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SALT LAKE CITY — With no regard for his own well-being, quarterback Bryson Barnes put his body on the line in an effort to put Utah in a position to beat USC in the waning seconds of the game Saturday.
There was no other option.
Barnes saw the designed passing play break down and decided to make a run for it, scrambling 26 yards down the sideline as he evaded a couple tackles to get Utah into field goal territory. Once he could do no more, he turned the reigns over to placekicker Cole Becker to drill the game-winning field goal.
Just like everyone drew it up at the beginning of the season.
Barnes was never supposed to be in that position Saturday night under the bright lights of the LA Memorial Coliseum, with a team trusting him to get the job done. A month prior, he was a walk-on still trying to earn a scholarship in a crowded quarterback room — even after all he'd done for the team over the last two seasons.
He could have transferred in the offseason, with the writing seemingly on the wall. Utah was looking at one of two redshirt freshmen quarterbacks to lead the team in the future, and Barnes' spot on the team appeared less of a guarantee. Some even talked about him in past tense when they referred to his future with the offense.
Nobody would have blamed Barnes for leaving; in fact, a chorus of fans on social media wished he had.
All that's left now in the echo chambers of social media is the sound of crickets chirping in a room of regret ... and sheepish cheers as they now celebrate Barnes.
"It's no secret everybody was dogging on him," receiver Devaughn Vele said. "They'd be on a high horse and dog on him again; that's just how it is. But I don't think anything's changed, in my honest opinion. I think he's just kept that mindset that when his number's called, he's gonna step in and it doesn't matter what anybody says.
"I think that's kind of what gets him that swagger, that confidence when he's playing the game. I think that's why he didn't waiver. The whole situation with what was going on in the quarterback room and then, especially in the USC game, knowing that as an offensive unit, we had to score, it was a given. I think he stepped up perfectly and he did a great job. It's a credit to him. He's been a stalwart guy, he hasn't faltered at all."
But remember, Barnes was never supposed to be in a position to lead Utah to a 34-32 win over USC, the fourth straight over the Trojans. And yet, when he made the trek to midfield prior to the game, he did so with a newly-added "C" fastened to the right shoulder of his white jersey.
Captain Bryson Barnes.
It was an important moniker for the former Milford High quarterback — not just for his confidence, but for that of the team that relies on Barnes now as its leader. And with that designation — one that came directly from his teammates — Barnes stepped up and delivered his best performance in a Utah jersey.
Barnes threw for 235 yards and three touchdowns on 14-of-23 passing, while adding another score and 57 yards rushing on 10 carries — none bigger than his final run of the night.
"We have to have that vocal leader, and there's no better position to be that vocal leader than quarterback," Vele said. "So, I mean, it makes sense. He's a guy that's always talking to us, always trying to be positive no matter the circumstances that were in, so it was honestly a given. Everybody knew it was gonna be him, and I'm glad it was him, because we need him to be that leader."
Barnes said the honor "definitely means a lot" to be elected a captain by his teammates. "At the end of the day, it just shows kind of the respect and trust that I have from the rest of the team to be able to hold that position."
That trust and confidence in their quarterback has led to a newfound resurgence on offense, culminating in a gritty performance against a once budding rival.
It was a performance that Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham described as a "big step forward" for the team's starter and one that showcased Barnes' development as a player as he continues to grow within an offense he's now called on to lead.
"The way he's operating now, he never was not confident, but he seems very sure of himself and very confident in what he's doing, really taking charge," Whittingham said.
"The pig farmer, he knows how to do everything. I mean, that boy threw a rope to me," added tight end Landen King. "But, honestly, really just seeing Bryson progress over the season, like seeing his confidence kicking in, it's really crazy to see. And just like the offense in general, the offense in general is just moving way better than we were, so really just embracing him as a quarterback. He's got that C on his chest now, so he's for sure playing like it, so we're happy to have him."
There will continue to be tough days for Utah's starting quarterback, but with the support of his team behind him, there's confidence Utah has found an offensive leader that can keep them in contention for a three-peat.
"Regardless of how everything's panning out, there's always that trust in me from my teammates," Barnes said. "At the end of the day, that's all that really matters."
