Utah State quarterback Cooper Legas (5) is hoisted on the shoulders of his teammates after they won the LA Bowl 24-13 over Oregon State in Inglewood, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Utah State running back Calvin Tyler Jr. (4) runs to the end zone for a touchdown during the first half of the LA Bowl NCAA college football game against Oregon State in Inglewood, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Oregon State defensive back Akili Arnold (0) catches an interception in the end zone during the first half of the LA Bowl NCAA college football game against Utah State in Inglewood, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. The pass was intended for Utah State wide receiver Deven Thompkins, left. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Utah State wide receiver Deven Thompkins (13) runs to the end zone for a touchdown during the first half of the LA Bowl NCAA college football game against Oregon State in Inglewood, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Oregon State running back Damir Collins (13) runs to the end zone for a touchdown during the first half of the LA Bowl NCAA college football game against Utah State in Inglewood, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Oregon State quarterback Chance Nolan (10) hands off the ball to running back B.J. Baylor (4) during the first half of the LA Bowl NCAA college football game against Utah State in Inglewood, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
From left, Utah State quarterback Cooper Legas (5), wide receiver Deven Thompkins (13), and defensive end Nick Heninger (42) hold championship belts after they beat Oregon State 24-13 in the LA Bowl NCAA college football game in Inglewood, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Utah State quarterback Cooper Legas (5) is hoisted on the shoulders of his teammates after they won the LA Bowl 24-13 over Oregon State in Inglewood, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Jimmy Kimmel, center left, host of television show Jimmy Kimmel Live, presents Utah State head coach Blake Anderson with a championship belt after they won the LA Bowl NCAA college football game 24-13 over Oregon State in Inglewood, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Oregon State running back Deshaun Fenwick (5) runs the ball during the second half of the LA Bowl NCAA college football game against the Utah State in Inglewood, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Utah State quarterback Cooper Legas (5) fumbles the ball in the end zone during the second half of the LA Bowl NCAA college football game against the Oregon State in Inglewood, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. Oregon State recovered the fumble for a turnover. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Utah State quarterback Cooper Legas (5) is threatened by Oregon State linebacker Cory Stover (82) during the second half of the LA Bowl NCAA college football game in Inglewood, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Utah State quarterback Cooper Legas (5) is pushed out of bounds by Oregon State defensive back Kitan Oladapo (28) during the second half of the LA Bowl NCAA college football game in Inglewood, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Jimmy Kimmel, center, host of television show Jimmy Kimmel Live, Guillermo Rodriguez, left, and mascot Jimmy Camel greet fans before the LA Bowl NCAA college football game between Utah State and Oregon State in Inglewood, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Jimmy Kimmel, center, host of television show Jimmy Kimmel Live, Guillermo Rodriguez, left, and mascot Jimmy Camel greet fans before the LA Bowl college football game between Utah State and Oregon State in Inglewood, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Utah State head coach Blake Anderson stands on the sideline during the first half of the LA Bowl NCAA college football game against Oregon State in Inglewood, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Utah State running back Calvin Tyler Jr. (4) is tackled by Oregon State defensive back Akili Arnold (0) during the second half of the LA Bowl NCAA college football game in Inglewood, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Jimmy Kimmel, host of television show Jimmy Kimmel Live, performs with the Oregon State marching band before the LA Bowl NCAA college football game between Utah State and Oregon State in Inglewood, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Utah State wide receiver Deven Thompkins (13) holds a championship belt after they beat Oregon State 24-13 in the LA Bowl NCAA college football game in Inglewood, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Oregon State quarterback Chance Nolan (10) is tackled by Utah State cornerback Cam Lampkin (6) during the second half of the LA Bowl NCAA college football game in Inglewood, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Jimmy Kimmel, host of television show Jimmy Kimmel Live, performs with the Oregon State marching band before the LA Bowl college football game between Utah State and Oregon State in Inglewood, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Oregon State wide receiver Silas Bolden (22) looks up from the tunnel before the LA Bowl NCAA football game against Utah State in Inglewood, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Jimmy Kimmel, host of television show Jimmy Kimmel Live, performs with the Oregon State marching band before the LA Bowl NCAA college football game between Utah State and Oregon State in Inglewood, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Oregon State running back Damir Collins (13) runs to the end zone for a touchdown during the first half of the LA Bowl NCAA college football game against the Utah State in Inglewood, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Oregon State quarterback Chance Nolan (10) looks for a receiver during the second half of the LA Bowl NCAA college football game against Utah State in Inglewood, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Utah State running back Calvin Tyler Jr. (4) runs to the end zone for a touchdown during the first half of the LA Bowl NCAA college football game against Oregon State in Inglewood, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Oregon State defensive back Akili Arnold (0) catches an interception in the end zone during the first half of the LA Bowl NCAA college football game against Utah State in Inglewood, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. The pass was intended for Utah State wide receiver Deven Thompkins, left. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Utah State quarterback Logan Bonner (1) throws a pass during the first half of the LA Bowl NCAA college football game against Oregon State in Inglewood, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Oregon State running back Deshaun Fenwick (5) runs the ball during the second half of the LA Bowl NCAA college football game against the Utah State in Inglewood, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Oregon State head coach Jonathan Smith, center, yells from the sideline during the second half of the LA Bowl NCAA college football game against the Utah State in Inglewood, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Oregon State defensive back Akili Arnold (0) reacts after catching an interception in the end zone during the first half of the LA Bowl NCAA college football game against Utah State in Inglewood, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Oregon State linebacker Omar Speights (36) threatens Utah State quarterback Cooper Legas (5) during the second half of the LA Bowl NCAA college football game in Inglewood, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Utah State head coach Blake Anderson celebrates with his team after they won the LA Bowl NCAA college football game 24-13 over Oregon State in Inglewood, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
Utah State quarterback Cooper Legas (5) is hoisted on the shoulders of his teammates after they won the LA Bowl 24-13 over Oregon State in Inglewood, Calif., Saturday, Dec. 18, 2021. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
INGLEWOOD — Years from now, Utah State will be the answer to a trivia question about who won the first college football game played at SoFi Stadium.
Utah State beat Oregon State 24-13 on Saturday in front of 29,896 at the inaugural Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl.
Led by backup quarterback Cooper Legas — who entered the game in the second quarter after a knee injury to starter Logan Bonner — Utah State finished the season tied for a school record with 11 wins and two wins over Power 5 opponents.
Head coach Blake Anderson said postgame that the LA Bowl win should solidify Utah State as a top-25 program. The Aggies entered the week with the most votes of any team outside the AP Top 25.
“There’s no way we shouldn’t finish in the top 25, with an 11-3 record and two Power 5 wins and a conference title,” Anderson said. “To me, that is finishing that last sentence of this group’s legacy. That is beyond gratifying for them to really acknowledge the work and sacrifice and the selfless nature this group has shown all season long.”
Legas, a sophomore who entered the day without a pass attempt in his career, came into the game and immediately changed that. Legas was knocked down, but not before releasing a 62-yard strike to Deven Thompkins for a touchdown. Thompkins streaked past Oregon State’s Jaydon Grant down the left sideline and then coasted into the end zone to tie the game at 7-7.
Legas completed 11-of-20 passes for 171 yards, making a strong case to potentially compete for the starting job next season. Thompkins finished with six catches for 115 yards and set the single-season school record with 101 receptions.
“He was ready to go,” Thompkins said of Legas. “It showed the future that he’s going to have here as a Utah State Aggie.”
Legas’ second touchdown pass went to Brandon Bowling late in the third quarter, finding the open wide receiver on a 5-yard strike to expand the Utah State lead to 24-10.
Oregon State scored less than a minute into the game on a 20-yard run by Jesiah Irish, capping off a quick three-play, 71-yard opening drive.
But the Aggies soon took control of the game, clamping down on a potent Oregon State offense. In the fourth quarter, the Utah State defense — led by Nick Heniger, who had a career high three sacks and five tackles for loss — forced a fumble, an interception and a turnover on downs to maintain a double-digit lead.
Utah State took a 14-7 lead into halftime on a 15-yard rushing touchdown by Calvin Tyler Jr.
The Pac-12 ends the season 5-6 against the Mountain West conference and falls to 13-13 all-time against the Mountain West in bowl games. Utah State also beat Washington State 26-23 in September in Pullman.
After the first drive, Oregon State head coach Jonathon Smith said his team was “forced to put together longer drives and execute for a long period of time” and “didn’t have it tonight.”
“We didn’t execute offensively a long enough period of time to score,” Smith said.
This was the first college football game played at SoFi Stadium and the first bowl to be named after a living figure.
Kimmel, who welcomed both teams to a taping of his show during the week, made several cameos on the field. He attempted to play the clarinet with the Oregon State band, then was joined by his sidekick, Guillermo, and the game’s mascot, “Jimmy Kammel” on the field.
The urinals in the men’s bathrooms at SoFi Stadium had Matt Damon’s face on them, a nod to Kimmel’s long-running feud with the movie star.
Heniger — who along with Thompkins played in his final collegiate game Saturday — said playing at SoFi Stadium was both an “honor and a blessing.”
“It’s one of the biggest stages, one of the nicest stages in the world,” Heniger said. “Hopefully it’s not our last time playing here. That’s the goal, right?”
Thompkins called the atmosphere “crazy.”
“I have never seen a stadium like this,” Thompkins said. “It just gives you a little taste of what things could be, what it could actually feel like to play in a stadium like this. being the first college team to actually play in the stadium — we set the bar high.”
