Head injuries are not a joking matter, but a sequence involving Utah quarterback Bryson Barnes during the Las Vegas Bowl could not be funnier. Only because he was/is okay!
Barnes, who started three games for the Utes as a captain in 2023, entered the transfer portal on Dec. 4. He served as QB1 during Saturday’s postseason game against the Northwestern Wildcats despite the uncertainty surrounding his college football future.
It was a tough night. Barnes went 8-of-13 for just 55 yards with two interceptions and did not throw a single touchdown during a 14-7 loss.
Many of the issues were not his fault.
Utah’s roster was ravaged by injuries down the stretch of the regular season and there was nowhere for Barnes to go on the ground. His receivers were not open. There was no protection.
The third of those three issues was perhaps the most troublesome. Barnes was sacked five times, which was as much on him as it was on his offensive line.
One hit in particular hit late in the third quarter was especially violent. Barnes was whipped to the ground and his head bounced on the turf.
The Utes medical staff immediately went over to check the junior signal-caller for a concussion. He decided to take matters into his own hands. Well, fingers. Rather, finger.
ESPN cut to the sideline and showed Barnes conduct his own concussion test.
Again, head injuries are not funny. However, the Utah trainers ultimately stepped in and ran through their own protocols before clearing Barnes to play.
Don’t worry, they did not allow him to pass his own self-administered test and play without further testing.
That doesn’t make the visual of Barnes waving his own finger in front of his own face while rapidly moving his eyes back and forth any less funny. College football is a normal sport!