Fresno State will play six games at home and six on the road in 2013, the Mountain West Conference announced Thursday when it finalized its matchup dates.
The Bulldogs, the reigning co-Mountain West champions, will start conference play on Friday, Sept. 20 against Boise State at Bulldog Stadium.
Fresno State will cap kick off the season at home on Thursday, Aug. 29 against Rutgers.
The Bulldogs play their first game in the conference’s West Division on the road against Hawaii on Sept. 28.
Also in the West Division are: San Diego State, Nevada, UNLV and San Jose State (which, along with Utah State, will make the jump from the WAC to the Mountain West this summer).
The inaugural Mountain West Championship game is Dec. 7 and will be hosted at the home stadium of the division champion with the highest BCS ranking.
“Our staff and players are fired up to see our full 2013 schedule,” said Bulldogs coach Tim DeRuyter, who enters his second season at the Fresno State helm.
“It will be a great challenge to defend our MW championship and we know that the Red Wave will be excited to see these quality opponents coming to Bulldog Stadium. With 15 returning starters, including the MW Offensive Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year, we are looking forward to an exciting fall.”
The rest of Fresno State’s nonconference schedule consists of games against Cal Poly (Sept. 7) at home and Colorado (Sept. 14) and Idaho (Oct. 5) on the road.
Unlike last season, when the Bulldogs played all their games on Saturday, two games will be played on Friday and its season opener on Thursday.
Fresno State will have two byes this season during the weeks of Oct. 12 and Nov. 16.
Three of the Bulldogs’ home games will be played in the first four weeks of the season, and eight of their 12 games will be played within state lines.
Fresno State concludes the season on Friday, Nov. 29 on the road against division rival San Jose State.
Television information and kickoff times will be announced later this spring.
Here is Fresno State’s 2013 schedule:
Thursday, Aug. 29: Rutgers
Saturday, Sept. 7: Cal Poly
Saturday, Sept. 14: at Colorado
Friday, Sept. 20: Boise State*
Saturday, Sept. 29: at Hawaii*
Saturday, Oct. 5: at Idaho
Saturday, Oct. 12: BYE
Saturday, Oct. 19 UNLV*
Saturday, Oct. 26: at San Diego State*
Saturday, Nov. 2: Nevada*
Saturday, Nov. 9: at Wyoming*
Saturday, Nov. 16: BYE
Saturday, Nov. 23: New Mexico (home finale)*
Friday, No.v 29: at San Jose State*
*denotes conference game