LOS ANGELES - The Fresno State football team made history at SoFi Stadium on Saturday afternoon, defeating Washington State 29-6 in the second annual Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl. Fresno State became the first team in FBS history to begin the season 1-4 and finish with 10 wins. The Bulldogs won nine in a row, finishing the 2022 season with a 10-4 record, a Mountain West Championship title and a bowl game victory under head coach Jeff Tedford in his first year back as head coach of the program.
Senior running back Jordan Mims was named the game's Offensive MVP with a career-high 209 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Defensive lineman Devo Bridges was the MVP on the opposite side of the ball, finishing with career-highs in tackles (8), tackles for loss (2.0) and sacks (2.0).
Fresno State's defense held Washington State to just 182 yards of total offense. The Bulldogs' offense produced 501 yards of total offense behind Mims and 280 yards passing by quarterback Jake Haener (20-of-30).
How It Happened
Fresno State held complete control in the first half, scoring on its first drive. Haener capped a seven-play drive with a 22-yard touchdown pass to Zane Pope. The Bulldog defense forced a three-and-out in its first showing.
It was a defensive battle in the first as Fresno State ended the quarter with a 7-0 lead. The Bulldogs outgained Washington State in yardage in the quarter, 166-19.
Fresno State opened the second quarter with a four-play, capped by a three-yard rush by Jordan Mims. The Bulldogs' defense held tough on the following Cougar drive as Leonard Payne Jr. chased Cameron Ward to the back of the endzone for a safety to put Fresno State on top, 16-0 with 11:14 left in the second quarter.
That remained the score at the half as Fresno State took a 16-0 lead into the locker room.
Senior defensive back L.J. Early opened the second half with an interception at the Fresno State 8-yard line, halting a Washington State drive that was moving down the field. Washington State scored its only touchdown of the game on a one-yard punch-in by Nakia Watson. The Cougars attempted the two-point conversion, but Levelle Bailey pressured Ward to force an incomplete pass on the attempt. Fresno State led 16-6 with 3:40 left in the third quarter.
Behind the legs of Mims, who ran for 51 yards on two carries in the Bulldogs' ensuing drive, Haener was quickly set up in the red zone. One quick strike to Nikko Remigio and the Bulldogs were up 22-6 with just over 30 seconds left in the quarter.
The start of the fourth quarter saw a quick outing by the Bulldog defense as defensive end David Perales forced a turnover on downs with a batted down pass at the line of scrimmage. Mims again took advantage of the opportunity, totaling 23 yards on an eight-play 38-yard scoring drive, capping it off two-yard touchdown run to put Fresno State up 29-6 in the middle of the fourth.
Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl Postgame Notes
Captains: Jake Haener, Jordan Mims, David Perales, Evan Williams
Toss: Fresno State wins, receives.
Team Notes
Fresno State became the first FBS team to start a season 1-4 and finish with 10 wins (10-4).
The 182 yards allowed by the Bulldogs are the least for a Fresno State opponent in a bowl game since Dec. 30, 2003 against UCLA in the Silicon Valley Football Classic (164 yards).
The 23-point margin of victory is the third-largest for Fresno State in a bowl game, and the largest since a 51-7 defeat of Bowling Green on Dec. 14, 1985 in the California Raisin Bowl.
Fresno State held its opponent scoreless in the first half for the fourth time this season.
Fresno State limited Washington State to just 59 yards of total offense in the first half.
Fresno State won its fourth-straight bowl game, dating back to 2017. Head Coach Jeff Tedford has won three bowl games as head coach (2017, 2018, 2022).
Fresno State won its 31st bowl game all-time.
Offensive Notes
RB Jordan Mims scored his 18th touchdown of the season.
Mims had his sixth 100-yard rushing game of the season, tying for the fifth-most 100-yard games in a season in program history. He has the most by a Bulldog since Marteze Waller in 2014.
Mims broke into the Top 5 in career rushing yards in Fresno State history, passing Marteze Waller (2012-15) on the list for fifth all-time.
Mims was named the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl Offensive MVP after rushing for a career-high 209 yards to go with two touchdowns. It was the second-most rushing yards by a Bulldog in a bowl game behind the 212 yards that former teammate Ronnine Rivers had in the 2018 Las Vegas Bowl.
It was Mims' second straight Offensive MVP in a bowl game after earning the honor at the 2021 PUBG New Mexico Bowl when he totaled three touchdowns and 236 all-purpose yards (165 rushing/71 receiving). He matched that all-purpose total in today's bowl game (209 rushing/27 receiving).
WR Nikko Remigio scored his 10th touchdown of the season - his sixth receiving score.
WR Zane Pope scored his fourth touchdown of the season, tying his single-season career-best.
QB Jake Haener extended his streak of 29 straight games with a passing touchdown, finishing out his Bulldog career with at least one touchdown throw in every game during his time here. Haener holds the MW record for longest streak.
Defense Notes
DB LJ Early grabbed his second interception of the season.
DB Carlton Johnson led the team in total tackles.
Johnson had a career-high 10 tackles in the win.
DL Devo Bridges had career-highs in tackles for loss and sacks.
Bridges was named the Jimmy Kimmel Bowl Defensive MVP after recording career highs in tackles (8) and sacks (2).
DB Evan Williams had his first sack of the season.
Special Teams Notes
Redshirt freshman kicker Andre Meono saw his first game action of the season, stepping in for all kicking duties.