Fresno State (8-3, 4-3 MW) at San Diego State (3-8, 1-6 MW)
Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023 | 7:30 p.m. PT | FS1 | Snapdragon Stadium (35,000) | San Diego, Calif.
MEDIA COVERAGE
TV - FS1
Play-by-Play - Guy Haberman
Analyst - Will Blackmon
Radio - Bulldog Sports Network (BSN)
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: San Deigo State leads, 30-27-4
Head Coaches:
Jeff Tedford
Fresno State Record (Years): 44-21 (5th season)
Career DI Record (Years): 126-78 (14th year)
Brady Hoke
San Diego State Record (Years): 39-32 (6th Season)
Career DI Record: 104-90 (16th season)
QUICK LOOK
Although hopes of a Mountain West championship are gone for Fresno State, there are still things on the line. One of those things being another 10-win season.
With wins this weekend and in the bowl game, Fresno State would earn its third-straight 10-win season. It would be the first time in program history that the Bulldogs have three 10-win seasons in-a-row and Fresno State would have its fifth since 2017.
Fresno State has had 13 double-digit winning seasons in its program history.
Fresno State is playing in its third rivalry game of the season after having played for the Milk Can against Boise State (Nov. 4) and the Valley Trophy against San Jose State (Nov. 11). Fresno State won back the Milk Can this season, but lost the Valley Trophy to the Spartans.
Fresno State wraps up its regular season this weekend in San Diego for its fifth-straight game in the State of California.
Entering the 2023 season, Fresno State's defense came in with a goal of 25 turnovers gained for this year. And they're almost there. The Bulldogs total 22 turnovers gained with 16 interceptions and six fumble recoveries so far on the year. The 'Dogs are averaging one turnover gained per game, and have seven games with multiple.
Fresno State's 16 interceptions lead the Mountain West and rank third in the FBS entering this week.
Keene and Fife have connected with nine different receivers for touchdowns this season. All but two players with a catch have recorded at least one receiving touchdown.
Malik Sherrod had Fresno State's first kickoff return for a touchdown since 2008 against Boise State (Nov. 4), returning the final kickoff of the first half 95 yards to the house as time expired before halftime.
Through Week 12 of the college football season, Fresno State was the only school in the FBS who hadn't lost a fumble on the year. That changed last Saturday, but not in typical fashion. Linebacker Levelle Bailey picked off a New Mexico pass attempt, and returned it 41 yards before a Lobo player plucked it from behind and UNM recovered the loose football.
ABOUT THE MATCH UP
Fresno State is also playing for another trophy this week – the Old Oil Can. Fresno State has had possession of the Old Oil Can Trophy since 2021, and looks to keep it for the third-straight year.
The second-most played opponent for the Fresno State football program behind San Jose State is San Diego State, who will meet the Bulldogs for the 62nd time on Saturday evening.
Fresno State plays in San Diego for the first time since 2019 on Saturday.
Fresno State head coach Jeff Tedford is 3-1 against San Diego State with his only loss coming in 2019.
Fresno State has four players on its roster from San Diego - Nathan Acevedo (WR), Ezra Christensen (DL), Landon Ogles (P) and Makei Thompson (DB).
Saturday marks San Diego State head coach Brady Hoke's last game as head coach. Hoke announced his retirement on Nov. 13.
For his career, Hoke is 104-90 (.536) with stints at his alma mater Ball State (2003-08), Michigan (2011-14) and with the Aztecs (2009-10, 2020-23).