Report: Utah State starting Bryson Barnes at quarterback vs. former team Utah

Utah State quarterback Bryson Barnes will start against his former team on Saturday, according to ESPN insider Pete Thamel. Barnes is starting at quarterback for the Aggies against Utah after transferring to Utah State this offseason.

Thamel reported the news Saturday afternoon on Twitter.

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“Sources: Utah State will start Utah transfer Bryson Barnes at quarterback against the Utes today,” Thamel posted. “Starter Spencer Petras is still recovering from an ankle injury suffered in the opener. Petras is expected to be available but is not fully healthy.”

Utah State quarterback Spencer Petras also missed last weekend’s game against USC. He injured his ankle against Robert Morris in the season opener.

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The Utah State defense was no match for the USC offensive attack last Saturday night, with the Trojans earning a 48-0 win.

USC quarterback Miller Moss connected on 21 of his 30 passes for 229 yards, while tossing in one touchdown and no interceptions. The USC ground attack had no problems, rushing for 249 yards and five total touchdowns. The unit was led by Mississippi State transfer Woody Marks, with 13 carries for 103 yards and a touchdown.

As for Bryson Barnes, he struggled against the Trojans. The Utah transfer was 18-for-27 passing for 103 yards with an interception. He will need to be better against Utah on Saturday. You know that he would love to get a win somehow, some way against his former team.

More on Spencer Petras and his career

Petras was with the Hawkeyes since 2018, but after not playing for the entire 2023 season while rehabbing a shoulder procedure he underwent last December, he’s with the Aggies as a graduate transfer. The veteran quarterback ended his Iowa career with 5,199 yards, 35 total touchdowns, and 19 interceptions.

Petras played high school football at Greenbrae (CA) Marin Catholic, where he was a three-star prospect. He was the No. 407 overall recruit in the 2018 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Petras holds the school records for passing yards in a game (502) and season (4,157), passing touchdowns in a game (5), and season (50), and single-game completion percentage (100 percent). The previous school records for passing yards and touchdowns were held by NFL quarterback Jared Goff. Also, a track and field athlete in high school, Petras earned four varsity letters in track and field, competing in the sprints, hurdles, and shot put.