The Fresno State Bulldogs ended Week 6 of the college football season with a 20-17 win over the University of Nevada, Reno Wolf Pack on Saturday, Oct. 4.
With the win, the ‘Dogs improve to 5-1 on the season and 2-0 in Mountain West conference play. What the Bulldogs put on the field against the Wolf Pack was not their best performance by any means.
Playing like this will quickly end hopes of a conference title for the Bulldogs.
The offense struggled heavily in the second half to get any momentum. All the while, the Wolf Pack clawed their way back to a three-point deficit after trailing by 17 for most of the game.
It begs the question: Are the Bulldogs true contenders for a Mountain West championship, or are they pretenders, aided by a weak schedule?
Chunk plays let up by the defense, inefficient offense — it felt like a 2024 collapse was on the way.
To give the Bulldogs credit, they iced the game on a 15-play, 68-yard drive. Even through penalties, the offense got the job done.
Running back Brandon Ramirez got the call from the offense to run out the clock, and he did. Quarterback E.J. Warner needed to step up in crucial situations, and he did.
You want to see the Bulldogs close the door earlier, especially being up by 17 for a majority of the game, but the fact of the matter is that they won the game.
“There’s probably people out there that say, ‘we’re lucky to win,”’ said Head Coach Matt Entz. “I’m okay with that. I’d rather be lucky than have lost it.”
To win, the luck will have to be on the side of the Bulldogs. The luck was on their side against Oregon State, and it was at times tonight.
Too many times, however, the Bulldogs shot themselves in the foot. With a short week, the Bulldogs will have to flush this second half from the memory bank and be ready to take on their next opponent.
Sitting at just 1-4, the Colorado State University Rams look like prey on the schedule — an easy win.
If the Bulldogs play like they did tonight, they will not be heading into their second bye week of the season with a win.
The combined records of the teams the Bulldogs have beaten are 12-21, with eight of the 12 wins being from two teams, Kansas and Hawaii.
The Bulldogs have three rivals ahead on the schedule, with two of them on the road. The path does not ease up.
The Bulldogs are going to have to show much improvement going into their next game against the Rams. With a short week, altitude and travel, it’s going to be the biggest challenge for them since Week 0.
