a perfect 1-0 record. That’s something projected not to last beyond next week, though, as the team prepares to face the No. 1-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide on the road Saturday.

And head coach Blake Anderson understands what he’s up against here as well as where his team needs to improve, saying that his offense needed to limit turnovers and noting how it was more of an ugly victory than anything else.

However, the Aggies did do a good job of adjusting and that was one of the positive takeaways.

“I do think the staff and the players did a good job of making adjustments in-game. We got better as the game went on as we got a better idea of what to expect,” Anderson said after the game. “It’s not what we thought we were going to see in terms of our defense and their offense. It was not what we thought we’d see. That took a little while. Defensively, was a little bit different than what we expected to. Good adjustments. Found a way to win. 1-0. Now, figure out a way to get better and get better quick because it’s exponentially harder in a very, very short period of time.”

Alabama and Utah State are set to kick off at 6:30 p.m. CT in Bryant-Denny Stadium on Sept. 3.