Utah State Falls Short In Upset Bid Against Boise State
Nov 28, 2025, 6:10 PM | Updated: 6:12 pm
LOGAN UT - NOVEMBER 28: Bryson Barnes #16 of the Utah State Aggies breaks a sack attempt by Braxton Fely #90 of the Boise State Broncos during the first half of their game at Maverik Stadium on November 28, 2025 in Logan, Utah. (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
LOGAN, Utah – The Utah State football program gave everything it had on Friday night and still came up short in a 25-24 loss to the Boise State Broncos.
The Aggies held a fourth-quarter lead but couldn’t get enough defensive stops in the final minutes to end a now 10-game losing streak to their future Pac-12 Conference foe.
USU (6-6, 4-4 Mountain West) hosted Boise State (8-4, 6-2 Mountain West) on the Merlin Olsen Field turf at Maverik Stadium on Friday, November 28.
Final
Boise State 25 – Utah State 24
— USU Football (@USUFootball) November 29, 2025
Bryson Barnes finished the final home game of his college career with 184 passing yards and another 89 yards on the ground with one of the team’s three rushing touchdowns.
The senior QB took a pounding, but should have plenty of time to rest and heal before Utah State’s upcoming bowl game.
🛻 @bryson_barnes10 with the HIT STICK! That any good? @EASPORTSCollege
📺@CBS pic.twitter.com/fiBWyLd2kl
— USU Football (@USUFootball) November 29, 2025
Miles Davis and Javen Jacobs both scored in the deflating loss.
First Half
The Broncos won the toss and deferred to the second half, giving the home team first possession.
‘Last game of the year Brent; can’t hold anything back now…’ @USUFootball
🕰️: 2 p.m. MT
📺: @CBS
📻: @KSLSportsZone w/@ScottyGZone pic.twitter.com/wfcxpoPsL0— KSL Sports (@kslsports) November 28, 2025
Barnes led the offense onto the field for the final time at home before orchestrating a scoring drive to begin the afternoon.
The senior QB began the game with a 27-yard run to kickstart the faithful in attendance. A Bronco pass interference moved the Aggies deep into BSU territory.
Miles Davis was dragged down at the one following a 19-yard pickup that set up first and goal. Barnes took the next snap and barreled over the goal line for his eighth rushing score of the season.
Aggies strike first! @bryson_barnes10 with the keeper for 6⃣!
📺 @CBS pic.twitter.com/GIHTVMe3PO
— USU Football (@USUFootball) November 28, 2025
The touchdown set the Utah State single-season QB rushing TD record.
USU’s defense forced a punt on Boise State’s first possession, but Barnes fumbled on the first play from scrimmage, giving the ball back to the Broncos with 10:51 left in the first quarter.
Boise State cut the deficit to 7-3 when Colton Boomer ended the ensuing drive with a 27-yard field goal.
RELATED: ‘I Couldn’t Pick Anyone Better’ Mendenhall Says Of USU QB Bryson Barnes
Following an Aggie three-and-out, BSU QB Max Cutforth led a four-play, 46-yard touchdown drive to take a 10-7 lead midway through the period.
USU running back Javen Jacobs answered right back, breaking a 56-yard touchdown run to retake the lead.
3⃣ plays is all it took! @_JavenJacobs with the HOUSE CALL 📞
📺 @CBS pic.twitter.com/FGIvMCh2Sv
— USU Football (@USUFootball) November 28, 2025
Both programs traded punts for the better part of the second quarter as Utah State maintained its early momentum, but couldn’t expand the advantage until late in the period.
Following a Barnes interception that was wiped away thanks to a penalty, the second of the half, Miles Davis got to the edge before scoring from 11 yards out.
Cue the music! Miles Davis with the score!!
📺 @CBS pic.twitter.com/ZHKsQepEPf
— USU Football (@USUFootball) November 28, 2025
Utah State led 21-13 at the half after the Broncos hit a 32-yard FG.
Second Half
Both offenses struggled to get started after halftime, following two punts and a turnover on downs.
.@NAvinger1 with the blitz from from the outside! ⚡️
📺 @CBS pic.twitter.com/OC0XnGDXgW
— USU Football (@USUFootball) November 28, 2025
Barnes showed his toughness once again with the pass rush staring him directly in the face; he lofted a pass to do-it-all wideout Anthony Garcia for a 22-yard gain. He tucked the ball and ran for another 17 yards three plays later as the Aggies moved into Boise State territory.
USU increased its lead to 11 when Tanner Rinker drilled a 37-yard field goal with 4:09 left in the third quarter.
3⃣7⃣ yarder from @Tanner_Rinker is good!
📺 @CBS pic.twitter.com/DG6RJAwfBH
— USU Football (@USUFootball) November 28, 2025
Boise State finally cracked the code on Utah State’s secondary when Cutforth hit Quinton Brown for a 66-yard catch-and-run touchdown.
A failed two-point conversion allowed USU to maintain a 24-19 lead late in the third.
ELITE views🏔️🌄
📺 @CBS pic.twitter.com/0bxz2V6U6N
— USU Football (@USUFootball) November 29, 2025
Both programs traded empty possessions for several minutes until Utah State’s defense forced a momentum-shifting fumble.
Brevin Hamblin jarred the ball loose, and Noah Avinger pounced on the bouncing ball at its own 22-yard line with 8:06 left. It was the Aggies’ first takeaway of the day.
Boise State got the ball back after a turnover on downs and manhandled the USU defense on a lead-changing touchdown drive.
Riley goes UNTOUCHED 🤫
📺 CBS pic.twitter.com/IkwBwOJ89g
— Mountain West (@MountainWest) November 29, 2025
The Broncos took a 25-24 lead when Dylan Riley ran six yards around the right side for six points.
USU fell to 6-6 and lost its tenth straight game to Boise State in the 25-24 loss.
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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
