The final game of the season for Utah State became a fitting tribute to the long, trouble campaign. The Aggies led by 13 points early and by 16 points late, and yet they eventually lost 35-30 to Colorado State.
“We answered OK,” USU head coach Nate Dreiling said. “It’s just come down to they made more plays at the end than we did. And that’s what happens. We’re playing a good team. We’ve got to finish it. And we just weren’t able to get that one done.”
Just about everything was turning up roses for the Aggies early in the game. Colorado State’s first possession ended with a punt and Utah State immediately burst down the field on offense. On the second play from scrimmage, Bryson Barnes (subbing in once again for an injured Spencer Petras) completed a 51-yard catch-and-run to Otto Tia. Though, fittingly for the theme of the game, Utah State couldn’t finish and that drive ended with a missed field goal and zero points.
The next three USU drives didn’t fail to get points, though, as the ground game broke out with Barnes and Rahsul Faison leading a rush attack that tallied 140 yards on the ground by halftime. Two of the Aggies’ drives resulted in touchdowns, the third was a field goal, though a missed two-point attempt meant only 16 points.
The Aggies extend their lead! 💪 @USUFootball pic.twitter.com/FwEA89OtIN
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 29, 2024
While Utah State went about scoring those 16 points, the defense was replicating the recent run of form that began with the Hawai’i and San Diego State games. Colorado State had a net of just over 100 yards by the time Tanner Cragun put the Aggies up 16-3 with 7:55 to play in the half.
But over the next eight minutes leading into halftime, a 16-3 advantage became only a 16-13 lead.
Penalties at the worst times contributed heavily to Colorado State’s ability to draw close by halftime. The Rams made it 16-6 only after a horse-collar tackle turned what would have been a 4th & 9 into a first down for CSU. The touchdown that brought the game to a three-point spread was preceded by a face mask away from the tackle that saved the Rams from facing a very long third down.
Even after those mishaps, the Aggies weren’t in a bad position. After all, most teams will take a halftime lead on the road. And in the third quarter, Utah State threw two massive punches in quick succession to try and knock out Colorado State.
The first big move from USU came from the revival of an offense that had stalled the last couple drives of the first half and for a few minutes in the third. Barnes provided the lion’s share of the production, rushing for 30 yards and passing for 32, including a 14-yard touchdown pass to Tia.
The Aggies get the touchdown to take a two-score lead! 💪 @USUFootball pic.twitter.com/q4tW4r1bO1
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 29, 2024
The very next play from scrimmage Utah State struck again. Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi threw a short pass to Jamari Person, but the ball was jarred free by JD Drew and caught out of the air for an interception by Jaiden Francois. He took the ball 40 yards the other way for a pick-six.
What an interception! 🔥@USUFootball extends its lead with a BIG play 👏 pic.twitter.com/oRoWvUNrgm
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) November 29, 2024
“Got to get all the credit that JD Drew,” Francois said. “My part was easy. He made a great play, triggering on an out route. And me, just ran to the ball and I was in the right place right time.”
Entering the fourth quarter, the Aggies led 30-13.
And from there it all went wrong.
Colorado State scored 29 unanswered points, overcoming anything Utah State could throw at them and taking advantage of late mistakes by the Aggies, including an interception from Bryson Barnes that directly led to the go-ahead TD for the Rams.
“The margin of errors is very, very slim and you have to capitalize and win your one-on-ones when the moment comes,” Dreiling said. “And Colorado State got it today. So hats off to them.”
Utah State’s final attempts to pull itself out of the self-created disaster were commendable, but came up short. After going down 42-30 with 1:43 to play, Barnes led the Aggies on a 75-yard drive in just over a minute. USU even recovered an onside kick to set up a potential hail mary — only for Barnes’ attempted set-up to that long pass to be impressively intercepted on the sideline.
One kneel-down by the Rams then signaled the end of Utah State’s 2024 football season.
