Texas A&M races past Utah State football
Sep 6, 2025, 2:35 PM | Updated: 2:51 pm
COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS - SEPTEMBER 06: Terry Bussey #2 of the Texas A&M Aggies catches a pass for a touchdown in the first half of a game against the Utah State Aggies at Kyle Field on September 06, 2025 in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Joe Buvid/Getty Images)
(Photo by Joe Buvid/Getty Images)
LOGAN, Utah – Texas A&M was the superior Aggie on Saturday, but Utah State football battled until the final whistle in a 44-22 loss in College Station.
USU has plenty of room to improve after coming up empty in its first road test of the 2025 season.
Bryson Barnes was under pressure all day, thanks to a deep Texas A&M pass rush that generated six sacks. It is the second consecutive week the Aggie offensive line has given up half a dozen sacks.
Barnes finished the day 15-of-30 for 169 yards and two touchdowns. Miles Davis carried ten times for 50 yards and caught two touchdown passes. Braden Pegan caught Utah State’s other TD pass.
Safety Brevin Hamblin led the defense with eight tackles. Linebacker John Miller had two sacks.
First Quarter
Texas A&M got the football first. After trading penalties, USU’s defense created a third-down incompletion to force a punt.
TAMU forced a Utah State three-and-out thanks to relentless pressure from the defensive line.
No. 19 Texas A&M took control at its own 45-yard line and needed just three plays to reach the end zone. A nine-yard run on first down set up a big play chance on 2nd-&-1 in USU territory.
QB Marcel Reed lofted a pass over the top of the defense that hit Terry Bussey in stride for an early lead.
USU’s second drive got a boost when A&M’s Taurean York was assessed a personal foul for a late hit on Barnes. Three chunk plays moved the visitors into enemy territory.
Utah State marched into the red zone, setting up 1st-&-Goal from the 8-yard line.
Bronco Mendenhall demonstrated his confidence in the offense by leaving them on the field for a fourth-down conversion.
Utah’s Aggies didn’t bat an eye when facing 4th-&-Goal.
Sophomore athlete Anthony Garcia took the handoff, sprinting to his right, reversed field, and then found Miles Davis in the end zone for a touchdown.
Texas A&M followed with a sustained drive into the red zone. Utah State held firm, forcing a field goal after John Miller dragged Reed down for a sack.
Second Quarter
Texas A&M opened the second period with the football in USU territory.
Reed led his troops into the red zone before tucking the football and running to the pylon for a one-yard score. The extra point gave A&M a 17-6 lead.
Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell put his stamp on the game when he sacked Barnes on three consecutive plays to end USU’s first drive of the period.
TAMU continued pulling away from there, overwhelming Utah State with physicality.
The deficit grew to 24-6 with 3:13 left when Le’Veon Moss broke free for a 21-yard touchdown up the gut.
The hosts added one more touchdown before the end of the half. Texas A&M led 30-6 at the break following a missed extra point.
Texas A&M finished with 311 yards of offense to just 61 yards for USU. Utah State allowed four sacks and committed seven penalties in the first half.
Third Quarter
Davis took the first handoff out of the break and scampered 30 yards through the secondary for a first down. Penalties kept the drive alive, including a personal foul that moved USU into the red zone.
On 1st-&-10 from the 16-yard line, Barnes found Braden Pegan for a touchdown. A two-point conversion cut the deficit to 30-14 with 12:45 left in the period. Barnes had only completed 42.9 percent (6-of-14) of his passes to that point in the game.
It was the first touchdown of Pegan’s career after the junior spent the past three seasons at UCLA.
Texas A&M didn’t pick up a first down on their opening possession of the half, turning the ball over on downs.
Defensive pressure in the backfield again slowed down Logan’s Aggies’ attack. USU punted following a three-and-out.
Marcel Reed recalibrated for the second possession, completing all six of his passes on a touchdown drive.
Later in the quarter, Reed was forced to the sidelines with an apparent injury after a big hit. He did not return to the game.
Three plays later, backup QB Miles O’Neill hit Noah Avinger in the chest for an easy interception, giving Utah State the game’s first turnover.
USU couldn’t capitalize on the giveaway, punting the football back before the end of the quarter.
Fourth Quarter
Texas A&M opened the final period with a 72-yard touchdown pass from O’Neill to Mario Craver.
Utah State showed its no-quit attitude as it marched for another touchdown late in the quarter. Barnes completed three passes for 55 yards, including a one-yard scoring strike to Miles Davis.
It was the second receiving TD of the day for the former BYU Cougar.
Barnes and the Aggies moved into the red zone once again, but a sack fumble ended the drive and, in short order, the game.
Texas A&M earned a 44-22 win.
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Utah State returns to Logan for the start of Mountain West Conference play when the Air Force Falcons come calling on Saturday, September 13. Kickoff is at 7:45 p.m. MT.
Listen to USU football games on KSL Sports Zone with Scott Garrard and former Aggie QB Kevin White on the call.
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Brian Preece is a KSLSports.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X, Instagram, and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
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