Some things just take time and a few tweaks. In the case for Fresno State women’s basketball, they took a 86-64 shellacking from New Mexico in March earlier this year to end the 2025-26 season. It was different on Wednesday night though.
New Mexico underwent a massive roster shakeup and brought in a new coaching staff, similar to Fresno State a year ago. Tonight, Fresno State got the best of their old Mountain West foes, some efficient offense and 14 steals defensively paced Ryan McCarthy’s Bulldogs to a 74-56 victory.
“Our ladies are just coming together, because we revamped too. We were in the same position. We went out and got 11 new players, like Jada and Lola and Mekiah and Ivy, and the list goes on. We got a really talented recruiting class to come here and ladies that signed up knowing that this was going to be the hardest thing they did in their life, and hopefully we can prove that every game,” McCarthy said.
The driving force on Wednesday was not any one player but rather a collection of playmakers that made the Bulldogs octane offense run. Seven different Bulldogs scored 9+ points on Wednesday: Lola Donez had 11 points. Ashlyn Rean, Ava Marr and Jada Hunter each had 10 and Zawadi Ogot, Rubi Gray and Ivy Brown all had nine. Mekhia Chase added six points, two assists, eight rebounds and four steals to complete an all-around Bulldog performance.
“It’s a good problem,” McCarthy said. “It helps us from a depth standpoint. It’s hard to scout when you don’t have just like two or three dominant players. I think a lot of programs have that, and if those two or three cannons don’t fire that night, you’re going to be in the 50s or 40s. We have a lot of ladies, and we’ve all given them the green light.”
Hunter, a St. Mary’s transfer has fit in nicely into McCarthy’s fast-paced offensive style that allows her to work in transition.
“It plays into how I like to play because point guards like me and Mekiah, we get a lot of options to go to score the ball. He’s a tough coach, but I feel like he’s the best coach I’ve had in my college career because he wants me to get mine. He makes it known that I can get mine. I was overthinking things at my previous school,” Hunter said.
Jada Hunter versus UC Merced (Ryan Sepulveda/FSM)
The guard added that she’s coming into the season with “a dog-like mindset” at both ends of the floor, whether it’s getting her teammates involved or wreaking havoc for her opponents, something she’s been very good at this season. The reigning Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week is up to 10 steals already on the season.
“I definitely take pride in defense. I feel like that’s my thing, and then if I play hard on defense, the offense is going to come to me,” Hunter said.
A slow start for both of the teams in the first quarter with Fresno State leading 8-6 through the first six minutes. The Bulldogs then went on a 12-2 run including a triple from the corner via sophomore Ava Marr. A layup at the other end from Lobos forward Drew Jordan cut the deficit to 20-10 to close the first quarter.
Marr kept things going in the second quarter, nailing a 17-foot pull-up jumper to give the Bulldogs a 28-12 lead with 5:31 left in the half before a media timeout.
New Mexico went on a 9-2 run to close the gap but another strong quarter gave Fresno State a 37-26 lead at halftime, while forcing 12 Lobos turnovers. Fresno State shot 45 percent in the first half overall but made just 2-of-13 from beyond the arc.
Fresno State continued to outpace the Lobos in the third quarter, raising the Bulldog lead to 16 points. Rubi Gray drained a pair of deep triples in the quarter.
Rubi Gray
Early in the fourth quarter, point guard Mekhia Chase drove to the basket for an acrobatic layup. At the other end, forward Ashlyn Rean jumped into the passing lane to pick off a poor Lobos pass, taking it coast-to-coast for a layup. Fresno State went on to win 74-56.
What’s next
The Bulldogs stay home this weekend as they welcome Northern Arizona to the Save Mart Center this Saturday for the first matchup of a doubleheader (the men’s team plays UC Riverside afterwards) tipping off at Noon.
The Lumberjacks opened the young season with a 79-52 loss at Arizona State last week and fell to 0-2 yesterday, Nov. 10, with a 76-74 loss at home to UC Irvine.
Fresno State will then get a 10-day break before a trip to Fort Myers where the Bulldogs will play at Florida Gulf Coast on Tuesday, Nov. 24th at 11 a.m. PT. FGCU is the alma mater of McCarthy’s wife and assistant coach Jenna McCarthy, who played two seasons with the Eagles before transitioning to the coaching staff where she coached for four years.
Game recap written by Al Scott, photos captured by Ryan Sepulveda (Fresno Sports Magazine). For more pictures and updates on Fresno State Athletics, follow@AlScott1998on Twitter (X) or@AlScottSportson IG.
Even in an era of college basketball with so many moving parts, it’s not very common where two teams with 13+ newcomers face off. But that’s what happened on Tuesday night as fans were treated to an overtime thriller at the Save Mart Center as Fresno State defeated Georgia State 95-92.
With the win, the Bulldogs improved to 2-1 and stayed undefeated at home this season. Despite the victory, Head Coach Vance Walberg noted postgame that there were still several areas the team desperately needs to improve in if they’re going to be successful, from making free throws to effort on both ends to even finding out who the third or fourth guys off the bench are going to be.
“I think it’s going to be a process, for me right now, it’s been pretty hard with 13 new players,” Walberg said. “There’s not one guy out there that played last year. Obviously, I had Brian [Amuneke] two years ago, but not one of those guys played together with one another. And we’re trying to figure out who can play with who?”
Speaking of Amuneke, the former Bulldog-turned-Witchita State Shocker-turned-Bulldog again, was quite efficient on Tuesday, scoring 27 points on 8-of-13 shooting from the floor. He also made half of his eight attempts from beyond the arc.
“Brian’s the type of kid, with his smile, everybody loves him, and he knows how much I respect his game. But I thought what you saw tonight, he should be able to do it consistently, and I’m trying to get him to have that sense of urgency all the time,” Walberg said.
Walberg added that he’s been pleasantly surprised by his growth on the defensive side of the ball. Amuneke’s presence back on the court at the Save Mart Center has been a delight for Bulldog fans, a fan base he referred to as “turnt” after the game, despite low attendance (2,754).
He joked after the game that even when he left, the food in Fresno and better weather had him wanting to come back.
“I was thinking about some of the food places I did miss, some certain spots in the arena. I’m like, man, this would be nice to be back,” Amuneke said. “No tornadoes, maybe some sunshine.”
Jaden Jackson (GSU): 21 points (6-of-11 FG), 2 rebounds
What happened
Brian Amuneke and Dragos Lungu (10 points, 11 rebounds) hit a pair of early threes to give Fresno State an 8-7 lead in the first three minutes of action. Nine minutes into the first half, Lungu jumped out ahead for a fastbreak steal before passing it to K.J. Perry for an easy dunk to make it 20-18. The Panthers tied the game on the next possession though.
K.J. Perry dunking after a pass from Dragos Lungu
Trailing 22-20, Georgia State went on an 11-3 run, including seven points from guard Jacob Meyer until an Amuneke triple stopped the bleeding. Fresno State closed out the first half on a 9-2 run with a floating buzzer-beater from Ross Candelino to give the Bulldogs a 39-38 lead.
Chris Jones made a crafty-and-1 layup to give Georgia State a 47-44 lead before the Bulldogs responded with a 15-3 run to retake the lead, capped off by a three from Candelino.
Point guard Roger Fabrega Urpina really came alive for the Bulldogs second half, running the offense, taking charges and playing some key on-ball defense. He made a pair of threes midway through the second half to give the Bulldogs a 68-59 lead.
“He keeps you under control most of the time, and I thought he did a very good job there. But when we were struggling, he found people, and there’s nothing better than when you got a point guard who’s gonna find you when you’re open,” Walberg said.
Fabrega Urpina, the freshman from Barcelona, Spain finished the night with 14 points and 12 assists (24 on the season). He’s also turned the ball over just twice in each of the Bulldogs’ first three games this year.
“It’s fun because you just never know what’s going to happen. He just finds the ball in your hands. You got to be ready to shoot it,” Amuneke said. “Just just kind of the uncertainty, but also that the other team might not know when he’s going to pass, but we know because we’re so used to it.”
An 11-2 Panthers run, including a three from Eric Parnell made it 74-72, forcing a pair of Bulldog timeouts with just over three minutes left. It was tied 78-78 with seven seconds left when Fresno State brought the ball up but a turnover gave the ball back to Georgia State. A missed shot at the buzzer sent it to overtime.
In overtime, Candelino hit a corner three to go up 84-82 with three minutes left. He hit another one a minute later before Jaden Jackson responded with a triple of his own to tie the game at 87 points apiece. Fresno State went on to win 95-92.
Candelino and center Bradey Henige both finished with 18 points apiece on the night. The latter was forced to guard Panthers 6-foot-10, 300-lb big man Mason Nicholson most of the night. Henige held his own though.
“I never have to worry about Bradey with his effort. He’s always consistent. He’s going to give you what he can,” Walberg said.
Ross CandelinoBradey Henige
The lack of a second unit remains an ongoing storyline. Fresno State went to guys on the bench for less than 33 total minutes during the evening, between K.J. Perry, Baye Fall, Marko Vuckovic and freshman Anthony Granger.
“I’m trying to find who that eighth and ninth guy is going to be for us. I mean I’ve tried Q. I have given some different players, Marko and some others some time and so forth,” Walberg said. “Anthony’s a phenomenal athlete. You’re going to see Anthony in about three years, probably one of the best players on this team. He’s got that type of ability.”
Anthony Granger making his NCAA debut
Fresno State made 31-of-67 (46.3%) tries from the field but missed 15-of-37 from the line. They were also outrebounded 46-39. On the flipside, only seven turnovers was a big win for the Bulldogs.
What’s next
The Bulldogs stay home this weekend as they welcome UC Riverside (2-0) to the Save Mart Center for an afternoon matchup (3 p.m. tip-off) following the conclusion of the women’s game.
Walberg is very familiar with one of UC Riverside’s best players, Tyus Parrish-Tillman, who played for Walberg when he was at Clovis West.
“He always had the ability,” Walberg on Parrish-Tillman scoring 30 points in their win over Denver on Nov. 7.
Fresno State will then hit the road and play at San Jose State on Wednesday, Nov. 18. Before that though, the Spartans will actually host UC Riverside this Thursday, a good scouting opportunity for the Bulldogs.
Game recap written by Al Scott, photos captured by Evan Hernandez (Fresno Sports Magazine). For more pictures and updates on Fresno State Athletics, follow @AlScott1998 on Twitter (X) or @AlScottSports on IG.
Following back-to-back losses, the Fresno State Football (5-3, 2-2) team may have saved its season this past week with a 38-22 win over Oregon State.
Now the Bulldogs enter the final stretch of the season with two road games to begin November, starting with a trip to Utah State (3-5, 2-2) and the top defense (333.9 yards per game allowed) in the Pac-12 this Saturday in Logan.
“We’re gonna have our work cut out for us. They’ve done a good job keeping points off the board. They are physical, they do what they do, they are a really sound, good tackling football team and a very physical football team,” Head Coach Matt Entz said on Monday morning at his weekly press conference.
Need to know for Saturday
What: Fresno State (2.5 point favorites) at Utah State
When: Saturday, Nov. 7th at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Maverik Stadium (Logan, UT)
TV: USA Sports Network (Ted Robinson, Darius Walker and Dalen Cuff)
Radio: ESPN Fresno – 1430/790 (Paul Loeffler, Pat Hill and Kenny Wiggins), Caliente – 105.1 KKBZ (Jose Gonzalez and Abraham Montano)
Bulldog Bites
A win on Saturday would make Fresno State bowl eligible for the sixth-straight season.
Fresno State has been one of the best teams in the country at protecting the football and creating turnovers, ranking 7th in the FBS in turnover margin with +1.13 turnovers per game.
The ‘Dogs are set to play its first game of the season not in the Pacific Time Zone, and just the second outside of California (Washington State).
Fresno State is among the most disciplined teams in the country, ranking second nationally (Notre Dame) in fewest penalties (32), penalties per game (4), penalty yards (234) and penalty yards per game (29.25).
Avenging the Aggies
Fresno State holds the series lead (19-14-1) over Utah State, dating back to October of 1952. The Aggies won five straight matchups from 1955 to 1981. The Bulldogs have dominated this century though, including six consecutive wins from 2007-2013, as well as victories in two of their last three matchups (2020 and 2023).
The Aggies won last year however, a 28-17 comeback victory last November in Fresno. After trailing 17-7 at halftime, Utah State flipped the script in the second half when they scored 21 unanswered points.
Fresno State offensive coordinator Josh Davis admitted on Wednesday that last season was definitely a learning opportunity for him.
“Calling plays and building and sustaining drives with a lead, for me, has been a challenge. If you’re not creating advantages as a play caller and as a play designer, you’re failing,” Davis said.
He pointed out the Nevada game last season as one where despite the victory, they struggled massively in the third quarter. Fast forward to this past week, the offense struggled in the fourth quarter resulting in a 7-play, 18-yard drive ending in a missed field goal, followed by consecutive three-and-outs.
The last drive in particular allowed Oregon State one last touchdown drive to make it a two possession game.
“We should have won that game 38-16. Making sure that we’re being aggressive with play calling, I think that falls into a lot of what happened in the second half last year versus Utah State,” Davis said.
To Davis’ credit, the ‘Dogs are outscoring opponents 122-62 after halftime this season, including a 62-15 advantage in the third quarter.
The 2026 Aggies feature the second best scoring defense (21.9 PPG allowed) in the conference but the worst offense (16.9 PPG).
After starting the season at 1-4, the Aggies enter Saturday having won two of their last three games, including a 31-14 crushing at home versus Colorado State last week, led by starting quarterback McCae Hillstead.
Playing in his first full game since their season opener, Hillstead completed 17-of-22 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown pass. The do-it-all signal caller also ran for 79 yards and caught a 44-yard pass.
Sep 15, 2023; Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA; Utah State Aggies quarterback McCae Hillstead (10) passes in the second quarter against the Air Force Falcons at Falcon Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
The Aggies currently ranks first in the conference and 46th nationally in total defense, allowing just 333.9 yards per game, and 30th nationally and first in the conference in passing efficiency defense (118.68). Utah State ranks 63rd nationally and third in the conference in passing defense at 208.3 YPG allowed, 41st nationally and third in the Pac-12 in rushing defense (125.6 YPG allowed).
Two former Aggies are at Fresno State making their return to Cache Valley. Nickelback Simeon Harris was one of the first transfer commits for Matt Entz during his tenure. Harris had 59 tackles, one interception and a fumble recovery for the Aggies in 2023 before redshirting in 2024.
Assistant offensive line coach Spencer Petras played one season for the Aggies as their quarterback in 2024 with 2,315 passing yards, 17 touchdowns and 11 interceptions.
Aggies to watch
Anthony Garcia — Utah State will likely be without top wideout Eli Wood for the second straight week. Wood caught 37 balls (7th in Pac-12) for 479 receiving yards (4th) and five touchdowns (t-2nd) through the first seven games.
Even if he can play, senior wide receiver Anthony Garcia has stepped up in recent weeks and remains a player to watch. Over the last two games, Garcia has 19 receptions for 208 yards. He also threw a 44-yard pass to Hillstead on a double reverse trick play.
Asher Cunningham — The Aggies middle linebacker will play all over the field. Cunningham ranks tied for fourth in the Pac-12 in tackles (65) and first in forced fumbles (3).
Davis called him “one of the better linebackers in the conference” on Wednesday.
Photo courtesy of Utah State Athletics
Honorable Mentions: After struggling early on in the season, starting running back Javen Jacobs has now rushed for 363 yards (5.4 yards per carry) and three touchdowns over the last five games, including a 64-yard run at Boise State.
Sophomore defensive tackle Carson Tujague already has 103 tackles and 2.5 sacks in his young collegiate career. He had five tackles, a sack and two tackles for loss this past Saturday versus Colorado State.
Cornerbacks David Kabongo and D’Angelo Mayes both rank in the top nine in the conference among corners in PFN rating.
Dog Factors
Winning the trenches — Fresno State had arguably its best game blocking wise all season against the Beavers. This came while using eight offensive linemen, to keep guys coming back from injuries like guards Marquise Thorpe-Taylor and Jonah Leaupepetele fresh.
“That rotation takes a lot of stress off of the guys, because they’re all we’re all battling something and they’re able to just go out there for a drive or two and then kind of switch around,” left tackle Braden Walton said.
They’ll have an even bigger task though against Utah State and one of the bigger and most talented defensive lines in the conference. Walton is excited about the opportunity though.
“Very good team up ahead, very well coached, gap sound. They got a lot of forced fumbles. They’re always around the ball, and I mean, number one defense in the Pac-12. I know it’s going to be a challenge,” Walton said.
As good as the Utah State defense has been, Fresno State defensive tackle Deijon Laffitte (17 tackles, 2.5 sacks in 2026) still believes his guys are the best.
“We feel like we’re the best defense in the conference,” Laffitte said. “Kudos to them for having a good defense right now. But at the end of the day, we’ve got to face each other, and we ultimately go see who is better.”
Defensively, Fresno State’s defensive line accounted for four sacks, two pass deflections and seven tackles for loss in what might have been the game’s biggest tide turner. Maverick Noonan and Mordecai Hines also each recovered a fumble.
“Coach [Gigli], he challenged us. It wasn’t a different week for us, but he challenged us. He let us go play free, go play loose, and he just told us, ‘We being good right now, but good is average.’ He wanted us to be great, and I feel like the whole D line took that as a challenge,” Laffitte said.
Bulldog defensive end Dylan Hampsten was named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week following his performance, featuring seven tackles, two sacks and a forced fumble.
“I love playing with a great edge rusher. You know, he takes a lot of attention off of the guys on the inside because of how good he is, and he does a good job of communicating,” Laffitte said.
Laffitte and fellow nose tackle Martin Owusu also each had a sack. He said on Tuesday that the team’s energy on the sidelines, especially in between the third and fourth quarters, has been crucial this season in finishing games.
Dylan HampstenMartin Owusu
“It’s a tone setter…Like alright, it’s time to go kill because you know we know they’re on their last knee, and it’s just time to go take them out,” Laffitte said.
The junior said there is a lot of “friendly competition” on the sidelines during games, trying to one-up each other while still celebrating each other’s successes. That energy was noticeably missing a few weeks ago though when they lost at San Diego State.
“That was just an us thing…If you don’t have any energy and you come out flat, then you can’t expect good results. So we just tried to change that. Now you see the results,” Laffitte said.
Running game back on track? — For a run-first offense, the Bulldogs have not been great at moving the ball on the ground this season, rushing for just 145.4 YPG (90th in FBS).
Things looked a bit different though on Saturday versus Oregon State in part to collectively improved run blocking led by right tackle Rolan Fullwood and tight end Jake Appleget, Fresno State ran 35 times for 196 yards (excluding kneels).
Rolan Fullwood
The biggest benefactor from the improved offensive line play was running back Bryson Donelson, who broke free for a 63-yard touchdown early in the second quarter. He finished the night with 108 yards on 16 carries.
“Appleget made a great play on the safety, and I don’t think Bryson got touched that whole run. I just get up off the ground, and I’m looking in the end zone. Like, I threw my hands up. I’m like wobbling down there. I didn’t even make it to the end zone,” Walton said.
Rayshon “Speedy” Luke also ran nine times for 44 yards and Julius Gillick had two carries for 10 yards, in addition to a few quarterback keepers for Jayden Mandal.
Rayshon LukeJayden Mandal
Injury Report
Fresno State came away from the game on Saturday versus Oregon State healthy for the most part. Interior offensive lineman Oscar Weigel left the game in the second quarter and defensive end Sione Noa left late in the fourth quarter. Safety Gerayas Grimes was briefly off the field Saturday before returning.
Defensive ends Jahzon Jacks and Merhauti Xepera both missed Saturday with undisclosed injuries, as well as defensive tackle Jauris Satele, linebacker Niko Baumgartner and long snapper Ethan Rossetti.
A final updated injury report is expected less than three hours before kickoff on Saturday, visit the PAC-12 website for the latest on Fresno State player availability throughout the week.
Gerayas Grimes
Score predictions
Fresno State 24, Utah State 17
The Aggies like to keep games low scoring. It could be a “trap game,” but I trust the Bulldogs to keep things going and to get vengeance after losing to Utah State last season. Expect a big game from the Fresno State defense.
Game preview written by Al Scott, photos captured by Ryan Sepulveda (Fresno Sports Magazine). For more pictures and updates on Fresno State Athletics, follow @AlScott1998 on Twitter (X) or @AlScottSports on IG.
Never satisfied, it’s the Ryan McCarthy way. The Fresno State women’s basketball head coach kept things honest after the Bulldogs’ 94-32 win over UC Merced on Wednesday.
“I thought we played three and a half quarters at the standard that we’re used to. Today definitely wasn’t like our best day, but it definitely wasn’t our worst,” McCarthy said.
Of course it wasn’t all gloom. After all, a 62-point win came with plenty of positives for Fresno State, including transfers Mekhia Chase and Jada Hunter, who combined for 14 of the Bulldogs whopping 30 steals on the evening. Fresno State shot 38-of-87 from the field on the night, though just 5-of-23 in the fourth quarter to McCarthy’s point.
Jada Hunter
“I’m glad that we did some good things that we can build off of, and we did some things that we can definitely learn from,” McCarthy said. “The next opponent (Colorado) is going to be one of the best in the country, and some of the things that we did tonight, can’t happen again.”
Following the tip, Loyola Marymount transfer Zawadi Ogot got a quick layup for the first basket of the new season. UC Merced took a 5-2 lead on a three a few minutes later from senior forward Nicole Lukito (6 points, 13 rebounds). Transfer guard Rubi Gray came in and nailed a pair of triples on back-to-back possessions. Gray made 90 threes in her two seasons at Sacramento State, one shy of the program record.
Rubi Gray (Ryan Sepulveda/FSM)
The Bulldogs went on a 34-9 run to end the first quarter, including a pair of threes from sophomore Ava Marr (13 points), who still has the “green light” from Coach McCarthy. Mehkia Chase to give Fresno State a 36-14 lead over the Bobcats. The quarter ended with a buzzer-beater from Chase, who is playing point guard for the first time in her career.
“That’s been an area that she’s really developed. It’s been a lot of game film and it’s been a lot of individual workouts and things like that. But she’s playing like a leader, and I think that playing that point guard position is not just getting people involved in the offense,” McCarthy said. “She was in at the end of the game with a lot of the freshmen and bailing us out of bad possessions and things like that. She’s done a good job leading on and off the floor.”
Mekhia Chase (Ryan Sepulveda/FSM)
Fresno State opened the second quarter on a 9-0 run, including a three from Cal transfer Lola Donez (nine points), who along with returner Ashlyn Rean, was named to the Pac-12 preseason Team Impact list. Rean finished with 11 points, a game high 15 rebounds, three assists and four stocks (steals + blocks).
“It makes everything a lot easier when you get a rebound and you know someone is already probably at the other end of the court. I think that our guards do a really good job of implementing what Coach McCarthy wants us to do, and it just makes the game really fun,” Rean said.
Tonight was extra special for Rean, a team captain playing in her first official game back since tearing her MCL after just six games last season alongside an almost entirely new team.
“This summer, it may have felt like a long time, but it kind of just flew by with this group because everyone’s just super hardworking, easy to be around,” Rean said. “To get out on the floor and put everything together and everything we’ve kind of been through together just made that transition a lot smoother and really enjoyable.”
The Bulldogs defense stepped up in the second quarter, limiting the Bobcats to just five points as they went into halftime with a commanding 56-17 lead. Gray continued from her strong first half after halftime, with a steal and a fast break layup to give Fresno State a 64-19 lead. She finished with 18 points and 4 steals on the night. Ogot (14 points) finished the quarter off with an athletic layup to lead 79-24.
Zawadi Ogot (Ryan Sepulveda/FSM)
Despite being up 55, McCarthy opened the 4th quarter with five of his seven primary rotational players on the quarter. Still pushing the tempo, Fresno State would go on to win 94-32. Redshirt freshman Sienna Clark scored her first career points, on a triple with just over four minutes left in the game.
“It’s super rewarding. I’m really proud of her. She’s put a lot of work in and she’s an even better kid off the floor. I love being around her. She’s really funny,” McCarthy said. “She’s kind of a goofball.”
UC Merced didn’t do much well against the Bulldogs, shooting just 8-of-37 from the field (40 less shot attempts than Fresno State) and 3-of-17 from beyond the arc. They also had more turnovers (39) than points scored (32).
The lone bright spot for the Bobcats was probably the rebounding. Lukito and Olivia Gill combined for 24 rebounds on the night. Fresno State still outrebounded UC Merced (46-36) but McCarthy still wasn’t satisfied, noting that dominating the glass is an area they will have to improve upon if they are going to beat higher competition.
“I think the biggest concern for me is rebounding and just focus,” McCarthy said.
Coach noted a lack of urgency in some baseline out of bounds plays, as well as a lackadaisical effort on some transition opportunities, passing up open shots because they “were looking at the scoreboard.”
Schedule outlook
The Bulldogs begin the 2026-27 season in a new conference and a schedule full of plenty of competitive opportunities.
Fresno State will play 15 non-conference games between November and December of this year, including eight times at the Save Mart Center during non-conference play, which began with tonight’s home opener victory over UC Merced.
Other opponents coming to the Save Mart Center in 2026 include former Mountain West mate New Mexico, Northern Arizona, Saint Mary’s, Southern Mississippi, Grambling State, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Hawaii.
Up next, Fresno State’s first road game of the year will likely be its toughest of the season, heading to Boulder to face a Colorado team that went 22-12 last season with ranked wins over Iowa State, TCU, Texas Tech and Baylor before finishing strong with a Big 12 semi final appearance and an NCAA at-large bid. The Buffaloes, who received two votes in the first AP Poll of the season, defeated Morgan State 83-38 on Wednesday.
“They have top-100 recruits on their team, and from a budget standpoint, it’s the Flint Tropics against the Chicago Bulls. We will have to play our very best game when we play them,” McCarthy said.
Fresno State will also play at assistant coach Jenna McCarthy’s Alma Mater Florida Gulf Coast on November 24. Following Thanksgiving, the ‘Dogs will be in New Orleans for the 2026 Big Easy Classic.
Other road games include San Diego, Bowling Green and Ball State. The latter two will finish up the Bulldogs’ non-conference slate during the final week of December.
“We made a non-conference schedule that we feel will challenge us in many different ways and will make some road trips that will help prepare us for league play,” McCarthy said.
The Bulldogs will play its first of 16 Pac-12 Conference games on the road on Thursday, January 7th at 5:30 p.m. at Colorado State.
Fast forward to January 23rd, the Bulldogs 8 p.m. matchup at home with Oregon State is set to be broadcast on The CW.
Fresno State was picked seventh out of the nine teams in the conference preseason media polls. Gonzaga received 16 of 19 first place votes, followed by Oregon State and San Diego State.
The Pac-12 Conference Tournament begins on Tuesday, March 9th in Las Vegas, Nevada. For a complete schedule, visit the Fresno State Athletics website.
Season prediction
Ceiling: 20-22 wins
Floor: 15-16 wins
Prediction: 20-14 record
Year two for Coach McCarthy and his staff features a competitive schedule, but this team is significantly more deep than it was a year ago.
If Rean can stay healthy and Coach McCarthy gets the buy-in from his team for a full season, I see no reason why this squad can’t compete amongst Gonzaga, Oregon State and the other top teams in the newly-reformed Pac-12 conference.
Lola DonezIvy Brown
Game recap written by Al Scott, photos captured by Ryan Sepulveda (Fresno Sports Magazine). For more pictures and updates on Fresno State Athletics, follow @AlScott1998 on Twitter (X) or @AlScottSports on IG.
Vibes are generally great after a win, a season opener at home no less. But what could have been a night of celebration for basketball in the Fresno community, felt more like your average of Monday following Fresno State’s 88-79 victory over Fresno Pacific to begin the 2026-27 men’s basketball season.
“It’s a win. Let’s just say that, it’s a win. A little disappointing,” Head Coach Vance Walberg said postgame. “I’m tired of being patient. It’s Division-I basketball now, and it’s time that we just do what we’re supposed to do.”
Despite the narrow win, newcomer Dragos Lungu endeared himself to the Fresno State fans with a dazzling performance, scoring 30 points on 12-of-19 shooting. He also had seven rebounds, two assists and a pair of blocks.
Walberg complimented Lungu’s offensive game but admitted he needs more from him defensively and vocally.
“Nobody knows how talented he is. He can create. He can do a lot of different things. He gets to the rack like you saw tonight. That part I think is really good. But if he wants to get better, he’s got to talk more. That’s what I’m trying to get him to do,” Walberg said.
Fresno State was picked last in this year’s Pac-12 conference media poll, something Lungu disagreed with.
Neither team had much of a lead in the first half. Fresno State took a 11-6 lead with a layup from transfer guard Dragos Lungu. The Sunbirds responded with a 9-0 run including a couple of threes from San Joaquin Memorial alum Jaden Geron to give Fresno Pacific a 15-11 lead.
A few minutes later, center Bradey Henige made baskets on three straight possessions to give the lead back to the Bulldogs, 22-20.
A nice cut from Dragos Lungu was rewarded with a stealthy pass from Ross Candelino for an under-the-basket layup. Candelino found him again a minute later for another layup. He then scored himself on a dish from Lungu on the next possession as part of a 6-0 run for the duo to give Fresno State a 28-23 lead with 6:57 left in the first half before a media timeout.
The Sunbirds went on a 15-9 run, capped off by a Brandon Gipson Jr. layup to take a 38-37 lead. Fresno State recovered with four free throws to end the half from Candelino to make it 41-38. Despite shooting 55 percent from the field in the first half, the Bulldogs held just a three point lead. Fresno State had 14 turnovers on the night, including 10 in the first half.
“During the first three exhibitions, we turned it over a heck of a lot more than I wanted to see it. And it’s not like the other teams are creating the turnovers; it’s just our sloppiness at times, and then just our sense of urgency,” Walberg said.
He added that he wished his team would give more effort defensively.
Lungu and Loukas Jones (Clovis North HS alum) trade threes early in the second half. Fresno State made only one triple in the first half, compared to five from the Sunbirds.
Despite struggles from most of the offense that allowed the Sunbirds to stay in the game, Lungu held his own in the second half. His layup with six minutes left in the second half gave him 25 points for the game. Layups from point guard Roger Fabrega Urpina and center Baye Fall on the next two possessions gave Fresno State a 77-67 lead, their biggest advantage to that point. They would go on to win 88-79.
Of the 88 points scored, only 5 came from the bench (Baye Fall). That includes transfer guard K.J. Perry (17 points during exhibition versus Cal State Fullerton), who was held scoreless in 12 minutes.
“I’ve gotta find a bench that cares for their teammates more than anything else. I think a lot of them, it’s the first college game. Everybody thinks they’re going to play a lot and when the game begins, there’s only so many minutes,” Walberg said.
When asked about how he can get more out of his second unit, Walberg put the onus on the players to show they are deserving of a bigger look.
“They’ve got to give me the confidence of being able to put them in, to where you can get something out of them,” Walberg said.
What’s next
Fresno State will face a much bigger test this weekend as the team travels south to play at UC San Diego, one of six non-conference games for the Bulldogs this season. The Tritons got the better of the ‘Dogs last November, winning 78-73 at the Save Mart Center. Tip-off on Saturday is set for 7 p.m.
The Bulldogs will return home to Fresno to host Georgia State (Nov. 10) and UC Riverside (Nov. 14) next week.
Game recap written by Al Scott, photos captured by Ryan Sepulveda (Fresno Sports Magazine). For more pictures and updates on Fresno State Athletics, follow @AlScott1998 on Twitter (X) or @AlScottSports on IG.
It was a wet, rainy night and despite allowing 450 yards to one of the nation’s top offenses, Fresno State came out victorious on Saturday night and quite decisively too, defeating Oregon State 38-22.
“A lot of people were talking about how explosive they were, how good they were. I think they were even ranked in some polls in the top 25. So it was a great opportunity for our players just to know that they can play and compete with them,” Head Coach Matt Entz said postgame.
Quarterback Jayden Mandal was efficient, averaging near 12 yards per attempt and threw a pair of touchdowns to Josiah Freeman (6 receptions, 88 yards). Mandal used his legs to not only avoid the Beavers pass rush but also rush for two scores. Bryson Donelson also had a 63-yard rushing touchdown.
“Consistency. That’s what it took tonight. Very consistent approach, consistent effort for four quarters,” Entz said.
The real story though was the defense: two fumble recoveries, five sacks, nine tackles for loss and nine pass deflections.”
Despite the light crowd, they did make an impact. Entz noted postgame that Oregon State false started three times on third or fourth down and less than a yard (with credit to the Red Wave), leading to field goals or no points instead of touchdowns.
“Field goals don’t get you beat, and we knew for as high of a scoring offense as they had, if we can hold it to field goals, we’d have an opportunity,” Entz said.
Fresno State got the ball to begin the game but Quarterback Jayden Mandal threw an interception (Sailasa Vadrawale III) on just the second play. It was the Buchanan alum’s only incomplete pass of the first half but it was a big one, as it gave the Beavers prime field position.
On the second play of the drive, the nation’s leading passer, Braden Atkinson, found the nation’s leading receiver, Jesse Legree, open for a 23-yard gain. Fresno State’s defense locked in on 4-and-goal, giving the Bulldog offense the ball back.
After forcing a three-and-out, the Beavers used the good field position for a 54-yard field goal from kicker Cameron Smith.
Fresno State’s running game came alive at the end of the first quarter with big runs from tailbacks Bryson Donelson and Rayshon “Speedy” Luke. After a gain of nothing and a three-yard pass from Mandal to wide receiver Ezekiel Avit, the Bulldogs faced a third and medium from the 15-yard line. Mandal opted to keep it and maneuver through the Oregon State defense for a touchdown.
After a Beaver field goal to begin the second quarter, Mandal found Josiah Freeman open on the right side for a quick 12-yard out route. The next play, Donelson found an opening and broke free for a 63-yard touchdown run to make it 14-6.
Oregon State steadily moved the ball down the field on its next drive but a third-down pass breakup from Kiontre Harris forced another field goal.
Fresno State turned around and got a pair of first down runs from Donelson and Mandal. Mandal then looked deep left to find Freeman in the end zone for a 26-yard touchdown to give the Bulldogs a 21-9 lead heading into halftime, despite being outgained 235-214.
Leading 24-9 in the third quarter, Fresno State defensive lineman Martin Owusu strip-sacked Atkinson, recovered by Maverick Noonan. It led to another touchdown run for Mandal and a 31-9 Fresno State lead.
The two teams traded touchdowns on the next two drives, including another Mandal-to-Freeman connection to make it 38-16.
Oregon State added a garbage time touchdown in the final two minutes on a throw from Atkinson to tight Eric Olsen, though they missed the two point conversion on a pass breakup from Kiontre Harris, who made waves earlier in the week after saying Tuesday he “wants all the smoke,” in regards to facing Legree.
Legree finished under 100 yards (70) and was held without a touchdown for the first time this season.
“He was excited about the ability to compete against a really good player…when you get an opportunity to play the best, and statistically, [Legree’s] the best. I think he was talking to himself about what a challenge this is. ‘I’m going to step up. This is my opportunity,” Entz said.
The defensive effort was led up front by Dylan Hampsten who had two sacks on the night (5 on the season). The edge said after the game the win was the result of the work they put in during the week off.
“Man, absolutely electric. You know, Halloween night, rainy, different environment. Worked the bye week and saw the fruits of our win,” Hampsten said.
What’s next
Fresno State will begin November with back-to-back games on the road, first with Utah State next Saturday in Logan before playing at Texas State on November 14th .
Following the two road games, Fresno State will return home to Valley Children’s Stadium on Saturday, November 21st to host the Rams of Colorado State.
Game recap written by Al Scott, photos captured by Ryan Sepulveda (Fresno Sports Magazine). For more pictures and updates on Fresno State Athletics, follow @AlScott1998 on Twitter (X) or @AlScottSports on IG.
Coming off back-to-back weeks with losses to your two biggest rivals, one could argue Fresno State’s (4-3, 1-2) bye this last week could not have come at a better time.
A well-rested Bulldogs team now welcomes a hot Oregon State (5-2, 3-0) squad that features not one, but two Heisman Trophy candidates in Quarterback Braden Atkinson and Wide Receiver Jesse Legree.
Both teams coming off their bye will meet at Valley Children’s Stadium on Saturday for a late night Halloween battle. Fresno State Head Coach Matt Entz said on Monday the team is feeling refreshed and ready to go with much at stake on Saturday.
“It’s going to be an exciting and competitive opportunity against a close to being ranked football team right here in Bulldog Stadium,” Entz said.
What: Oregon State at Fresno State (7-point underdogs)
When: Saturday, Oct. 31 at 8:00 p.m.
Where: Valley Children’s Stadium (Fresno, CA)
TV: USA Sports Network (Nate Gatter, Ryan Leaf and Lauren Green)
Radio: ESPN Fresno – 1430/790 (Paul Loeffler, Pat Hill and Kenny Wiggins), Caliente – 105.1 KKBZ (Jose Gonzalez and Abraham Montano)
Bulldog Bites
Fresno State has been one of the best teams in the country at protecting the football and creating turnovers, ranking 7th in the FBS in turnover margin +1.14 turnovers per game.
The Bulldogs have thrown just one interception in 201 team pass attempts, ranking 4th in the FBS with the least amount of passes intercepted.
Quarterback Jayden Mandal drops back to throw at San Diego State on October 17, 2026 (Evan Bradley/Fresno Sports Magazine).
Fresno State ranks among the most disciplined teams in the country, with just 30 total penalties (6th in FBS) and 31 penalty YPG (3rd in FBS).
The ‘Dogs are outscoring opponents 105-49 after halftime this season, including a 45-8 advantage in the third quarter.
Battlin’ da Beavers
After not playing each other for 19 years, Saturday will mark the 3rd time in five years and the 16th meeting ever between the two schools with Fresno State owning the series 9-6, and a whopping 6-1 at home.
The series has included several close battles including in 2022 when the Beavers won 35-32 thanks to a last minute touchdown run from Jack Coletto.
The ‘Dogs got their revenge last year in Corvallis, winning 36-27, highlighted by safety Jaden Carrillo’s 42-yard punt return for a touchdown right before halftime.
Now the two programs meet for the first time as Pac-12 conference foes but as Entz noted on Monday, this Oregon State team is “significantly different just based on some personnel.” They also have a whole new coaching staff, led by first year Head Coach JaMarcus Shephard.
Shephard was hired by the Beavers last November after coaching under former Fresno State Head Coach Kalen DeBoer at both the University of Washington and at Alabama.
Oregon State took over a program in the middle of an identity crisis of sorts, left behind (along with Washington State) by its former Pac-12 mates. The team went 2-12 and fired former Head Coach Trent Bray before hiring Shephard.
Oregon State head coach JaMarcus Shepard speaks to the media after the 35-24 loss to Texas Tech during an NCAA football game at Reser Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026, in Corvallis, Oregon | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
His Beavers started the year with a pair of ranked losses to Houston (33-20) and Texas Tech (35-24) before winning five straight games over Montana, UTEP, Colorado State, San Diego State and Washington State.
“I’ll tell you what, we kept receipts…people would say we would only go 1-11 this year, and you know what? That just keeps putting fuel to the fire,” Shephard told USA Sports.
Through seven games, Oregon State ranks among the top five teams in the country (out of 138 FBS schools) in several offensive categories: 42.7 PPG (4th), 384.9 passing YPG (1st), 26 passing TD (1st), 527 total YPG (3rd), 40 total TD (3rd) and 7.35 yards per play (5th).
It will be a big test for Fresno State and Defensive Coordinator Nick Benedetto.
“Their O-line is very physical. They get off the ball really well, and the quarterback does a great job diagnosing plays. I think that’s what stands out to me on film, is [Atkinson] is able to go with the ball very quickly, and you know you can see the receivers and the running back can hit it downhill too as well,” Benedetto said.
Braden Atkinson (Reef Diego/Oregon State Athletics).
While being known for the passing attack, the rushing attack is a weapon as well and has actually outperformed Fresno State this season (142.1 to 139 YPG).
Defensively, Oregon State plays heavy upfront and despite not blitzing a lot, has 18 sacks as a team this season (t-28th in FBS). They’ve forced nine turnovers this season as a unit (six interceptions, three fumble recoveries).
The defense ranks in the middle of the pack in many defensive areas, allowing 23.14 PPG (t-61st), 204.9 passing YPG (t-57th), 140.4 rushing YPG (68th) and 345.3 total YPG (57th).
Beavers to watch
Braden Atkinson and Jesse Legree — Speaking of the Beavers prolific offense, Atkinson and Legree have made quite the waves this season.
Atkinson, threw for 3,611 yards and 34 touchdowns last season before making the jump from the FCS to the FBS and the production didn’t take a hit. In fact, he elevated it.
The sophomore transfer from Mercer has completed 189-of-273 passes in the up-tempo Beaver offense for Nation-leading 2,604 yards and 24 touchdowns, while throwing just two interceptions.
His favorite target has been an 18-year-old true freshman, Jesse Legree, who has 40 receptions on the season through seven games for 1,040 receiving yards and 14 touchdowns. Both marks lead the entire country. It will definitely be a point of emphasis for Fresno State and the coaching staff this week.
“You have got to know where he’s at on every single snap,” Entz said.
Jesse Legree (Karl Maasdam/Oregon State Athletics).
“He’s very competitive. You can tell he loves the game of football, and they are gonna find a way to get him the ball,” Benedetto said. “When [Jesse Legree] gets the ball in his hands, that’s when he becomes dynamic. Very good route runner. He can take the top off the defense.”
Legree, who announced during the bye he was signing an NIL-contract extension with the Beavers, struggled to generate college interest out of high school, before ultimately being identified as a player of interest by Oregon State General Manager Eron Hodges this last winter.
Legree joined the Beavers without a scholarship, but was rewarded with a big pay day and a huge investment from the only school that believed in him.
“You could never make up for people not wanting you. It’ll never be made up,” Shephard said. “All those schools across the country, nobody wanted him. And we did.”
Fresno State starting cornerback Kiontre Harris is excited about the opportunity to face off against the best of the best.
“I want all the smoke,” Harris said after practice on Tuesday morning. “Those are notable receivers you go against, and you get the chance to show your own talent so you’re excited about those matchups.”
The Lemoore High School graduate has kept opposing quarto to a team-low 57% completion rate when thrown at this season, per PFF.
Both Atkinson and Legree were named to the Maxwell Award Watchlist earlier this week and should be on the shortlist when evaluating Heisman Trophy candidates at the end of the season.
“Even back to [Jim] Sweeney and Pat Hill days, it’s ‘Anybody, Anytime, Anywhere.’ Me being from the Central Valley, I’ve adopted that mindset of being an underdog,” Harris said.
Don’t forget the tight ends — The passing attack is more than just Legree, Atkinson will get a lot of people involved, especially if opponents are blanketing the freshman wideout.
Oregon State tight ends, led by Eric Olsen and Decorion Temple, have combined for 60 catches, 601 receiving yards and five touchdowns this season. Olsen in particular is capable of having a big game, recording nine catches for 65 yards and a pair of touchdowns at Colorado State on October 3rd.
Eric Olsen (Oregon State Athletics).
“They have a multitude of targets. We have to be at our best in order to make sure that we get the ball back to the offense,” Benedetto said.
The Bulldog defensive coordinator added that all options are on the table when facing an offense as explosive and unique as Oregon State’s is.
It’s quite a stark contrast to Fresno State which has gotten little production (18 receptions, 185 yards, TD) from its tight end room on the receiving side of things.
Takari Hickle — The strength of the Beavers defense lies in the middle of the defense, namely senior edge rusher Takari Hickle (37 tackles, FF), who’s already up to six sacks this season (10 in 3 seasons).
“When he goes out there, it doesn’t matter what’s going on in the game, in his life, in the lives of others on the team or around the country. None of that matters. He is out there to try to wreak havoc on the individuals around him,” Shephard said.
Takari Hickle (Karl Maasdam/Oregon State Athletics).
The linebacker core including Hickle, Aiden Sullivan, Gyriece Goodman, Dylan Lane, Kord Shaw and Jabari Odoemenem are amongst the best in the Pac-12 Conference.
“They do some creative things in their blitz packages on third down that really challenge teams to be good. They’ll load it up and bring everybody. They’ll load it up and drop out and do a drop-eight coverage,” Fresno State Offensive Coordinator Josh Davis said. “They haven’t made many assignment errors on defense this year. We’ll have to be good.”
Dog-Factors
Kiontre Harris – Fresno’s State’s ability to stay in the game on Saturday will (more than likely) come down to two factors: winning the turnover battle and limiting Legree.
The latter of which won’t be easy. The star freshman has had his way in 2026, reaching 100+ yards and at least one touchdown catch in each game this season, one of two FBS players in the last 30 years to reach that threshold in each of his team’s first seven games, joining Justin Blackmon (Oklahoma State, 2010).
His versatile skillset allows the Beavers to utilize him in a variety of roles, forcing Fresno State to have multiple eyes on Legree at all times but the main guy on him on Saturday will be Harris, who is looking forward to the opportunity to rewrite the history of his season so far, after allowing a touchdown at San Diego State.
“The bad play doesn’t make up who you are as a player, it’s how you respond,” Harris said.
The redshirt sophomore is drawing on past success when he rewatches film to see where things did go well as he looks to “boost his confidence for his mentality to win the next down.”
Croix Stewart (24) helps Kiontre Harris (31) up versus San Diego State (Evan Bradley/Fresno Sports Magazine).
Benedetto noted that no one was more devastated about the loss to San Diego State than Kiontre, but you can’t dwell in the past.
“It’s the next play, best play, and it’s not just him. It’s all 11 guys. It’s all the coaching staff. It’s all of us,” Benedetto said. “We tell him, ‘hey man, there’s a reason you’re the starter. We believe in you, and we know that you’re going to go get the next play.’”
Other key factors – Beating a team as explosive and as confident as Oregon State will require a lot of things to go the Bulldogs way.
Scoring early: Outside of the Boise State game, Fresno State has scored just three points in the first quarter this season.
Rayshon Luke: Outside of the win over Rice, the Bulldogs star running back has been pedestrian at best. Many factors have contributed to that, including his health and that of the offensive line but bottom line, he needs to produce if Fresno State is going to win.
Rayshon Luke running versus San Diego State on October 17, 2026 (Evan Bradley/Fresno Sports Magazine).
Winning the turnover battle: It’s self-explanatory, but teams that have the ball more often and on the opponents side of the field typically win football games.
Tackling: Via Gabe Camarillo of KMPH Fox 26, the Bulldogs missed a combined 32 tackles in their recent pair of losses – more than they missed in the previous four weeks combined (29) per PFF.
“The fundamentals of tackling is always a thing we have to keep improving on, keep getting better at,” Benedetto said. “We always hammer on our hand placement, our eye placement, and then just our communication level.”
Injury Report
Many key contributors returned from injury to game action on Oct. 17 at San Diego including starting running back Rayshon Luke and right guard Jonah Leaupepetele.
Coach Entz indicated on Monday morning that the starting offensive line unit, while not “100 percent” healthy, is all active and expected to be good to go on Saturday.
A final updated injury report is expected less than three hours before kickoff on Saturday, visit the PAC-12 website for the latest on Fresno State player availability throughout the week.
Right guard Jonah Leaupepetele playing at USC on Friday, September 4, 2026 (Ryan Sepulveda/Fresno Sports Magazine).
Score predictions
Oregon State 37, Fresno State 31
My answer would have been different if you had asked me this a few weeks ago but I picked Fresno State to win the last two weeks and was wrong.
The Beavers might have the best offense on the coast and I’m not sure the Bulldogs will be able to contain Atkinson, Legree and company for four quarters. With that said, I don’t think it will be a blowout like the first three Beavers Pac-12 conference games have been. Fresno State will make it close.
Game preview written by Al Scott, cover photo of Quarterback Jayden Mandal (7) captured by Evan Bradley (Fresno Sports Magazine). For more pictures and updates on Fresno State Athletics, follow @AlScott1998 on Twitter (X) or @AlScottSports on IG.
Perhaps it’s déjà vu or perhaps it’s a sign of positive change just around the corner.
Nevertheless, the Fresno State Men’s Basketball team enters Year 3 in the Vance Walberg era of Bulldogs Hoops similar to the first two, a mixed bag of unknowns with roster turnover increasing by the year.
“It is what it is,” Walberg said. “No excuses. It’s just really tough.”
Success was hard to find during the first two years under Walberg, going 6-26 in 2024-25 before improving to 13-19 a year ago.
Despite more than doubling the team’s win total in year two, Fresno State returns zero minutes from last year’s team.
Last year’s leading scorer and All-Mountain West Third Team selection Jake Heidbreder (17 PPG) and forward Cameron Faas (5.3 PPG) both graduated and guard D.J. Stickman was removed from the team after suffering an ACL injury during February of last season that’s expected to take up all of this season to recover from.
“It’s a tough situation,” Walberg said. “I’d love to have him, but we only have so many roster spots, and DJ won’t be healthy. He won’t get a chance to play 5-on-5 until the end of December or early January.”
Walberg noted the pileup of injuries in recent seasons as a major factor in the decision. Stickman averaged 3.5 points in 14.4 minutes per game over 21 appearances, including one start.
The remaining 11 players that played minutes last season all transferred elsewhere, including DeShawn Gory (Oregon State), Zaon Collins (Ball State), David Douglas Jr. (Northern Illinois), Gasper Kocevar (Howard), Jac Mani (Tarleton State), Wilson Jacques (DePaul). Jacques in particular will earn $1.1M as part of his NIL package, ‘life changing money’ as Walberg noted.
“I wish we had a few people back. I wish we would have them back,” Walberg said. “It’s the times that we’re in. The NIL is crazy.”
Walberg on Wednesday morning suggested the NCAA limit players to one transfer each to limit the amount of roster turnover from year-to-year.
Fresno State, expected to be near if not at the very bottom of the Pac-12 in NIL budgets, will dearly miss Gory, a do-it-all freshman forward that averaged 13.7 PPG, 6.2 RPG and 2.0 APG. He also had 25 steals and 11 blocks on the year.
“DeShawn was a special breed. He had an aura of confidence that you just don’t find,“ Walberg said. “The sounds in that gym, if we had workouts at 6:30 in the morning, he wanted to be in the gym at 5:30.”
Gory will return to the Save Mart Center as a member of the Beavers when Oregon State comes to Fresno on February 20th.
The one carryover from last year’s team to this year’s team was guard Nathan Zulemie, who will miss his second straight season with an ACL injury.
So where does that leave Fresno State’s roster for the 2026-27 season?
A brand new squad
What we have learned during the brief time they’ve been in action is Lipscomb transfer Ross Candelino can shoot the ball from deep and guards K.J. Perry and freshman Roger Fabrega Urpina are expected to carry the load of ball-handling duties.
It’s hard to place expectations on a squad with 15 players (14 excluding Zulemie) that have never played with each other, besides a brief trip to the Bahamas this summer and two “secret scrimmages.”
“The biggest thing I think that we took away is we can compete with anybody. I believe that from day one,” Candelino said.
Candelino, a 6-foot-5 guard who appeared in 28 games last season, averaged 11.2 PPG and 5.2 RPG while connecting on a team-high 66 3-pointers (42.6%), providing Fresno State with an experienced perimeter shooting threat.
Perry, the number one JUCO recruit in the country a year ago, transferred to BYU but didn’t play last season. The combo guard should be among the team’s leading scorers and playmakers but he’s more focused on what he can provide on the other end of the floor, citing his on-ball defensive skills as his best asset.
“Everything starts on defense. So if I can kind of just be that person to just get us started, I think everything will just flow with it right after that,” Perry said.
K.J. Perry (Fresno State Athletics)
The 6-foot-1 Fabrega comes to the United States with plenty of professional experience already under his belt and high praise from his teammates.
“I’ve never played with Roger, and obviously he doesn’t speak very good English, so you’re like you’re sitting there thinking like all right, but then you start playing with them and it’s like you guys have been playing with each other for seven years,” Candelino said. “Like you, just kind of form a connection with some players.”
The starting lineup early in the season is expected to be rounded out by fellow transfers Dragos Lungu (UT Martin) and center Bradey Henige (Cal Baptist), though Walberg said there could be a lot of movement in the rotation early in the season.
Lungu has been a potent mid-level scorer in his career, including scoring 13.8 PPG on 62% from the field last season as a redshirt sophomore but the 6-foot-6 Romanian guard has managed to play in just 13 total games since appearing in 30 games (11 starts) for the University of San Diego in 2023-24.
Henige, a 7-footer from Glendale, AZ transfers to Fresno State after spending his first two seasons at Cal Baptist. He averaged 4.9 PPG and 5.5 RPG over 20.2 MPG last season.
He’ll be splitting time with transfer Baye Fall, a 6-foot-11 big who has played sparingly at three different major programs, including Arkansas, Kansas State and most recently Rutgers.
A 4-star recruit and #1 rated prospect of his class out of Colorado, Fall hasn’t quite lived up to the potential but he hasn’t had a whole lot of playing time to prove himself (5.3 MPG in 22 career appearances). He does have 12 career blocks though.
Beyond that, Fresno State brought in Nebraska transfer Quentin Rhymes, a 6-foot-6 redshirt freshman guard, who should see some playing time in the second unit as well as the only guy on the team who’s spent minutes in a Bulldog uniform: Brian Amuneke.
Déjà vu
Amuneke returns to Fresno State after spending the 2025-26 season at Wichita State. The 6-foot-6 guard began his collegiate career with the Bulldogs before transferring to the Shockers, where he appeared in 36 games, but averaged just 8 minutes a game.
Fortunately for Amuneke, it’s a style he’s familiar with.
“Our system is pretty much common sense type basketball,” Amuneke said. “Not only the dribble drive but just trying to play together as a team. Move the ball as a team, get the best open shot, best look for every single one of us.
Amuneke averaged 7.7 PPG as a freshman, and even saw seven starts down the stretch of the season in 2025 before transferring, and is excited to bring even more to the Bulldogs than he did a couple years ago.
Brian Amuneke with Fresno State as a freshman (Vincent Ordonio)
“I just know that with me getting better, I can add on to the system more, way better than I did before,” Amuneke said.
The freshman class
In addition to Fabrega, Walberg brought in five other freshmen to round out a heavy forward class including academy players Anthony Granger and Yeshua Kesse-Beda. He also brought in Rylan Parsley from Arizona.
Finishing up the 2026-27 freshmen class is a pair of 6-foot-8 European power forwards: Colin Schroeder (Germany) and Marko Vuckovic (Serbia), the latter of which Walberg described as an enigma.
“He’s very talented, but he is a stubborn Serbian, and I mean stubborn,” Walberg said. “It’s the first time I’ve had a Serbian in, and Marko at times just looks at me like, ‘Coach, you’re crazy,’ Yeah, I am.”
Vukovic projects as a rangy forward with the ability to shoot from distance while providing help on the glass. Schroder is more of an old-school big, playing the bruiser role.
“Colin gives you everything he’s got, every day. I mean, he’s six seven and a half, 245 pounds. He’s going to knock some people around,” Walberg said.
Their energy has been noticed by teammates already, including Candelino, who despite not always knowing what his European teammates are saying, feeds off their passion.
“They’re both very passionate about the game of basketball, and I think that’ll be something that [the Red Wave] can get behind,” Walberg said. “Obviously for fans, it’s a little bit harder because you can’t play. You have all this aggression, like you want to be able to play the game too, but you can’t. So you gotta kind of gotta live through somebody else on the court. And I think that Marko and Colin will help them blow some steam off. I love being with them. They can really flip the energy in the game real fast.”
Colin Schroeder (via @28.colin on Instagram)
Schedule outlook
The Bulldogs begin the 2026-27 season with one final tuneup this Saturday, October 24th, a home exhibition at the Save Mart Center at 2 p.m. against Cal State Fullerton.
“I had an old coach who said, ‘you only get one first impression.’ So we hope to make it a really good first impression,” Candelino said.
Fresno State will play 15 non-conference games between November and December of this year. Excluding the exhibition on Saturday, Fresno State will play eight times at the Save Mart Center during non-conference play, beginning with its home opener versus Fresno Pacific on Nov. 2nd at 6 p.m.
Other opponents coming to the Save Mart Center in 2026 include Georgia State, UC Riverside, Southern, Cal State University Northridge, San Francisco, Sacramento State and UC Santa Barbara.
The ‘Dogs will also host Alabama State at Selland Arena on Friday, Nov. 20th at 7 p.m.
“We heard great feedback from the Red Wave; they love going downtown one game a year. Coach Walberg really enjoys it,” Klassy said. “We want to lean into what makes this place special.”
The feedback hasn’t all been positive but that’s something Fresno State’s Director of Athletics is grateful for nonetheless.
“Although I prefer it all be positive, the negative feedback means people care and I’ll always take that over someone not caring about the sports teams,” Klassy said.
Of the team’s six games away from Fresno, four of them are in California due to the team’s not ‘very big travel budget,’ as Walberg noted. They will be traveling to UC San Diego, San Jose State, Santa Clara and UC Irvine this season.
The only two non-conference games outside the state will take place the weekend right after Thanksgiving as part of the Second Line Showcase in New Orleans, LA. Fresno State will play South Alabama (11/27) and South Dakota State (11/29) during the tournament.
The Bulldogs will play its first of 16 Pac-12 Conference games at home on Sunday, January 3rd at 1 p.m. versus Washington State.
This season will mark the Bulldogs first time ever playing at Texas State (2/18/27) and first time playing at Gonzaga (1/27/27) since 1961.
Of the other eight teams in its conference, seven of them have made the NCAA Tournament in the last six seasons.
The Pac-12 Conference Tournament begins on Tuesday, March 9th in Las Vegas, Nevada. For a complete schedule, visit the Fresno State Athletics website.
Fresno State men’s basketball will have 19 games televised nationally during the 2026-27 season, including all 16 Pac-12 Conference games.
Season prediction
Ceiling: 17-19 wins
Floor: 10-12 wins
Prediction: 15-17 record
I think this team is better than either of the last two seasons. If the front court can
Stay healthy, I think a strong non-conference showing and 5 to 7 wins in a tough conference can have the Bulldogs finish around .500 this season.
Is that the dream? Of course not, but Fresno State eventually needs to build some culture and continuity and perhaps that can happen beginning this season.
Story written by Al Scott, cover photo captured by Evan Hernandez (Fresno Sports Magazine). For more pictures and updates on Fresno State Athletics, follow @AlScott1998 on Twitter (X) or @AlScottSports on IG.
Good year or bad year, it doesn’t seem to matter for the San Diego State versus Fresno State rivalry in recent years. The Aztecs simply have the ‘Dogs number.
For the third time in four years and three consecutive matchups, San Diego State has defeated Fresno State, following its 26-23 victory over Fresno State on Saturday night to keep the Old Oil Can in San Diego. A “frustrated” Matt Entz spoke to the media after the game.
“I’m at a loss for words for why it takes us to the second quarter to get going? We change things up. We try different things. We just have to keep working,” Entz said. “We’re a better team than the product we put out there.”
The loss drops Fresno State to 4-3 (1-2) on the season.
Key players
Bryson Donelson (FS): 13 carries, 62 yards, TD
K’Vion Thunderbird (FS): 9 tackles, 1 TFL
Lucky Sutton (SDSU): 18 carries, 110 yards
Tano Letuli (SDSU): 11 tackles, sack
What happened
After forcing a three-and-out, San Diego State took over and handed it off to starting tailback Lucky Sutton for gains of 8 and 4 yards apiece, making his return after missing two games. Fresno State forced a punt though, thanks to a 3rd down sack from Martin Owusu.
The ‘Dogs appeared to be moving down the field with momentum, getting first downs from Bryson Donelson and Jake Appleget. Quarterback Jayden Mandal then found Brock Lium open.
San Diego State linebacker Sione Hala poked the ball free though, giving the Aztecs the ball on Fresno State’s 32-yard line. The Aztecs would get on the board first with a 32-yard field goal from senior place kicker Cooper DiLeva.
The Aztecs got the ball back a couple minutes later and on the sixth play of the drive, Quarterback Jayden Denegal made a deep throw down the right sideline, finding wide receiver Jaylon Hawkins streaking open for a 52-yard touchdown, giving them a 10-0 lead with 1:58 remaining in the first quarter.
Fresno State finished the first quarter with just 33 yards, to the Aztecs 135.
“We can’t get down 13-0 and then anticipate. It’s never going to be easy getting back. We have to come up with a way where we can start faster. I’ve seen us start faster in games, like we did a week ago,” Entz said.
The two teams traded field goals early in the second quarter to make it 13-3. Manaki Watanabe’s 51-yarder made him the first Bulldog in program history with four 50+ yard field goal makes in a single season.
Denegal left the game midway through the second quarter, replaced by redshirt freshman transfer Stone Saunders. His first play resulted in a muffed snap recovered by Fresno State EDGE Dylan Hampsten. Facing a third and three, Mandal kept the ball and ran up the middle for a gain of 16 and a first. Bryson Donelson followed it up with a gain of 11 before rushing four yards to the left for six points.
The Aztecs went into halftime with just a 16-10 lead despite out-gaining the Bulldogs 201-121.
San DIego State opened the second half with a long drive, but a missed field goal this time from DiLeva kept the game at 16-10. The momentum shift is exactly what the Bulldogs needed.
Mandal led Fresno State on a 10-play, 75-yard drive, including a 19-yard reverse run by wide receiver Ezekiel Avit. The next play was a fake reverse for Mandal handed it off to redshirt freshman running back Julius Gillick who only had one man to beat on the right side as he ran in for a 7-yard rushing touchdown, the third time he has found the end zone this season to make it 17-16 Bulldogs.
San Diego State opened the fourth quarter with a 67-yard run from Sutton. Two plays later, Saunders found do-it-all receiver Bert Emanuel Jr. for a 24-yard gain to the two yard line. After a play that went nowhere and a false start penalty, Emanuel Jr. (at quarterback) dumped it off to wide receiver Jordan Napier for a seven-yard race to the left pylon and a touchdown to give the Aztecs a 23-17 lead.
On second and ten with less than six minutes left in the game, Mandal connected on a deep shot to Avit who won out despite triple-coverage. It set up another Gillick rushing touchdown but a missed extra point by Watanabe kept the game tied at 23 apiece.
San Diego State steadily moved the ball down the field on a drive that took off nearly four minutes, including a critical 26-yard pass from Saunders to Napier. It was just enough to set up a 53-yarder from DiLeva to win the game.
The Bulldogs got one last drive but a sack on the first play killed any momentum Fresno State may have had left from its previous drive. Mandal completed 13-of-25 passes for 141 yards on the night.
What’s next
Fresno State will get some rest with its bye next week.
“The resolve of the team is tremendous, we just need to be more opportunistic,” Entz said. “We got to get better at the simple things, better at tackling, better at blocking, better at communication, better at all the alignment assignment things, things that win games.”
Following the bye, Fresno State will return home to Valley Children’s Stadium on Saturday, October 31, for a late night Halloween battle with the Oregon State Beavers (5-2, 3-0).
Game recap written by Al Scott, photos captured by Evan Bradley (Fresno Sports Magazine). For more pictures and updates on Fresno State Athletics, follow@AlScott1998on Twitter (X) or@AlScottSportson IG.
We’ve reached the midway point through the season and the Bulldogs find themselves at 4-2 (1-1), following a narrow 38-31 loss at home to #23 Boise State last week.
It’s a new week though and a fresh opportunity to “go 1-0” against a new opponent as Head Coach Matt Entz likes to say. Funny enough, the Bulldogs will get a crack at a canned trophy for the second straight week.
The ‘Dogs are heading down south to play San Diego State (2-4, 1-1) for the Oil Can. The ‘Dogs will be looking to get revenge after losing the last two battles, including a 23-0 shutout last season.
“I did remind them about last year,” Entz said at his Monday morning press conference. “It was spirited and I pulled up some video evidence of how spirited it needs to be.”
Need to know for Saturday
What: Fresno State (8.5-point favorites) at San Diego State
When: Saturday, Oct. 17 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Snapdragon Stadium (San Diego, CA)
TV: CBS Sports Network (Rich Waltz, Adam Breneman and Jordan Giorgio)
Radio: ESPN Fresno – 1430/790 (Paul Loeffler, Pat Hill and Kenny Wiggins), Caliente – 105.1 KKBZ (Jose Gonzalez and Abraham Montano)
Bulldog Bites
Fresno State leads the Pac-12 in scoring defense, allowing 20 points per game, including 16.2 PPG over the last five games.
The ‘Dogs rank 6th in the FBS with a 1.33 turnover margin per game (11-3 overall in 2026). Fresno State has only had one turnover overall in its last five games.
Fresno State has committed 27 penalties for just 192 yards this season. The 32 penalty yards per game rank first in the conference and 5th in the FBS.
Former Fresno State wide receiver and current Los Angeles Rams star Davante Adams moved into a tie with Larry Fitzgerald for 6th all-time in touchdown receptions (121). He’s also now 4th in NFL history with 30 multi-TD game performances.
The Oil Can
Saturday will mark the 64th meeting between Fresno State and San Diego State (leads series 32-27-4), a rivalry dating back to 1923 that has come and gone over the decades with conference realignment before being officially coined in 2011.
The can was introduced after alumni associations from both universities ran a joint fan contest to create a formal rivalry. The winning submission was an old oil can from Fresno that turned up in San Diego during a campus building project.
As a result, a antique 1930s oil can was purchased and converted into a plaque-adorned trophy to track the history of the matchup. Since its introduction, Fresno State has won seven of the 13 matchups but not its two most recent ones.
The can honors the California roots between the two schools and the distance in between them, namely the grapevine and the 99 freeway. Because early motor vehicles frequently overheated or burned oil, fans driving had to carry extra oil and water to make the long trip.
San Diego won last year’s battle 23-0 with a dismantling of the Fresno State offense, holding them to just 227 yards of offense. It was the Bulldogs first time being shutout at home since 1980 and it’s a day that still lives very clearly in Offensive Coordinator Josh Davis’ mind.
“Public humiliation is long-lasting, and what happened last year at home, I know it still affects me, and I remember that day very well,” Davis said.
Josh Davis talking to the media on Wednesday.
San Diego State also won in 2023, 33-18, to close out the regular season that year. Fresno State’s last win against the Aztecs has a case for being the most memorable ending in Fresno State Football history.
Trailing 28-17 at home with under four minutes left in 2022, Fresno State Quarterback Jake Haener led the Bulldogs on a three-minute, 80-yard drive before ending it with a three-yard rush up the middle from Jordan Mims.
Wide Receivers Zane Pope and Nikko Remigio combined for 269 yards on 20 receptions and 3 Touchdowns. Pope also recovered the critical onside kick by Dylan Lynch with just over a minute left in the game that allowed the Bulldogs to score two late touchdowns in the matter of 13 seconds to complete a 32-28 comeback victory over the San Diego State Aztecs.
Fresno State celebrating 32-28 win over San Diego State in 2022 (Fresno State Athletics).
The win marked the 3rd of 9 straight victories for the Bulldogs that season that ended with a Mountain West Championship and a LA Bowl win over Washington State.
Get to know San Diego State
The Aztecs are under Head Coach Sean Lewis who went 3-9 in his first season at San Diego State in 2024 before jumping to 9-4 in year two under Lewis and a top-10 nationally ranked defense. Fast forward to year three and things seem to be trending backwards in San Diego.
Coming off a really bad loss in Corvallis, where they fell 66-14 to a potential conference favorite in Oregon State, the Aztecs are 2-4 (1-1) on the season and further raised questions for its struggling offense that is averaging just 22.8 points per game (104th out of 138 FBS teams), 277.7 YPG (135th) and 143.7 passing YPG (130th).
Senior Quarterback Jayden Denegal has completed just 76-of-141 pass attempts (53.9%) for 787 yards and six touchdown passes (5 interceptions) through six games. His struggles have put his job in jeopardy and been the subject of media scrutiny. Lewis was asked about Denegal and his his starting role going forward on Monday.
Jayden Denegal (Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune).
“I’m aware of his deficiencies. I’m aware of his strengths. I also know what else is there…for the sake of change, if it’s not warranted and doesn’t give the team and the program the best opportunity to be successful, that’s not the right thing to do,” Lewis said, in regard to a potential switch.
Beyond him, the Aztecs have redshirt freshman transfer Stone Saunders, but he is currently still questionable for Saturday after suffering a broken collarbone in the Aztecs season opener at Portland State. They also have walk-on redshirt freshman Draiden Trudeau and true freshman Brady Campbell.
The ‘Dogs aren’t going to overlook Denegal, who appears by all accounts to be starting this weekend and the Aztecs offense though.
“Anytime someone has a returning quarterback, that makes you concerned, a guy that has played a lot of football. They have two really talented running backs and a veteran offensive line that comes back,” Entz said.
Defensively, San Diego State is allowing 35 PPG (110th) and 477.8 YPG (129th) on the year, including the 62 points to Oregon State this past Saturday.
“I think they’re probably the hardest hitting football team we’ll have played, which leads to missed tackles because they don’t wrap you up, but they’ll thump you,” Davis said.
Aztecs to watch
Lucky Sutton and Javion Kinnard — Speaking of the aforementioned talented running backs, the Bulldogs have been well acquainted with these two and not for good reasons.
“Both of them can make people miss in the open field. If I remember right, Sutton had a 54-yarder against us last year, and Kinnard had a 70 or 80-yarder against us at Colorado State,” Entz said.
Lucky is one of the top returning backs in the conference after rushing 254 times for 1,297 yards and 10 touchdowns a year ago as the Aztecs lead back. Sutton (45 carries, 150 yards, 3 TDs) has missed three games this season though with a high ankle sprain, including the last two. Listed as questionable to play on Saturday, is one of 31 Aztecs currently listed on their injury report.
Kinnard (67 carries, 355 yards, TD), a Colorado State sophomore, has taken over the lead back role with Sutton missing some time. Fresno State defensive tackle Deijon Laffitte spoke on Tuesday morning after practice on facing the talented duo.
“They’re really good at making guys miss, they have good patience, being able to read the gaps and see where D tackles go and see where linebackers fit, and being able to make them the one cuts or the one jump moves and just being able to restart their feet,” Laffitte said.
Deijon Laffitte (Ryan Sepulveda).
It will be a big test for the Bulldogs defense to see if they can bounce back after allowing Boise State’s running back tandem of Dylan Riley and Sire Gaines to combine for 334 yards.
“We got to be better. I thought we were tackling way too high with our hand placement and our feet too,” Defensive Coordinator Nick Benedetto said. “That’s not the standard. We’ve got to coach better. We’ve got to play better.”
Like Sutton, Kinnard is also questionable to play on Saturday. Beyond this duo, freshmen Josiah Lucas (42 carries, 169 yards, 2 TD) and Jordin Thomas (14 carries, 55 yards, TD) are next in line for rushing duties.
“They have a good offensive line. They got good receivers, and just really being able to bottle up their energy because they do come out swinging, regardless of who they play,” Laffitte said.
The linebackers — San Diego State starting linebackers Sione Hala and Tano Letuli have combined for 112 tackles. Hala, a Boston College and Weber State transfer also has two sacks. Letuli had a pick-6 in the Oil Can rivalry last season.
Tano Letuli (21) celebrating with teammates after his 31-yard interception returned for a touchdown last season versus Fresno State (San Diego State Athletics).
“We’re talking to our backs a lot about bracing for contact because these guys are kamikaze tacklers at the second and third level, so it will be a physical football game. We’re going to need to protect the ball and break tackles,” Davis said.
Junior outside linebacker Djibril Rahman leads the Aztecs with three sacks. He has 18 total tackles this season.
The fast freshman — San Diego State wide receiver and redshirt freshman Jaylon Hawkins has returned 14 kicks for a nation-leading 543 yards (38.8 yards per attempt) and three touchdowns.
“That’s a career for most kick returners, and that’s probably generous to say that. But to have that in the first half of the season is unbelievable,” Entz said.
Hawkins was named the Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week for the second straight week and third time this season following his 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown against Oregon State. He is one of only five players since 2020 with kickoff returns for touchdowns in back-to-back games.
“He is a dynamic player with the ball in his hands, and we have to do a really good job of hitting our spots with that specialist and covering the field,” Entz said.
Former ‘Dogs — San Diego State football has two former Bulldogs who were with Fresno State from 2022 to 2024: Wide Receiver Nathan Acevedo and defensive lineman Gavriel Lightfoot.
Acevedo caught nine balls for 65 yards as a redshirt sophomore in 2024 before transferring home to San Diego where he has caught 32 balls for 367 yards and a pair of touchdowns over the last two seasons. He is currently listed as doubtful though.
Lightfoot was a three-year starter for the Bulldogs before also transferring during the Bulldogs coaching change at the end of the 2024 season. The Moreno Valley native went to Colorado but missed the 2025 season with an injury before returning to California to play for the Aztecs this season. The senior defensive tackle has 28 tackles and three pass deflections on the season.
“They’re going to be hungry,” Benedetto said. We expect them to be at their best, and we have to be at our best. It’s a new week, a new challenge, and every team in the Pac-12 is a good football team.”
Dog-Factors
Run the clock – Fresno State is currently rushing for 139.7 yards per game (93rd in the FBS), which by all accounts is not great for a run-first offense. The lack of a consistent ground game has made it hard for the ‘Dogs to sustain long drives and get into and score in the red zone.
The Aztecs have given up plenty of yards in the passing game (299.2 YPG) but they haven’t been much better against the run (178.7 YPG allowed). Both marks rank 7th out of 8 PAC-12 teams, though the rushing marks could have more to do with being on the field so much.
Despite the large total, San Diego State is allowing just 4 YPC on the ground, 2nd best in the PAC-12.
Running back Bryson Donelson
“If you run it 50 times, that adds up to dang near almost 200 yards, which is kind of the Toledo way that they were able to do that versus them,” Davis said.
San Diego State dropped to 138th (last) in the nation in average time of possession (24 minutes per game) after holding the ball for just 17:28 minutes at Oregon State.
Saturday could be Fresno State’s best chance to get the running game going and reestablish ball control after struggling mightily in that department last week against Boise State (21:04 time of possession).
“We know that they’ll be disciplined and well coached, but we have to be stubborn with that. We got to keep their offense off the field and help our defense be successful a little bit better. But if we do run for four yards a carry and we don’t turn the ball over, I think we’ll be tough to beat,” Davis said.
Running back Rayshon Luke is questionable to play after leaving during the first half at Washington State on Oct. 3. Bryson Donelson left last game with an injury as well but returned and is expected to be a full-go against the Aztecs.
Get it to Zeke – Fresno State junior wide receiver Ezekiel Avit has emerged as an elite playmaker for the Bulldogs this season, catching 19 balls for 330 yards and four touchdowns (two last week).
The first touchdown, a 59-yarder that Avit broke free down the east sideline for a touchdown, was from his former Maryland, now current Fresno State teammate, Khristian Martin, who briefly replaced starter Jayden Mandal at the end of the first quarter.
“I was just encouraging K-Mart when he came into the game. It was a big game against a ranked opponent, just letting them know we got his back. The first time he threw the ball, it was to me, we didn’t connect. And I was just telling them, you know, we’re gonna get it back. We’re gonna get it back, next play. He throws it to me,” Avit said.
Avit said he noticed in film the corner on him liked to go for the knees and he applied that knowledge in the moment.
“He’s a small guy, so I had to pick my knees up, and when I had seen the space between me and 10, I felt like I had to just start getting on my horse, and I felt like I picked up the speed, and it was honestly a race to the pile on. I feel, and I felt like I won that,” Avit said.
His sprint speed got up to 21.7 mph, tied for the second fastest max speed in the FBS last week.
“I feel like my speed’s always been there. You know, it’s just got to be put on display. I feel like I’m a playmaker when the ball is in my hands,” Avit said. “It only takes me four or five steps to get up to max speed.”
Avit later caught a slant over the middle in the end zone to score right before halftime.
Injury Report
A final updated injury report is expected less than three hours before kickoff on Saturday, visit the PAC-12 website for the latest on Fresno State player availability throughout the week.
Harold Duvall returned to action versus Boise State but played just four snaps (Ryan Sepulveda).
Score predictions
Fresno State 27, San Diego State 10
The Aztecs will be desperate after a humiliating loss last week and will be aggressive in the first half. I predict Fresno State to wear San Diego State down as the game goes on with an overwhelming second half, similar to the Washington State game.
Game preview written by Al Scott, cover photo captured by Ryan Sepulveda (Fresno Sports Magazine). For more pictures and updates on Fresno State Athletics, follow @AlScott1998 on Twitter (X) or @AlScottSports on IG.
