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.
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.
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.
“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).
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.
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. None of the 3 were listed on this week’s injury report however.
- 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.
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.