Fresno State (0-1, 0-0 MW) vs Sacramento State (0-1, 0-0 Big Sky)
Saturday, September 7, 2024 | 7 p.m. PT | CBS47/MW Network | Valley Children's Stadium (40,727) | Fresno, Calif.
GAME THEME
Bulldog Fiesta
PRESENTING SPONSOR
Sun-Maid
TICKETS
MEDIA COVERAGE
TV - CBS47/MW Network
Play-by-Play - Scott Bemis
Analyst - Marcus McMaryion
Sideline - N/A
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, 4-0
Head Coaches:
Tim Skipper
Fresno State Record (Years): 1-1 (1st season*)
Career DI Record (Years): Same
Andy Thompson
Sacramento State Record (Years): 8-6 (2nd Season)
Career DI Record: Same
QUICK LOOK
Fresno State dropped its season opener for the first time since 2020.
Fresno State looks to get in the win column for the first time in 2024 this weekend, hosting Sacramento State for its home opener.
Saturday's game is the annual Bulldog Fiesta, celebrating the hispanic community in the Valley.
Fresno State sold out three of its six home games in 2023, helping to push the Bulldogs to the highest average attendance in the Mountain West for the second year in a row.
One of the three sellouts was against FCS opponent Eastern Washington. It was the Bulldogs' first sellout against an FCS opponent since 2004.
It was also the 2023 home opener, marking the first time since 2014 that Fresno State sold out its season opener.
Fresno State led all G5 programs in attendance with an average of 39,939 fans per game.
Saturday's game will include an appearance from the 1961 Mercy Bowl team.
Fresno State is going from playing the No. 9 team in the country, and reigning national champions, to hosting an FCS team a week later. The last time the Bulldogs saw a situation like this was traveling to then No. 11 Oregon and hosting Cal Poly the following week in 2021.
Saturday's game will be broadcast locally on CBS47.
Fresno State saw 18 new faces appear in their first games as Bulldogs with six defensive players, nine offensive players and three specialists.
The Bulldogs saw three first-time starters on offense in TE Kamron Beachem, and OL Toreon Penright and Campbell McHarg.
The 'Dogs had just one first-time starter on defense in safety Jayden Davis.
The Bulldogs had a pair of new specialists in their roles with punter Clay Lawrence and long snapper Wesley Brown.
Last weekend's game was a matchup between two first-year head coaches in Tim Skipper and Sherrone Moore. This week, the opponent head coach enters his second season. Andy Thompson is one of five non-first year head coaches that Fresno State will face this season.
ABOUT THE MATCHUP
Fresno State and Sacramento State will meet for the fifth time in program history on Saturday.
It is also the fifth meeting in Fresno in the series.
Fresno State has won all four previous meetings with Sacramento State, the last being a 34-20 victory on September 28, 2019.
Fresno State has outscored Sacramento State 113-33 in the series.
The 2019 meeting was the first time the Bulldogs allowed more than seven points to the Hornets.
Fresno State interim head coach Tim Skipper spent three seasons on staff at Sacramento State from 2003-05. He first coached the DBs in 2003, then added defensive coordinator duties for the 2004-05 seasons.
Six coaches on the Bulldog staff have experience coaching at the FCS level.
Keyshawn Colmon coaches the Hornets' wide receivers. Colmon was an offensive graduate assistant at Fresno State for the 2023 season.
Jalen Williams, listed as a safety for Sacramento State, began his career at Fresno State. Williams spent three seasons with the Bulldogs.
Colby Warkentin, a Sacramento State defensive lineman, began his collegiate career at Fresno State (2019-20) before transferring to Abilene Christian (2021-23) and now Sacramento State.
Saturday's game will be Fresno State's 19th against an FCS school since 2000, and the previous 18 games have been Fresno State victories at home.
Sacramento State enters this week's contest with an 0-1 record after falling to San Jose State 42-24 in San Jose last Thursday.
Sacramento State has defeated an FBS opponent on the road in the last two seasons -- Colorado State in 2022 and Stanford in 2023.