San Diego State made much last year of its rivalry game with Fresno State — referring to it as “The Team Up North” rather than using the F-word — and The Old Oil Can trophy that is at stake whenever the teams get together.
The Bulldogs seemingly treated the game like any other leading up to kickoff. Did SDSU’s 23-0 road victory make an impression coming into this year’s game? You better believe it.
“I did remind them about last year,” Fresno State coach Matt Entz said in Monday’s meeting with the media. “So it was spirited. And I pulled up some video evidence of how spirited it needs to be. … That will be, I’ve got to believe, two emotionally-driven programs that are coming to meet together. We’ve got to make sure that we do everything we can over the course of the week to be fully prepared.”
The Aztecs have played Fresno State more than any other school, and they lead the all-time series 32-27-4.
SDSU (2-4, 1-1 Pac-12) is a 7 1/2-point underdog against Fresno State for Saturday’s game. Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. (CBS Sports Network) at Snapdragon Stadium.
About the Bulldogs
Entz is in his second season leading the Bulldogs. He won two FCS national championships during five years as head coach of North Dakota State and spent the 2024 season as assistant head coach/linebackers coach at USC before coming to Fresno.
Entz guided Fresno State to a 9-4 record last season, including an 18-3 win over Miami (Ohio) in the Arizona Bowl.
The Bulldogs opened this season with a 39-0 loss to then-No. 14 USC. Fresno State was limited to 116 yards in total offense while allowing 552 yards to the Trojans. Fresno State reeled off four straight victories thereafter, beating Sacramento State (49-3), San Jose State (26-10) and Rice (38-24) before debuting in the Pac-12 with a convincing win over Washington State (26-6).
The four-game winning streak ended with last week’s 38-31 home loss to No. 23 Boise State.
Last time out
Fresno State trailed 25-20 at halftime against the Broncos, but couldn’t get any closer in the second half. A field goal with a minute remaining made it a one-score game, but Boise State recovered the Bulldogs’ onside kick attempt to secure the victory.
Fresno State quarterback Jayden Mandal (19-for-33, 218 yards, 2 TDs) led the offense, which was limited to 69 yards rushing on 16 carries. The Bulldogs defense allowed 512 yards of total offense, including 274 yards rushing.
Fresno State running back Rayshon Luke looks for yardage in the first half of the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl against Miami (Ohio) on Dec. 27, 2025, in Tucson, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Key players
QB Jayden Mandal: The 6-foot junior who earned the starting spot in training camp after missing last season with arm injuries that required surgery. He has completed 110 of 170 passes for 1,252 yards and eight touchdowns this season and has been intercepted once.
RBs Rayshon Luke and Bryson Donelson: Luke (42 carries, 286 yards, TD) and Donelson (52-237, 4 TDs) account for more than half the team’s rushing yards. Luke, nicknamed “Speedy,” missed the Boise State game after suffering a concussion against Washington State two weeks ago.
WRs Josiah Freeman and Ezekiel Avit: Freeman (28 receptions, 375 yards, 2 TDs) and Avit (19-330, 4 TDs) are Mandal’s top two targets. Avit had a 73-yard touchdown catch against Sacramento State, but only one other player has a reception longer than 28 yards.
LB K’Vion Thunderbird: He flies around looking for someone to stop, which explains why he is far and away the team’s leader with 52 tackles,
DB Simeon Harris: The nickel back is the team’s biggest ballhawk with three interceptions and second to Thunderbird with 31 tackles.
K Manaki Watanabe: He leads the Pac-12 and is tied for second in the nation with 12 field goals (14 attempts). He is 3-for-3 beyond 50 yards with a long of 52.
USC head coach Lincoln Riley, left, and Fresno State head coach Matt Entz shake hands after the game on Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, at the Coliseum. (Photo by Griffin C. Hooper/Getty Images)
Coachspeak
SDSU ranks 135th in the nation in total defense (477.8 ypg), but Fresno State coach Matt Entz said: “Defensively, they’ve played a lot of snaps so far this year. But if you look through the weeds a little bit, they do a good job of limiting the run game. I know they give up yardage, but I think that’s because they play a lot of defense. It’s not because they’re giving up explosive plays.”
On SDSU kick returner Jaylon Hawkins’ three touchdown returns in six games: “That’s a career for most kick returners. … but to have that in the first half of the season is unbelievable. One of the initial keys to success that I put up is, don’t kick it to (No.) 12.”
Did you know?
Some of the Bulldogs’ success can be attributed to a defense that has 11 takeaways (seven interceptions, four fumble recoveries) paired with an offense that has only three giveaways (one interception and two fumbles lost).
Fresno State’s three turnovers rank 12th in the nation, and the Bulldogs have committed only one turnover over their past four games.