In late October of 2023, the USC Trojans were 6-1 having just suffered their first loss in Lincoln Riley’s second year as head coach. It was a 20-48 walloping by the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. They were looking to bounce back in their conference rivalry game against the Utah Utes.
The Utes starting quarterback Cam Rising was injured before the season, setting the stage for Bryson Barnes, also known as, the Pig Farmer, to take over as the starting quarterback. He wasn’t the second coming of Sam Darnold, but he had led Utah to a 5-1 record.
Lincoln Riley’s Rematch Against Bryson Barnes
The bounce-back game never happened for the Trojans. Barnes had one of the best games of his career against the Trojans, completing 61 percent of his passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns and adding another 57 yards and a touchdown on the ground.
As if the Pig Farmers’ swine flu cursed them, USC football spiraled out of control, losing three of the last four regular season games.
Since then Barnes has left Salt Lake City for Logan, Utah, and the Utah State Aggies. And once again, Lincoln Riley will have to prepare for Barnes.
“I think it’s helpful any time you’ve been on the field with a guy and a guy like him that’s been a very good player.” Riley said, “We got to see him play well. We have a lot of respect for him as a player. He did a nice job coming in the other day obviously. Led them to to victory had a huge scramble that he popped a long touchdown run and offense really executed well when he was in there which is no surprise. So yeah a lot of respect for him.”
