McCae Hillstead, Utah State QB: the 2026 season story
McCae Hillstead is a junior quarterback for Utah State (Pac-12). He ranks 240th of 365 quarterbacks in Division I by the Player Index, which judges every quarterback on the measures that matter at the position, adjusted for the opponents he faced.
Scouting report
Why it matters. Knowing the one or two things a player does best, and where he is ordinary, says more than any single total. McCae Hillstead's strongest measure is rush yards per game at 41, 27th of 181 (the average is 20). His weakest is yards per attempt at 4.4, 176th of 181 (the average is 7.3).
Season production
Why it matters. Totals reward staying healthy and getting the ball; per-game numbers show how much he really carries each week. His pass yards per game, 111, ranks 150th among 181 ranked quarterbacks.
Against every quarterback
Why it matters. Splitting the measures into how much, how well and how many big plays shows what kind of quarterback he is. Among ranked quarterbacks he sits, on average, in the 52nd percentile for volume, 21st for efficiency and 15th for impact.
The season, game by game
Why it matters. A season average can hide a player who is great one week and absent the next; game by game shows how dependable he is. Over 4 games, McCae Hillstead's best came in week 10 against Fresno State and his quietest in week 1 against Idaho State.
When it matters
Why it matters. Plenty of players produce in easy situations; the ones who keep it up on third down and against good teams are the ones coaches trust.
Where he does his damage
Why it matters. Where and how a player makes his plays shows how his team uses him and what a defense has to take away.
National and conference
Why it matters. A national rank shows how a player stacks up beyond his own league, where the competition can be very different. McCae Hillstead is 151st of 181 FBS quarterbacks and 9th of 11 in the Pac-12. Next up nationally is Trace Johnson of Tulane, 0.01 ahead on the index.
Career
Why it matters. Past seasons show whether this year is a breakout, a steady climb or a step back. His best season by the Player Index was 2023 at Utah State, 232nd of 375 quarterbacks.
Quarterbacks like him
Why it matters. Comparing a player with his closest statistical matches puts his season in context beyond the rankings. His closest match this season is Sonny Mannino of Marist.
