Utah State quarterback Bryson Barnes didn’t come into the season with the same kind of fanfare Boise State’s Maddux Madsen experienced after leading the Broncos to the College Football Playoff last year. But Barnes has quietly been the most efficient offensive threat in the Mountain West this season.
He has accounted for at least two touchdowns in all four of the Aggies’ games this season, and he totaled five in each of Utah State’s past two contests. Barnes scored three rushing touchdowns and two through the air in a 49-30 win over Air Force on Sept. 13. He flipped the script in last week’s 48-7 win over McNeese State, throwing three touchdowns and running for two.
Barnes leads the Mountain West in total yards (294.7 per game), total touchdowns (14), rushing touchdowns (six), and passing yards (982). He’s tied with UNLV’s Anthony Colandrea with a conference-high eight touchdown passes.
Barnes will lead Utah State (3-1) on the road this week to face undefeated SEC program Vanderbilt on Saturday.
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Utah State head coach Bronco Mendenhall said on Monday that the cat was let out of the bag when it comes to Barnes’ ability as a runner last season. He put up 193 rushing yards in a game against San Diego State and 185 the following week against Colorado State, becoming the first quarterback in program history to rush for more than 100 yards in consecutive games. He has carried the ball a team-high 59 times this year.
Mendenhall said he’s been more surprised by Barnes’ ability to carve up secondaries with his arm.
“I would say probably a surprise has been the accuracy and the ability he has throwing the football,” Mendenhall told reporters during his weekly press conference. “And the number of different types of throws he’s making. That continues to expand and grow.”
Barnes, a 6-foot-2, 210-pound graduate student who began his career at Utah, started three games for the Aggies last season. He has 14 career starts.
Vanderbilt (4-0) has outscored its opponents 190-51 so far this season. The Commodores have scored at least 30 points in all four games, including a 31-7 win over South Carolina and last week’s 70-21 rout of Georgia State.
The Commodores are led by dual-threat quarterback Diego Pavia, who has thrown eight touchdown passes and racked up a team-high 215 rushing yards this season. Pavia began his career at New Mexico State and was the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year in 2023.
Utah State vs. Vanderbilt Betting Line
Vanderbilt is a 22.5-point college football betting odds favorite on BetMGM, and the Over/Under is 59.5 points. The moneyline is at -2500 for Vanderbilt and +1050 for Utah State.
The Commodores are 17-3 overall and 9-11 against the spread in their past 20 games as the favorite at home. Utah State is 4-16 overall and 7-12-1 ATS in its past 20 games as an underdog on the road.
Utah State vs. Vanderbilt On TV
The non-conference game between Utah State and Vanderbilt at FirstBank Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee, will be televised on the SEC Network.
Kickoff is scheduled for 12:45 p.m. ET.
Utah State vs. Vanderbilt Prediction
I predict Vanderbilt wins 37-24 but the Commodores do not cover the spread. I also predict the game goes over 59.5 points.
Vanderbilt’s defense might be the best Barnes has faced all season, and that includes Utah State’s loss to Texas A&M. The Commodores have surrendered just six touchdowns in four games this season, and only two of those were scored on the ground. They’re holding teams to 70 rushing yards a game, and they’ve already recorded 11 sacks and five forced fumbles.
I expect Barnes is going to have some success, but I believe he’s going to need some help from leading rusher Miles Davis if Utah State is going to have a shot at an upset. I anticipate the defense is going to struggle to contain Pavia, but a turnover or two can change the complexion of any game.
