Fresno State (3-4, 2-1 MW) vs. San Diego State (4-3, 2-1 MW)
Saturday, Oct. 29 • 7:30 p.m. PT • Valley Children's Stadium (41,031) - Fresno, Calif.
MEDIA COVERAGE
TV - FS1
Play-By-Play - Jeff Levering
Analyst - Petros Papadakis
Radio - Bulldog Sports Network (BSN)
Play-by-Play - Paul Loeffler
Analyst - Pat Hill
Sideline - Cam Worrell
Live Stats:BulldogsLive.com
A LOOK INSIDE
Series: San Diego State, 30-26-4
Head Coaches:
Jeff Tedford
Fresno State Record (Years): 29-18 (4th season)
Career DI Record (Years): 111-75 (13 year)
Brady Hoke
San Diego State Record (Years): 33-21 (4th season)
Career DI Record: 98-79 (15th season)
BULLDOG BONES
This is the 12th season* of the "Battle for the Old Oil Can" Trophy, given to the winning team in the rivalry series between San Diego State and Fresno State.
If Fresno state wins on Saturday, it will be tied for first place in the West Division with San Jose State. Since the Bulldogs defeated San Jose State on Oct. 15, the path to the Mountain West Championship game is still clear ahead of the Bulldogs.
As divisional opponents, Fresno State and San Diego State traditionally alternate hosting each other every other year. However, Saturday's matchup will be the first time that San Diego State plays in Fresno since Nov. 17, 2018. The teams were scheduled to play in The Valley during the 2020 season, but the game that season was canceled due to COVID-19 protocols. Fresno State has won four of the last five games played between the programs in Fresno.
With four games as the starting quarterback under his belt, it is becoming clear that sophomore Logan Fife has got in his groove, and the rest of the offense more comfortable with him as well. Fife has thrown for 892 yards while completing 84-of-120 pass attempts. Fife is throwing at a 70.0 percent clip, a mark that is 13th-best in the FBS and a league-leading mark through games played Oct. 22.
Senior wide receiver Jalen Moreno-Cropper has had an electric career as a Bulldog. Moreno-Cropper became the 13th Bulldog in program history to surpass 2,000 career receiving yards. With 158 yards receiving last time out, Moreno-Cropper is up to 2,119 career receiving yards. He became the first Bulldog since KeeSean Johnson and Jamire Jordan to hit the milestone - both played from 2015-18.
Jordan Mims currently sits 8th in career rushing yards (2,565) at Fresno State. Mims is just one rushing touchdown away from breaking into the Top 10 in career rushing touchdowns - his 27th score would tie with Aaron Craver (1989-90) and Kelly Skipper (1985-88) in Fresno State's history. 2021 senior Ronnie Rivers holds the program record with 40 career rushing touchdowns.
Center Bula Schmidt recorded a reception on a batted down pass, and ran with it for four yards with eight yards after catch. It was the first time a Bulldog offensive lineman caught a true pass reception (2-point conversions are not registered as pass receptions) since Adam McDowell at then-No. 8 Boise State on Nov. 28, 2008.
Fresno State is one of 21 schools from around the FBS with 10 or more players with at least 1.0 sack on the season. The 11 players with a sack are the third-most among the 21 teams.
Fresno State's defensive line is among the youngest in the country. The Bulldogs have played four true freshmen on the defensive line this season, with two of those four having earned at least one start.
Last time out, Fresno State scored its most points in a game (41) since scoring 63 against Cal Poly on Sept. 11, 2021. It was its most against a conference opponent since scoring 41 at Hawai'i on Nov. 2, 2019.
Defensively against the Lobos, Fresno State held New Mexico to only 138 total yards of offense (51 passing and 87 rushing), did not allow a touchdown in a game for the first time since its shutout at Wyoming on Oct. 16, 2021, and had a 10.0 TFL performance in its second-straight game.