Will it be Khristian Martin or Jayden Mandal who gets the starting quarterback job when Fresno State opens the season against USC at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum?
Both quarterbacks battled it out throughout fall camp, taking turns with the first-team offense.
Head coach Matt Entz, other coaches and teammates described the competition as friendly, with each quarterback pushing the other. And that is a good thing.
Both have made their case for why they should be the starter. Maybe Entz and offensive coordinator Josh Davis have already made their decision, but they likely won’t reveal it until Entz meets with the media for his weekly news conference Monday.
Still, it is a significant decision for Entz and Davis. Throughout spring practice and fall camp, both coaches praised Martin and Mandal for their ability to comprehend the playbook and operate the offense.
Martin had to play catch-up after transferring from Maryland. He spent two seasons with the Terrapins and appeared in five games, including against Michigan, Indiana, Towson, Florida Atlantic and Northern Illinois, as a backup.
His first touchdown pass came against Michigan in a 45-20 loss.
Martin arrived at Fresno State while Mandal was recovering from injuries that limited him last season and eventually required surgery.
Mandal said he is now feeling 100%.
Martin describes himself as a quarterback who has “the ability to throw from the pocket and the ability to use the legs when needed.”
Davis said Martin’s arm strength immediately stood out, particularly given the quarterback’s 6-foot-3, 235-pound frame.
“Khristian’s been a blessing,” Davis said during the spring. “He’s up early every day. He’s in my office when I’m almost arrived with a couple questions, and he goes and takes care of his body. He’s academically ahead so that allows him to focus on football.”
Entz has described both quarterbacks as “film room junkies.”
That doesn’t mean Mandal hasn’t put in the same work. Davis said Mandal is in the building early, too.
Mandal understands his injury was a setback, but he also believes it allowed him to understand why it happened and how he can be better for his teammates now that he has returned.
Entz described Mandal as a “quick decision maker,” while acknowledging that both quarterbacks “have the ability to extend plays, escape the pocket and use a little run game.”
Mandal, who played in six games in 2024, called fall camp a “process.” He also acknowledged that he previously fell into the trap of trying too hard to separate himself from the other quarterbacks in the competition.
“Learn from the mistakes that you made,” he said. “Just put your best foot forward every single day.”
Martin’s experience at Maryland, including playing against Power Four competition such as Michigan and Indiana, probably gives him an edge. He has already experienced the pressure of playing on a big stage, and now he has had months to learn Fresno State’s offense and build relationships within the program.
Martin has proven he can handle the moment at Maryland. Now, against USC at the Coliseum, he should get the opportunity to show what he has been working on since arriving in Fresno in early 2026.
This story was originally published August 27, 2026 at 11:24 AM.
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Anthony Galaviz writes about breaking news/sports for The Fresno Bee. He covers the Las Vegas Raiders, high schools, boxing, MMA and junior colleges. He’s been with The Bee since 1997 and attended Fresno City College before graduating from Fresno State with a major in journalism and a minor in criminology.
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