Fresno State (8-4, 4-4 MW) vs New Mexico State (10-4, 7-1 CUSA)
Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023 | 2:45 p.m. PT | ESPN | University Stadium (37,400) | Albuquerque, N.M.
MEDIA COVERAGE
TV - ESPN
Play-by-Play - Clay Matvick
Analyst - Rod Gilmore
Sideline - Lauren Sisler
Radio - Bowl Season Radio
Play-by-Play - Brian Roth
Analyst - Hans Olsen
Sideline - Bridget Howard
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: Fresno State leads, 18-1
Head Coaches:
Tim Skipper (acting head coach)
Fresno State Record: 0-0
Career DI Record: 0-0
Jerry Kill
New Mexico State Record (Years): 17-10 (2nd)
Career DI Record: 175-114 (25th)
QUICK LOOK
Fresno State will be led in the bowl game by acting head coach Tim Skipper.
Skipper assumed the role of acting head coach on Friday, Dec. 1 as head coach Jeff Tedford announced he would be temporarily stepping away for medical reasons.
Skipper, a Fresno State alum himself, played for the Bulldogs from 1997-2000. He is in his second stint on the Bulldogs' coaching staff, having coached under Pat Hill from 2006-11.
It's almost like deja vu: In its last trip to the New Mexico Bowl in 2021, Fresno State was under the direction of a head coach who was not their head coach that season. Fresno State was led by interim head coach Lee Marks to the 2021 victory in the bowl game as head coach Kalen DeBoer accepted the head coach position at Washington at the end of the regular season.
Fresno State had 10 players earn All-Mountain West recognitions at the end of the regular season with five being named to the second team and five picking up honorable mention.
Fresno State did not have a first team All-MW pick for the first time since 2016.
Fresno State's second team All-MW selections were Levelle Bailey (LB), Devo Bridges (DL), Carlton Johnson (DB), Morice Norris Jr. (DB) and Mose Vavao (OL).
The Bulldogs' honorable mention picks were Erik Brooks (WR), Mikey Keene (QB), Malik Sherrod (RB), Jacob Spomer (OL) and Tre Watson (TE).
The NCAA passed a waiver so bowl games do not count towards a game played in regards to redshirt seasons. Fresno State has two players who are at the four-game limit for their redshirt but can play in the bowl game without losing the season of eligibility - Daniel Taumalolo (OL) and Isiah Chala (DL).
As of Friday, December 8, Fresno State has had six players enter the transfer portal in Logan Fife (QB), Tanner Blount (LB), Abraham Montano (K), Chrishawn Gordon (DB), Hayden Pulis (OL) and Ray Scott (LB).
ABOUT THE MATCH UP
Fresno State and New Mexico State will meet for the 20th time in program history on Saturday.
Saturday's game will be the first neutral site meeting between the teams.
Fresno State is 18-1 against New Mexico State with the lone loss coming in 2011
The bowl game will serve as a preview to a regular season nonconference matchup already on the schedule for next season as New Mexico State will travel to Fresno for a game on Sept. 14, 2024.
Fresno State has one player on its roster from the state of New Mexico in tight end Tre Watson (Rio Rancho).
Fresno State will play an opponent from Conference USA for the first time since facing UTEP in the 2021 New Mexico Bowl