Fresno State (2-1, 0-0 MW) at New Mexico (0-3, 0-0 MW)
Saturday, September 21, 2024 | 5:30 p.m. PT | truTV/MAX | University Stadium (37,440) | Albuquerque, N.M.
MEDIA COVERAGE
TV - truTV/MAX
Play-by-Play - Ari Wolfe
Analyst - Darius Walker
Sideline - Lauren Jbara
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, 15-6
Head Coaches:
Tim Skipper
Fresno State Record (Years): 3-1 (1st season*)
Career DI Record (Years): Same
Bronco Mendenhall
New Mexico Record (Years): 0-3 (1st season)
Career DI Record: 135-84 (18th season)
QUICK LOOK
The Bulldogs are coming off of a 48-0 win over New Mexico State, the largest margin of victory over an FBS team since 2012.
Fresno State and New Mexico will meet for the 22nd time in program history on Saturday.
Fresno State will be making its fourth trip to the city of Albuquerque in as many seasons.
Fresno State will be traveling to ABQ to face New Mexico for the first time since 2022, and just the fifth time since 2012.
Fresno State interim head coach Tim Skipper earned his first win as Fresno State head coach at University Stadium in Albuquerque, serving as the team's acting head coach in the 2023 Isleta New Mexico Bowl against New Mexico State last December.
Fresno State is 2-1 to open the season, following back-to-back home wins for the Bulldogs against Sacramento State and New Mexico State.
Fresno State and New Mexico both open Mountain West play on Saturday.
Fresno State has won two of its last five Mountain West openers (2021 and 2023)
The Bulldogs are 7-5 in Mountain West openers.
Fresno State is 2-4 when opening Mountain West play on the road.
The Bulldogs look for their first road win of the season this weekend, falling in the season opener at then-No. 9 Michigan in their only road test so far.
Fresno State will face a similar situation this weekend as last, going up against a 2023 opponent that isn't remotely similar to the team in 2024. The Lobos have a new head coach this season and have added 42 transfers into the program (the second-most in the country).
For the third time this season, Fresno State will go against a team with a new head coach leading the way. The Bulldogs face five first-year head coaches in 2024.
Fresno State has had its foot on the gas the last two games, recording over 500-yards of offense against Sacramento State and New Mexico State. It's the first time the Bulldogs have had back-to-back games with over 500 yards since early in the 2021 season.
Fresno State used 281 yards rushing in the win against New Mexico State, its most rushing yards in a game since 2022.
On the other side of the ball, Fresno State's defense showed out with its first shutout of the season against New Mexico State last weekend. It was the Bulldogs' first shutout in nearly a full calendar year, since shutting out Arizona State 29-0 on Sept. 16, 2023.
Fresno State has had at least one shutout in four-straight seasons.
On Sept. 12, it was announced that the Pac-12 Conference Board of Directors has unanimously voted to admit Fresno State, along with Boise State University, Colorado State University and San Diego State University, into the Pac-12 Conference effective July 1, 2026.
ABOUT THE MATCHUP
Fresno State and New Mexico will meet for the 22nd time in program history this weekend.
Fresno State leads their series against New Mexico, 15-6
In their last matchup on November 18, 2023, Fresno State fell to New Mexico at home by a final score of 25-17.
This is their tenth meeting in program history as Mountain West opponents, and Fresno State is 7-2 against New Mexico during MW conference matchups.
The teams also shared a conference as members of the WAC. Fresno State was 4-1 in those WAC meetings.
One of the most dominating wins in Bulldog history came against New Mexico on October 5, 1991, where the Bulldogs defeated the Lobos at home by a final score of 94-17
Fresno State has never lost back-to-back games against New Mexico in the series
In four of their last six contests, Fresno State has held New Mexico to less than 10 points, including their only shutout in the series which came on October 14, 2017 where they defeated the Lobos 38-0 at home.
Fresno State won those four games when holding UNM to 10 points or less, and is 0-2 in that time when allowing more.
Okiki Olorunfunmi, who is listed as an edge rusher for New Mexico, is from the Central Valley where he graduated from Clovis North High School while eventually making stops at Reedley College and Weber State before transferring to New Mexico.
Justin Holaday, listed as a quarterback for New Mexico, is from the Central Valley, having graduated from Lemoore High School and spent time at Fresno City College before transferring to New Mexico before the start of his sophomore season.
New Mexico is coming into this game 0-3 following loses to Montana State, #20 Arizona, and Auburn
Saturday is homecoming for the Lobos at University Stadium.