Bryson Barnes Excited for a 'Unique Opportunity' to Face His Former Team on Saturday

Utah has an intriguing in-state rivalry game this Saturday as it faces Utah State in Logan. The Utes are coming off a decisive 23-12 win over Baylor, although quarterback Cameron Rising left with an apparent hand injury, and his status for this week is somewhat of a question mark.

Due to injury questions, Utah State's quarterback position is also somewhat in flux. Still, former Utah quarterback Bryson Barnes hopes to have the opportunity to start and take on his former team on Saturday.

"I'm just super excited," Barnes said via reporter Eric Frandsen. "Those are the guys I spent three and a half years with."

Barnes completed 142 of 242 passes for 1,572 yards and 12 touchdowns to 11 interceptions last season for Utah, taking over for an injured Rising. He spent four years in Salt Lake City before transferring to Utah State earlier this offseason.

Frandsen asked Barnes about the matchup between Utah State's offensive line and Utah's defensive line, and the former Utes quarterback said he's "pretty confident" with the team's protection holding up given "the way our offensive line was playing against USC's defensive line."

"They're going to get to us here and there, but I definitely feel confident in the big boys up front being able to protect us."

At the beginning of the season, Utah State's starting quarterback was Spencer Petras, but his injury forced Barnes to start last week against USC. It's unclear if Petras will be healthy for the game this week, but interim head coach Nate Dreiling said he will have a "legit chance of playing."

Regardless of who is under center for the Aggies, expect a healthy number of Utah fans to descend on Logan this weekend for a game that provides Utah with an opportunity for a 3-0 start to the season.

Related: Kyle Whittingham Calls Two-Quarterback System 'Very Unlikely' Despite Cam Rising Injury