San Diego State and Fresno State renew acquaintances this week in a game that has more at stake than The Old Oil Can trophy the rivals play for when they share the field. There is an added bonus in that the winning team will reach six victories, the number needed for bowl eligiblity.<\/p>\n
SDSU (5-1, 2-0 Mountain West) leads the all-time series 31-27-4. The Aztecs won the last meeting between the teams, closing out the 2023 season with a 33-18 win at Snapdragon Stadium.<\/p>\n
Fresno State (5-2, 2-1) is a 2-point favorite against the Aztecs in this game, which kicks off at 12:30 p.m. Saturday from Valley Children\u2019s Stadium. The game will air on Fox Sports 1.<\/p>\n
About the Bulldogs<\/p>\n
Fresno State has been among the most successful programs in the Mountain West since joining the conference 13 years ago, winning league championships in 2012, 2013, 2018 and 2022. Only Boise State (5) has won more during that span.<\/p>\n
The last two titles came under head coach Jeff Tedford, a former Fresno State quarterback who stepped away from the team twice because of health issues.<\/p>\n
Tedford resigned a month before the 2024 season, with Tim Skipper named interim head coach. Skipper left after the season for UCLA, where he has led a resurgent Bruins team to three straight wins as interim head coach after DeShaun Foster was fired.<\/p>\n
In December, Fresno State hired former North Dakota State coach Matt Entz, who won two FCS national championships during five years as head coach of the Bison.<\/p>\n
The Bulldogs lost their season opener at Kansas, then reeled off five straight victories. The winning streak ended unceremoniously on Oct. 10, when the Bulldogs were crushed 49-21 at Colorado State, a team that lost by 21 points to SDSU a week earlier.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have to go into every game with a chip on our shoulder. We kind of play better when we have that underdog mentality,\u201d Entz siad. \u201cAnd the fact that we got big-headed or we started to look beyond, shame on me. That won\u2019t happen again.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Fresno](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/SUT-L-azfoot-1022-02.jpg\")
Fresno State quarterback E.J. Warner (13) passes while under pressure from Kansas defensive end Justice Finkley, left, during the second half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Lawrence, Kan. (AP Photo\/Charlie Riedel)
\nThe offense<\/p>\n
Getting senior quarterback E.J. Warner squared away was among the tasks for the coaching staff during the off week.<\/p>\n
Warner (139-for-202, 1,486 yards, 10 TDs\/9 INTs) committed four turnovers in the Colorado State loss. He threw three interceptions and had a fumble that was rerturned for a touchdown.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need more leadership,\u201d Entz said. \u201cWe need E.J. to have more skin like a duck. He needs to let some things go. I worry that things compound when he has one bad play. One turns into two, two turns into four.\u201d<\/p>\n
Colorado State led 35-7 in the second quarter, forcing Fresno State to pass.<\/p>\n
\u201cOn the 22 run plays that we called, we averaged over 6 yards a carry,\u201d Entz said. \u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s broken. We just need to protect the football. We need to tackle better. We need to play complementary football. And I think we\u2019ll see more run game with those moments.\u201d<\/p>\n
Like SDSU, the Bulldogs have several solid running backs. Sophomore Bryson Donelson (85 carries, 405 yards, 3 TDs) and junior Rayshon \u201cSpeedy\u201d Luke (59-384, 5 TDs) lead the way.<\/p>\n
Warner\u2019s primary targets are senior wide receiver Josiah Freeman (24 catches, 300 yards, 4 TDs), sophomore tight end Richie Anderson III (21-220, 2 TD), sophomore wide receiver Ezekiel Avit (19-197) and Luke (19-128, 2 TD).<\/p>\n
![\"Fresno](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/SUT-L-azfoot-1022-01.jpg\")
Fresno State head coach Matt Entz watches the first half of an NCAA college football game against Kansas, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Lawrence, Kan. (AP Photo\/Charlie Riedel)
\nThe defense<\/p>\n
Fresno State ranks midway down the list of the nation\u2019s 136 teams in scoring defense at 23.7 points a game (64th), as compared to SDSU\u2019s 12.2 ppg (5th).<\/p>\n
The Bulldogs are allowing 311.9 yards a game in total offense, which stacks up more favorably against SDSU\u2019s 259.7 ppg.<\/p>\n
Jadon Pearson leads the team with 59 tackles, nearly twice as many as second-leading tackler K\u2019vion Thunderbird (32).<\/p>\n
The player to watch up front is defensive lineman Finn Claypool, who leads the Bulldogs with 3 1\/2 sacks.<\/p>\n
\u201cTheir front does a really good job of penetrating and creating havoc at the line of scrimmage,\u201d SDSU coach Sean Lewis said. \u201cThey\u2019re tied together, and I think they have a very unique and complex third-down plan. You can tell week in and week out, they\u2019re doing a really good job executing that third-down plan.\u201d<\/p>\n
Did you know?<\/p>\n
Warner is the son of Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner. The 6-foot senior played at Temple and Rice before transferring to Fresno State this year.\u00a0He is the NCAA\u2019s active career passing yardage leader with 9,300 yards coming into Saturday\u2019s game.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s got a ton of great reps accumulated,\u201d Lewis said. \u201cHe\u2019s obviously had a tremendous teacher from birth.\u201d<\/p>\n
San Diego State (5-1, 2-0) vs. Fresno State (5-2, 2-1)<\/p>\n
When: 12:30 p.m. Saturday<\/p>\n
Where: Valley Children\u2019s Stadium, Fresno<\/p>\n
TV: Fox Sports 1<\/p>\n
Radio: 760-AM<\/p>\n
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