Fresno State (9-4, 7-1 MW) vs. Washington State (7-5, 4-5 Pac-12)
Saturday, Dec. 17 • 12:30 p.m. PT • SoFi Stadium (70,240) - Los Angeles, Calif.
MEDIA COVERAGE
TV - ABC
Play-By-Play - Joe Tessitore
Analyst - Greg McElroy
Sideline - Molly McGrath
Radio - ESPN
Play-by-Play - Jorge Sedano
Analyst - Rod Gilmore
Sideline - Quint Kessenich
Radio - Bulldog Sports Network
Play-by-Play - Paul Loeffler
Analyst - Pat Hill
Sideline - Cam Worrell
Social Media: Twitter: @FresnoStateFB | Instagram:@fresno_state_football | Facebook: FresnoStateFootball | YouTube: FresnoStateAthletics
Live Stats:BulldogsLive.com
A LOOK INSIDE
Series: Washington State leads, 3-1
Head Coaches:
Jeff Tedford
Fresno State Record (Years): 35-18 (4th season)
Career DI Record (Years): 117-75 (13 year)
Jake Dickert
Washington State Record (Years): 10-8 (2nd season)
Career DI Record: Same
BULLDOG BONES
The 2022 Fresno State football team will go down in the history books as the team responsible for the best single-season turnaround in program history. The Bulldogs opened the season going 1-4, winning their season opener and losing the next four-in-a-row. Oct. 8 at Boise State was Fresno State's last loss of the season. Since then, the Bulldogs have won eight-straight games - including a Mountain West Championship title.
Around the FBS, no team has ever had a 1-4 record through the first five games and flipped the script to have a 10-win season that year. With a chance at a 10-win season still ahead of it in 2022, Fresno State and Jeff Tedford have yet another chance to make FBS history.
In the 101-year history of the program, Fresno State has had 12 double-digit winning seasons, with its last one (10-3) being just a year ago in 2021.
With a 10-win season in 2022, Tedford would have the second-most 10-win seasons as head coach at Fresno State. Jim Sweeney (1976-96) has the most among all Bulldog head coaches with five 10-win seasons in his tenure.
In six games since his return from injury, quarterback Jake Haener has played arguably the best and most-accurate football of his career.
In his last six games, Haener has completed 153-of-209 pass attempts, throwing just two interceptions to 14 touchdowns. The senior QB has totaled 1,762 yards in that span, tossing a 300-yard game in the first four performances since his return. He is passing at a 75 percent clip since Oct. 29.
Fresno State senior quarterback Jake Haener accepted an invitation to the Reese's Senior Bowl following the conclusion of the Mountain West Championship Game on Dec. 3.
For the first time since 2014, Fresno State has had a rusher and a receiver have 1,000 yards in their respective categories. Jordan Mims (RB) and Jalen Moreno-Cropper (WR) became the first duo since Marteze Waller (RB) and Josh Harper (WR) to do it together in a Bulldog uniform.
Lockridge was named the MW Championship Game Defensive MVP after two key interceptions, that turned to points for the Bulldogs. Lockridge, a first-year Bulldog and a transfer from Hawai'i, is the leading tackler among all Bulldog cornerbacks. He has 36 tackles (24 solo) and 2.0 tackles for loss. Most impressively, Lockridge leads the team with five interceptions, returned for 100 yards with one returned for a touchdown. He adds nine broken up passes on the year.
With five interceptions this season, Lockridge has the most picks in a single season by a Bulldog since Derron Smith had seven in 2013. Lockridge returned an interception for a touchdown against his former team Hawai'i (Nov. 5). It was the first time Fresno State had an INT returned for a TD since 2019.
Fresno State's special teams unit has improved from the 48th best special teams unit in 2021 to the 10th best in 2022 (according to FootballOutsiders.com).
Fresno State leads the FBS in punt returns. In addition to punt returns, Fresno State is Top 20 in the FBS in blocked kicks (No. 19) and blocked punts (No. 13). The Bulldogs are No. 22 in the FBS in kickoff returns