The Utah State football team showed on Saturday that it still has a lot of work to do before beginning its first campaign in the Pac-12 Conference next month. And with a tough schedule ahead, it won’t be easy.

USU quarterback McCae Hillstead threw three interceptions, the Aggies were flagged for 11 penalties, and they lost 29-17 to two-touchdown underdog Idaho State in a nonconference game in Logan.

The Bengals, from the Big Sky Conference in the FCS, beat Utah State for just the third time in 22 meetings.

“We didn’t execute well,” Utah State head coach Bronco Mendenhall said. “We weren’t consistent, not only in the playmaking but also with penalties. Basically, the team wasn’t prepared well enough to win.”

After trailing 16-10 at halftime, the Aggies opened the second half with a 17-play, 72-yard drive that took 8:38 off the clock and produced zero points. The Bengals stopped Hillstead on a fourth-down quarterback keeper from the 1-yard line. Instead of running a QB sneak, Hillstead spun as if to fake a pitch and was stopped cold.

The Aggies rebounded to take a 17-16 lead on Hillstead’s 4-yard pass to Demick Starling with 4:39 left in the third quarter.

But after USU stopped Idaho State on its next possession, Hillstead threw his second interception of the game in the waning seconds of the third quarter.

The Bengals then scored the final 13 points to put the game away.

“We lost,” Utah State receiver Eli Wood said. “That’s really the only thing that matters. We’ll take it one game at a time, and we’ll come back Monday ready to work. Every goal that we set out for is still attainable.”

Idaho State quarterback Jordan Cooke went 18 for 33 for 152 yards and a touchdown.

Hillstead was 15 of 30 for 178 yards and two touchdowns with three interceptions before being replaced by Grady Brosterhous in the fourth quarter. Brosterhous threw the Aggies’ fourth interception with four seconds remaining. It was the second pick of the game for Bengals cornerback TreShawn Shorty.

Idaho State improved to 2-0, after beating VMI last week.

Utah State (0-1) faces a daunting month, with road games against Washington and Utah coming next, then a home game against Troy before beginning Pac-12 play at Boise State on Oct. 3.

“We have a clearer idea of where we are offensively, defensively and on special teams,” Mendenhall said. “Lots of work to do, and the clock is already ticking. Monday morning can’t come fast enough in terms of the improvements we need to make.”