The Fresno State Bulldogs are back on the road to face the Colorado State Rams on Friday, Oct. 10. It will be the second time this season that the Bulldogs get a look at an upcoming Pac-12 rival.
At 5-1 on the season and halfway through the season, the Bulldogs need just one more win to become bowl-eligible for the fifth consecutive season, the longest streak for them since the 2001-05 seasons.
For Head Coach Matt Entz and the Bulldogs, the weekly 1-0 mindset stays consistent.
“I’ve seen it too many times where all of a sudden you start looking ahead, you start trying to peek around the corner to see who’s up and all of a sudden you can set yourself up for failure,” Entz said. “It’s hard to win games in college football, even if you’re favored … it’s hard to win on the road and hard to win in general.”
The Bulldogs are 2-1 on the road this season. Their two road victories have had thrilling theatrics at the finish against Oregon State and the University of Hawaii.
The altitude, travel and short-week preparation are all factors the Bulldogs will have to deal with going into this matchup with the Rams.
It’s the first time the Bulldogs will travel to Fort Collins since the 2016 season, when the Bulldogs lost 37-0.
The Rams are led by Head Coach Jay Norvell. In his four seasons with the Rams, Norvell has led the team to a 17-25 record. In 2024, they had their first eight-win season since 2014.
This season has not been the start that the Rams envisioned, with their lone victory coming over the University of Northern Colorado.
Regardless, Entz does not want the Bulldogs to take this game lightly.
“Ignore the record, I think they’re a really good football team,” Entz said.
Quarterback Jackson Brosseau has taken over the starting role after Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi was benched in the Rams’ Week 3 game against the University of Texas, San Antonio Roadrunners. In the two games that he has started, Brosseau has totaled 343 yards passing with one touchdown passing.
Running backs Jalen Dupree and Lloyd Avant both average over five yards per carry. The Bulldog defense ranks 34th in the nation in rushing defense, only giving up 110 yards rushing this season in six games.
The Bulldog defense gave up 129 yards rushing. However, the Wolf Pack only averaged 3.8 yards per carry. Wolf Pack running back Herschel Turner, who averages 4.6 yards per carry, was held to zero yards rushing on just three carries.
The Wolf Pack ranked 44th in the nation going into last Saturday’s matchup — the highest rank the Bulldogs have faced thus far.
The Bulldog defense also held the Wolf Pack to just 55 yards passing through the first three quarters before quarterback Carter Jones tallied 64 yards passing in the fourth quarter.
Defensively, the Rams have one of the best linebackers in the nation, Owen Long. He ranks second in the nation in tackles with 68. Bulldog linebacker Jadon Pearson ranks in the top 10 with 52 total tackles and in the top five in solo tackles in the country.
“They’re a 3-4 team that loves to bring pressure, and so we’re going to have to have a really good plan,” Entz said.
The last time the Bulldogs beat the Rams on the road was in 2012 with a 28-7 victory over the Rams.
Quarterback Derek Carr threw for 217 yards and four touchdowns, connecting with wide receiver Davante Adams for a pair. Adams totaled four catches for 41 yards.
Running back Robbie Rouse was fed the ball 26 times and accounted for 124 of the 191 yards rushing the Bulldogs had in the victory.
The 2024 matchup between these two teams saw the Bulldogs clinch a bowl game appearance in their final home game of the season.
Quarterback Mikey Keene threw for 186 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He found wide receiver Mac Dalena in the end zone, and seven times for 81 yards overall. Running back Bryson Donelson had a career game with 140 yards rushing on 12 attempts and one touchdown. No other Bulldog rushed for over 10 yards.
The Bulldogs will look to extend their five-game winning streak on Oct. 10. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. on the CBS Sports Network.
