The Utah State Aggies continued their home-field dominance Friday night, surviving a back-and-forth battle to defeat San Jose State 30–25 before a roaring Homecoming crowd of 22,710 at Maverik Stadium. With the win, Utah State improved to 4-0 at home and 4-3 overall (2-1 Mountain West) — and head coach Bronco Mendenhall says the victory was all about resilience.
Rinker, Barnes Deliver in Clutch Moments
Junior kicker Tanner Rinker was the difference-maker, connecting on four field goals, including two crucial fourth-quarter strikes from 46 and 44 yards, to seal the victory. “He was crucial in terms of points under pressure,” Mendenhall said. “That’s what it takes to win these kinds of games — trust and execution.”
Quarterback Bryson Barnes led a balanced Aggies attack, throwing for a career-high 321 yards and rushing for 54 more. He also scored once on the ground and helped orchestrate the late drives that put Rinker in range.
“The fourth quarter was our focus all week,” Barnes said. “We wanted to show that we could finish strong, and tonight we did.”
Aggies Overcome Early Struggles to Finish Strong
After a tough fourth-quarter collapse in last week’s road loss to Hawaii, Utah State flipped the script with a gritty defensive stand and key special-teams execution.
The game featured five lead changes, with Utah State finally pulling ahead for good on Rinker’s 45-yarder with 6:09 left. When San Jose State threatened late, the Aggies’ defense responded. Linebacker John Miller and defensive back Brevin Hamblin stuffed Spartan running back Steve Chavez-Soto on a critical fourth-and-one — a fitting redemption after Chavez-Soto burned them for a 66-yard touchdown on the same play earlier in the game.
Hamblin later batted down a Hail Mary attempt in the end zone as time expired to secure the win.
Defensive Leaders Step Up
Despite surrendering 534 yards of total offense, Utah State’s defense made the plays that mattered most. Safety Ike Larsen delivered a massive hit late in the game, while Noah Avinger broke up a near-touchdown pass at the 1-yard line in the final seconds.
Linebacker Bronson Olevao Jr. posted a career-high 14 tackles, crediting the team’s preparation for their late-game success. “It’s about execution and detail,” Olevao said. “We practiced these exact situations over and over — so when it came down to it, we were ready.”
Team Unity and Home-Crowd Energy
Mendenhall praised the unity and spirit of his squad, crediting the Aggies’ crowd — including the student section, The HURD — for creating a raucous home atmosphere. “Great crowd, great energy,” Mendenhall said. “My gratitude to the fans and alumni — it felt like a true college football night.”
For Barnes, the win carried extra meaning. After the post-game press conference, he rushed to the hospital, where his wife was scheduled to give birth to their first child.
Looking Ahead
The Aggies remain unbeaten on Merlin Olsen Field this season and are gaining momentum as the Mountain West race tightens. With confidence in all three phases — offense, defense, and special teams — Utah State looks like a team ready to contend down the stretch.
