Fresno State (3-3, 1-1 MW) at Nevada (3-4, 0-1 MW)
Friday, October 18, 2024 | 7:30 p.m. PT | CBS Sports Network | Mackay Stadium (27,000) | Reno, Nev.
Fresno State Game Notes (PDF) | Nevada Game Notes (PDF) | Mountain West Weekly Release (PDF)
Fresno State Weekly Press Conference | Ultimate Broadcast Guide
MEDIA COVERAGE
TV - CBS Sports Network
Play-by-Play - John Sadak
Analyst - Taylor McHargue
Sideline - N/A
Radio - Bulldog Sports Network (BSN)
Play-by-Play - Paul Loeffler
Analyst - Pat Hill
Sideline - Kenny Wiggins
Social Media: Twitter: @FresnoStateFB | Instagram:@fresno_state_football | Facebook: FresnoStateFootball | YouTube: FresnoStateAthletics
Live Stats: BulldogsLive.com
A LOOK INSIDE
Series: Fresno State leads, 32-22-1
Head Coaches:
Tim Skipper
Fresno State Record (Years): 4-3 (1st season*)
Career DI Record (Years): Same
Jeff Choate
Nevada Record (Years): 3-4 (1st Season)
Career DI Record: 31-26 (5th Season)
QUICK LOOK
Fresno State looks towards its second road Mountain West test of the season this Friday at Nevada.
The Bulldogs will play their only non-Saturday game of the season this week.
Fresno State has lost two games in-a-row, falling to then-No. 23 UNLV and Washington State in the last two games. Washington State was receiving votes in the AP poll when it came to Fresno.
Although falling to Washington State last weekend, the Bulldogs are still 1-1 in Mountain West play with their next test this Friday at Nevada. Fresno State has five conference games still to play with three of those to be played at home.
Fresno State has faced some of college football's top squads this season. The Bulldogs opened the season at then-No. 9 Michigan and fell 30-10. The Bulldogs have also faced a ranked UNLV team on the road and hosted a Washington State team that was 4-1 and receiving votes in the AP poll at the time of the game.
Fresno State will travel to Nevada for the first time since 2022. In that 2022 matchup, the Bulldogs secured the West Division title to move on to the MW Championship Game. Fresno State would become the 2022 MW Champions with a win over Boise State on the road.
This season as a whole, the Bulldogs have seen 11 total players with their first starts in the program with four earning those first starts last weekend against Washington State. Eleven first-time starters are the ninth-most among FBS programs this season, and the fifth-most in the Mountain West.
Fresno State has had 33 different players start at one point this season, on both sides of the ball.
For the third time since 2020, Fresno State has a new head coach leading its football program. On July 15, 2024, Tim Skipper was named the interim head coach for the 2024 season as Jeff Tedford stepped down for health concerns. Skipper held the title of assistant head coach and linebackers coach for the Bulldogs in 2022 and 2023.
Senior running back Elijah Gilliam had his first career 100-yard rushing game last weekend, stepping back up into the starting role with the absence of Malik Sherrod.
In five games played this season, Korey Foreman has three forced fumbles. He has the most in a season by a Bulldog since Arron Mosby had a nation-leading six in 2021. Mosby set the program's record for most forced fumbles in a season that year. Before that, David Perales had four in 2020 and Justin Rice had four in 2019. And even before that, no Bulldog had more than three in a season since 2012.
With an interception by Dean Clark and a fumble recovery by Jakari Embry off the force by Foreman, Fresno State had its first gained turnover since Sept. 21. The Bulldogs rank third in the Mountain West and 12th in the FBS with 12 total turnovers this season.
ABOUT THE MATCHUP
Fresno State and Nevada will be meeting for the 56th time in program history
The two teams have met in 24 straight seasons as conference rivals, with the 'Dogs holding a 15-9 record in those contests.
When the two began sharing affiliation in the WAC in 2000, the Bulldogs owned a 7-5 mark (2000-11), and since moving to the Mountain West in 2012, the Bulldogs own a 8-4 advantage.
The first meeting in the series took place in 1923 in Reno with a 46-3 win by Nevada.
Fresno State leads Nevada 32-22-1 in the all-time series.
Fresno State has won the last three games against the Wolf Pack, dating back to the 2021 season.
Fresno State is 14-12-1 in games played in Reno.
The last time the Bulldogs traveled to Reno, Fresno State secured the West Division title with a 41-14 defeat over Nevada (Nov. 19, 2022).
In 2020, when Fresno State traveled to Reno and lost 37-26, the Bulldogs were hit by COVID and saw a depleted special teams unit without a true kicker, punter or long snapper. The Bulldogs used then-true freshman wide receiver Mac Dalena to kick, walk on receiver Grant Lake to snap and quarterback Jake Haener to punt.
Nevada offensive line coach Brian Armstrong was the Bulldogs' offensive line coach in 2023
Nevada offensive analyst Jordan Loeffler spent two seasons (2020-21) with the Bulldogs as a graduate assistant with the offensive line.
Nevada is currently sitting at 2-2 at home following victories against Eastern Washington and Oregon State and losses to Georgia Southern and #21 SMU
The Wolf Pack enter this contest with a 3-4 record overall record for the season
Nevada is coming off a victory against Oregon State at home on Oct. 12
This is Nevada's second conference game of the season, and they are currently 0-1 in conference play following their loss to San Jose State on Oct. 5