Utah State Falls Flat In Potato Bowl Clunker Loss To Washington State
Dec 22, 2025, 3:45 PM
Utah State 'Battle Cattle' helmets worn in the 2025 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise, Idaho, on Monday, December 22, 2025. (Brian Preece)
(Brian Preece)
BOISE, Idaho – Offensive line woes kept Utah State’s Bryson Barnes from ever getting comfortable in a worse-than-it-looks 34-21 loss to future Pac-12 Conference mate Washington State.
Utah State (6-7, 4-4 MW) will face the Washington State Cougars (7-6) in the 29th Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on Monday, December 22.
FINAL
Washington State 34 – Utah State 21
— USU Football (@USUFootball) December 22, 2025
First Quarter
Utah State won the toss and chose to take the football first. It was only the second time this season that USU has elected to receive the opening kick.
Utah State is repping cow print helmets for the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl 🐮 pic.twitter.com/eL8C4tsg5V
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) December 22, 2025
The Aggies punted following a three-and-out.
Washington State converted a fourth and short early in its first possession, but the drive came up short when Jack Stevens missed a 32-yard field goal attempt wide right.
The Aggies and Cougars trade empty possessions to open the 2025 @IDPotatoBowl.
1Q 10:49@USUFootball 0️⃣@WSUCougarFB 0️⃣
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 22, 2025
Utah State’s second possession ended with a punt from deep in its own end zone. Washington State began the drive at its own 44-yard line following a fair catch.
The Cougars grabbed the first lead of the day when Mackenzie Alleyne got behind the defense for a 41-yard touchdown pass from Zevi Eckhaus.
Wazzu takes a 7-0 lead on a 41-yard pass play. 7:08 left in the opening quarter.
The Aggie secondary got exposed on that one.@BowlSeason @IDPotatoBowl @USUFootball
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 22, 2025
USU benefited from a personal foul penalty on the kick return that set them up in good field position. Unfortunately, the Cougar defense forced the third Aggie punt of the period.
A terrific bounce inside the five-yard line pinned Washington State back with 1st and 10 from the three to begin the drive.
The Aggies created the day’s first turnover when a tipped pass settled in the waiting arms of safety Ike Larsen for his first interception of the season.
Ike Larsen tip drill! Utah State is in business after the game's first turnover.
1st and 10 @usufootball from the Wazzu 13pic.twitter.com/ROIsHxaE4T
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 22, 2025
The drive ended with a missed 31-yard field goal to keep USU scoreless.
Another interception, this time from Dylan Tucker, gave the Aggies another chance deep in the Cougars’ end of the field.
Utah State with INT No. 2️⃣.
The @USUFootball passing attack needs to find some success after a putrid start. Unfortunately, a Bryson Barnes turnover in the end zone leaves USU scoreless.pic.twitter.com/uc0puOnXA7
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 22, 2025
Barnes gave the ball right back with an interception in the end zone.
Washington State led 7-0 after one quarter.
Second Quarter
John Miller crashed the Cougars’ pocket for a third-down sack, forcing Washington State to punt early in the period.
USU earned one first down before punting.
Wazzu’s lead doubled when Eckhaus tossed his second touchdown pass, finding Hudson Cedarland in the back of the end zone.
Washington State was threatening to take a three-score lead into halftime before the Aggie defense stepped up to force a turnover on downs deep in the red zone.
It's all @WSUCougarFB in the @IDPotatoBowl bowl today. The Cougars lead @USUFootball 14-0 at 30 minutes. pic.twitter.com/GMkHvVUZsy
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 22, 2025
The Cougars led 14-0 at halftime.
Third Quarter
Washington State capped a seven-play, 79-yard drive with a field goal, expanding its lead to 17-0 to begin the half.
Following the sixth punt of the day for Utah State, safety Ike Larsen was ejected for targeting. The penalty moved Wazzu into scoring position once again.
The Cougars tacked on another field goal for a 20-0 lead with 7:31 left in the period.
Later in the quarter, USU safety Gio Kafentzis gave his team the ball back with the first interception of his career.
Another INT! @GioKafentzis gets in on the action.
📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/cUaVXusRjS
— USU Football (@USUFootball) December 22, 2025
A long connection from Barnes to Brady Boys moved Utah State into the red zone.
Barnes capped the drive with a two-yard touchdown run, his third of the season. The extra point left USU trailing 20-7.
QB1 punches it in!
📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/xBJYxzjjY6
— USU Football (@USUFootball) December 22, 2025
Fourth Quarter
The Cougar lead grew to 27-7 when Eckhaus lofted a 39-yard TD pass to Landon Wright.
Utha State moved the football into scoring territory, but a wild sequence pushed the offense back, and took a Washington State pick-six off the board.
Personal foul against @WSUCougarFB nullifies the pick-six and keeps @USUFootball alive https://t.co/BJBue3vmSB
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) December 22, 2025
With Bryson Barnes in the medical tent following a big hit, Jacob Conover took over on 1st and 10 from the USU 26. Barnes did not return.
The former four-star QB prospect found Brady Boyd in the end zone for an athletic grab that made the score 27-14 with 10:09 left.
It was Boyd’s fifth TD of the season.
.@JacobConover17 ✈️ @bradyboyd_ for 6️⃣!
📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/fD0HzuDhwA
— USU Football (@USUFootball) December 22, 2025
Washington State tacked on a 34-yard rushing score late in the fourth, increasing the lead to 34-14.
Javen Jacobs added a 26-yard TD catch from Conover late in the period to make it a 13-point deficit.
.@JacobConover17 ✈️ @_JavenJacobs!
📺 ESPN pic.twitter.com/arMAKxrgs1
— USU Football (@USUFootball) December 22, 2025
Washington State finished with the 34-21 win.
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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.
