Tag: Fresno State

Dominant defense leads Fresno State over Miami (Ohio) in Arizona Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

E.J. Warner threw for 214 yards and a touchdown and the Fresno State defense held Miami (Ohio) to 192 total yards in an 18-3 win at the Arizona Bowl on Saturday afternoon in Tucson.

Warner, the son of NHL Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner, completed 16 of 23 passes without a turnover.

Josiah Freeman caught seven passes for 143 yards for the Bulldogs (9-4), who came in with the 14th-best defense in the nation at 293.4 yards surrendered per game.

Miami freshman quarterback Thomas Gotkowski completed just 6 of 22 passes for 72 yards with an interception.

The RedHawks (7-7) were the defending Arizona Bowl champions.

The lone touchdown came with 11:12 left in the fourth quarter when Warner capped a 13-play, 70-yard drive by hitting Richie Anderson III with a 2-yard touchdown pass to stretch the lead to 15-3.

Shortly after, Warner went into the medical tent after getting tackled following a 6-yard run, Dylan Lynch booted his fourth field goal of the game to extend it to 18-3 with 2:56 left in the game.

After the RedHawks forced a three-and-out on their first defensive series of the game, Keith Reynolds had a 32-yard run on Miami’s second offensive play to move into field-goal position and Dom Dzioban booted a 33-yarder for a 3-0 lead with 9:09 left in the first quarter.

Lynch came back with field goals of 28, 23 and 25 yards in the second quarter to move the Bulldogs ahead 9-3 at the half.

A 51-yard completion from Warner to Freeman put the Bulldogs back in field-goal position on their first drive of the second half, but Lynch missed a 28-yard field goal try with 6:52 left in the third quarter.

Reynolds finished with 46 rushing yards on three carries to lead Miami’s ground attack.

Jordan Brunson, who came in with 724 rushing yards and four touchdowns for the RedHawks this season, was held to 43 yards on nine carries.

Fresno State first-year coach Matt Entz earned a $45,000 bonus for his team’s ninth victory and for winning the Arizona Bowl. He had already pocketed $110,000 in bonuses for winning eight games and qualifying for a bowl game.

–Field Level Media

Fresno State stands between Miami (Ohio) and back-to-back Arizona Bowl crowns

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Miami (Ohio) will try to win the Arizona Bowl for the second straight year when it meets Fresno State in the first meeting between the schools on Saturday afternoon in Tucson.

The RedHawks (7-6) defeated Colorado State 43-17 at the University of Arizona last season to cap their fifth straight year in a postseason bowl game.

“We loved it last year,” said Miami coach Chuck Martin. “We were very, very excited that we got to go again.”

The RedHawks experienced their share of adversity before returning to Tucson. They began the season 0-3. Then seventh-year starting quarterback Dequan Finn, who was on his third college team, departed in mid-November to begin training for the NFL Draft.

Henry Hesson, a fourth-year senior with Miami, was given the first shot at the starting role, but freshman Thomas Gotkowski quickly passed him by and led the RedHawks to back-to-back wins against Buffalo and Ball State that advanced them to their third straight MAC championship game.

In four games, Gotkowski has completed 32 of 64 passes for 503 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. He also has rushed for 99 yards and one score.

“I always expected to see the field at some point,” Gotkowski said. “My mentality going into the season was, ‘Let’s prepare at a high level in case that opportunity comes sooner than you think.’ It may come today, may come tomorrow, but let’s be in a position where I’m able to execute at a high level and know the game plan whenever that moment comes.”

Miami also has a solid ground game led by senior Jordan Brunson, who has rushed for 724 yards and four touchdowns this season while averaging 4.7 yards per carry.

The Bulldogs (8-4) are bowl-eligible for the fifth season in a row after holding their opponents to 293.5 yards per game, their fewest in a season since 1988.

Simeon Harris has five interceptions for Fresno State while Finn Claypool has racked up 6 1/2 sacks in his first year playing at the Football Bowl Subdivision level. He stacked up 30.5 sacks in four years at FCS Drake.

E.J. Warner, the son of NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner, started the first seven games for Fresno State before he was benched in favor of sophomore Carson Conklin.

The Bulldogs were shut out for the first time at their home stadium in Conklin’s debut, so Warner eventually won back the starting job for the final two games of the regular season.

“We know what’s at stake,” Fresno State coach Matt Entz said. “Our guys have shown all year they can rise to the occasion. Now it’s about executing for four quarters.”

Entz has already earned $110,000 in bonuses for winning eight games and qualifying for a bowl game. He can pocket another $45,000 with an Arizona Bowl win.

Entz, who came to Fresno State this season after serving as the assistant head coach for defense and linebackers coach at USC last season, knows the type of player he wants in his program.

“The things that we look for are high character, intelligence in the classroom and on the field, athleticism, and a level of toughness to fit into our program,” Entz said. “We don’t skip the work and we don’t skip the development at Fresno State. So, if you’re looking for a place where you’re going to show up and move right into a playing role, this isn’t it. You’ve got to come earn it at Fresno State.”

–Field Level Media

Kansas Jayhawks quarterback Jalon Daniels (6) runs for yards during the game between Fresno State and Kansas at David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.

QB Jalon Daniels displays accuracy, wheels in Kansas rout of Fresno State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Jalon Daniels completed 18 of 20 passes for 176 yards and three touchdowns to lead Kansas to a 31-7 win over visiting Fresno State on Saturday evening in Lawrence, Kan., in the season opener for both teams.

Daniels, a sixth-year senior, also ran eight times for 47 yards and did not commit a turnover.

Fresno State quarterback E.J. Warner, the son of NFL Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner, completed 18 of 29 passes for 179 yards and two interceptions.

Kansas scored on the opening drive of the game, marching 86 yards in nine plays and taking a 7-0 lead after Daniels flicked a pass to Ball State transfer receiver Cam Pickett out of the backfield and he ran down the sideline for a 21-yard touchdown.

Daniels had runs of 11 and 23 yards on the scoring drive.

Fresno State quickly answered with a seven-play, 75-yard drive and tied it 7-7 on a 3-yard run by Elijah Gilliam.

During the drive, Warner shoveled a pass to Bryson Donelson just before he was hit and Donelson turned it into a 39-yard gain to the Kansas 32.

The Bulldogs couldn’t stop the Jayhawks on their second drive either, as Kansas went 75 yards in 11 plays and took a 14-7 lead on a 19-yard touchdown run by Leshon Williams with 2:16 left in the first quarter.

Fresno State forced Kansas to punt on its third possession, but the Jayhawks strung together another long drive the fourth time they had the ball, extending their lead to 21-7 with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Daniels to Pickett with 7:31 left in the first half.

Pickett caught six passes for 77 yards and two scores.

The Jayhawks forced the first turnover of the game when Devin Dye intercepted a Warner pass, leading to a 47-yard field goal by Laith Marjan with 1:00 remaining in the half that made it 24-7.

Warner lost a fumble during a sack on the first possession of the second half and Kansas took advantage of the giveaway when Daniels hit Keaton Kubecka over the middle for a 12-yard touchdown pass, making it 31-7 with 7:51 left in the third quarter.

–Field Level Media

Kansas quarterbacks Jalon Daniels (6) and Cole Ballard (15) are critical to Kansas football in 2025.

QBs, famous fathers and new digs usher in Kansas-Fresno State opener

Posted on | by Field Level Media

When Fresno State and Kansas kick off the college football season Saturday evening in Lawrence, Kan., a lot of attention will be paid to the starting quarterbacks. And likely their fathers.

E.J. Warner, the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner, is set to start for Fresno State, while Cole Ballard, the son of Indianapolis Colts general manager Chris Ballard, is the No. 2 quarterback for the Jayhawks behind sixth-year standout Jalon Daniels.

Warner, a senior transfer from Rice, won a three-way quarterback battle over redshirt sophomores Carson Conklin and Jayden Mandel.

“It was super close, and I told both Jayden and Carson that they have to push him every day,” Fresno State coach Matt Entz said. “I don’t want E.J. to get comfortable. That’s the last thing this program needs right now, is someone at the quarterback position just thinking they’re owed something.”

Warner went 9-22 as the starting quarterback the past three seasons, two at Temple and one at Rice, and threw 58 touchdowns and 37 interceptions, finishing in the top 10 in the nation in interceptions thrown each season.

“We tried to keep all the analytics, all the metrics that were required, but also there’s always some intangibles, too, that go along with it,” Entz said. “E.J. has done a great job with the communication piece, with the leadership piece. Poise, as far as just the experience that he provides to our offense, was critical.”

Kansas coach Lance Leipold said Warner “doesn’t get rattled” and has proven productivity.

“It’s not surprising to us that he won the job,” Leipold said.

If all goes according to plan for the Jayhawks, Ballard’s time will wait one more season.

The Jayhawks went 5-7 last season and didn’t qualify for a bowl game after opening the season ranked 22nd in the AP Top 25 preseason poll.

Daniels threw for 2,454 yards and 14 touchdowns with 12 interceptions in his fifth season with Kansas last season. He had six rushing touchdowns to bring his career total to 64 (19 rushing) since first taking the field as a true freshman in 2020.

But he also has a significant injury history. Daniels played only three games in 2023, and missed four regular-season games in 2022.

There is excitement in Lawrence for the grand reveal of the first stage of renovations made to David Booth Memorial Stadium. The $450 million transformation covers about two-thirds of the stadium with additional upgrades planned. Leipold said the vibe around KU is similar to a homecoming game, but he’s working to keep his team focused on “winning the football game.”

Leipold said Ballard’s family history played a big part in him winning the QB2 job.

“Knowing his father’s makeup and competitive nature, I knew there’d be upside,” Leipold said. “He was a guy who was playing baseball and throwing about 90 (mph), but decided to go a different way. I knew there’d be intangibles from being around the game. Surprise? No. Pleased with where it’s trending? Absolutely.”

Chris Ballard worked in the Chiefs’ scouting department before he was hired as GM of the Colts. Cole Ballard has gone from third-string walk-on to the top backup spot in his third season at Kansas.

Daniels, center Bryce Foster and defensive end Justice Finkley are KU’s three permanent captains.

–Field Level Media

Sep 21, 2024; West Point, New York, USA; Rice Owls quarterback E.J. Warner (13) throws a touchdown pass against the Army Black Knights during the first half at Michie Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Danny Wild-Imagn Images

Report: Kurt Warner’s son, E.J., to start at Fresno State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Quarterback E.J. Warner, a starter for three seasons at his two previous colleges, will be behind center for Fresno State’s season opener, ESPN reported on Monday.

The son of Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner, E.J. Warner started for two seasons at Temple and in 2024 at Rice before entering the transfer portal prior to his senior year.

Warner won a competition for first string with redshirt sophomore Jayden Mandal and sophomore Carson Conklin, a transfer from Sacramento State, according to the ESPN report. Mandal made his first career start in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl against Northern Illinois on Dec. 23. He completed 3 of 6 passes for 39 yards and one interception.

Listed at 6-foot and 203 pounds, Warner completed 796 of 1,327 passes (60 percent) for 8,814 yards, 58 touchdowns and 37 interceptions at Temple (2022-23) and Rice.

His 2,710 yards passing in 2024 ranks fifth all-time at Rice, where he completed 272 of 439 attempts for 17 touchdowns and 13 picks in 11 games. He set single-season records in 2023 at Temple with 23 TDs and 445 attempts while passing for at least 3,000 yards (3,076) for the second straight season.

Warner is playing for new head coach Matt Entz, who served as the assistant head coach the past two seasons at Southern California after winning two FCS national championships as head coach at North Dakota State.

The Bulldogs open their season Aug. 23 at Kansas, with the home opener on Aug. 30 against Georgia Southern.

–Field Level Media

Sep 7, 2024; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Northern Illinois Huskies head coach Thomas Hammock watches in the first quarter against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-Imagn Images

Northern Illinois gets tricky to beat Fresno St., win Potato Bowl in 2OT

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Freshman wide receiver George Dimopoulos threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Dane Pardridge on the first play of the second overtime to lift Northern Illinois to a 28-20 victory over Fresno State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl Monday afternoon in Boise, Idaho.

The Huskies disguised the game-winning play as a jet sweep, but Dimopoulos pulled up and found Pardridge behind the defense for the winning score. Dimopoulos followed up his first career pass with a two-point conversion toss to quarterback Josh Holst to give the Huskies (8-5) bowl wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2010-11.

Holst, a redshirt freshman walk-on making his third career start because regular-season starter Ethan Hampton transferred to Illinois, completed 18 of 30 passes for 182 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for a team-high 65 yards.

Sophomore Joshua Wood came off the bench to complete 16 of 23 passes for 180 yards and one touchdown for Fresno State (6-7), which saw its five-bowl winning streak come to a close. Bryson Donelson scored two touchdowns and rushed for 82 yards while Mac Dalena made six catches for 118 yards.

With Fresno State quarterback Mikey Keene — the Mountain West’s leader in passing yards –announcing his transfer to Michigan earlier Monday, redshirt freshman Jayden Mandal made his first start for Fresno State.

On Northern Illinois’ first play from scrimmage, Holst’s rollout pass sailed over his intended receiver. Safety Jayden Davis picked it off and returned it 26 yards to the Huskies’ 25. Mandal led a quick drive that Donelson capped with a 1-yard blast for a 6-0 lead at 11:29 of the first.

After Kanon Woodill booted a 29-yard field goal to make it 6-3, Fresno State interim head coach Tim Skipper gave Wood the controls for the Bulldogs’ next drive — and he needed just four plays to go 90 yards for a score. He hooked up with Dalena for a 54-yard bomb before taking a keeper untouched up the middle for a 13-yard score and a 13-3 lead.

NIU took the first possession of the second half 76 yards for a score. Tight end Grayson Barnes leaped between two Bulldogs and snagged Holst’s 26-yard lob with his right hand to cut the deficit to 13-10 with 11:22 left in the third.

On Fresno State’s next possession, Nate Valcarcel intercepted Mandal at NIU’s 38 to set up Woodill’s 34-yard field goal that made it 13-13 at 7:39 of the third.

That was the last score until overtime, as Woodill missed a go-ahead 35-yard field goal with 3:02 left and the Bulldogs’ Dylan Lynch missed a 35-yarder on the final play of regulation.

Fresno State opened overtime with Wood’s 9-yard touchdown pass to the uncovered Donelson to give the Bulldogs a 20-13 margin. Holst answered with a 3-yard touchdown lob to Barnes.

–Field Level Media

Aug 31, 2024; Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA; Fresno State Bulldogs quarterback Mikey Keene (1) drops back to throw against the Michigan Wolverines in the first half at Michigan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

Fresno State QB Mikey Keene transferring to Michigan

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Former Fresno State quarterback Mikey Keene is transferring to Michigan with one year of eligibility remaining.

Confirming earlier reports, Keene posted an image of himself in a Wolverines uniform on social media on Monday.

Keene passed for 2,892 yards with 18 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 12 games for the Bulldogs in 2024.

Fresno State opened the season with a 30-10 loss at Michigan on Aug. 31, with Keene throwing for 235 yards with one touchdown and two picks.

Including two seasons at UCF (2021-22), Keene has completed 67.8 percent of his passes for 8,245 yards with 65 TDs and 28 interceptions in 39 games.

Keene’s competition for the starting job at Michigan includes incoming freshman Bryce Underwood, the 247Sports Composite’s No. 1 overall player in the 2025 recruiting class.

–Field Level Media

Camellia Bowl: Northern Illinois head coach Thomas Hammock gets doused after the Huskies defeated Arkansas State.

Amid constant change, NIU, Fresno State enjoy tradition at Potato Bowl

Posted on | by Field Level Media

For roughly three hours Monday afternoon, the dizzying college football carousel will slow long enough for Northern Illinois (7-5) and Fresno State (6-6) to battle for the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise, Idaho.

Neither school will have its starting quarterback (and other quality players) due to the transfer portal. Neither school is expected to belong to its current conference by July 2026 as Fresno State already has committed to the Pac-12 while NIU is rumored to be weighing a move to the Mountain West.

And, in Fresno State’s case, the program’s official head coach isn’t the guy who’s steering the ship in Boise. Interim boss Tim Skipper, who took over in July when Jeff Tedford had to step down for health reasons, hands over the reins after the bowl game to Southern California associate head coach Matt Entz, who was hired Dec. 4 to take over the program.

Nonetheless, Monday’s game allows for a bit of college tradition to shine through. Specifically, a bunch of seniors getting to end their careers on a bowl trip with their teammates. The Huskies, for example, have a school-record 30 seniors playing on Boise’s unique blue turf for their final game.

“You have to adjust and adapt to the new landscape of college football and do the best you can,” Northern Illinois head coach Thomas Hammock told Field Level Media. “But I’m glad we didn’t have to cancel a game like Marshall — that we can go out there and experience this game with our seniors and let them go out there and have one last hurrah.”

The Huskies, of course, already have secured one lifetime memory this season: their 16-14 victory on Sept. 7 at fifth-ranked Notre Dame. But Ethan Hampton, the quarterback who guided that upset with 198 passing yards and one touchdown, no longer runs the show for NIU. He entered the transfer portal and committed to Wake Forest — only to decommit Monday when head coach Dave Clawson retired. He’s now headed to Illinois.

In Hampton’s stead, redshirt freshman Josh Holst will get his second start. In his first start, Holst completed 22 of 46 passes for 210 yards and rushed 14 times for 48 yards in a 13-6 loss vs. MAC rival Toledo.

“He’s really made a tremendous jump over the last three weeks from a preparation standout to a mentality standpoint and with his approach,” Hammock said. “I’m excited to watch him go out and play. You can do a little bit more (with Holst) because he does have the ability to hurt you with his legs.”

Fresno State quarterback Mikey Keene led the Mountain West with 2,892 passing yards as he clicked on 70.5 percent of his passes. Alas, Keene is one of 14 Bulldogs who hit the transfer portal and won’t play Monday.

Through it all, Fresno State will embrace its spot in a bowl game.

“We’ve been through a lot of adversity, but we just kept on swinging,” Skipper said, according to the Fresno State student-run newspaper The Collegian, after the Bulldogs became bowl eligible.

Fresno State has chosen to keep Northern Illinois guessing by listing sophomore Joshua Wood and freshman Jayden Mandal as co-starters on the depth chart. Wood seems more likely because, while he attempted just five passes, he rushed 26 times for 86 yards and five scores as the Bulldogs’ change-of-pace quarterback in the Wildcat formation.

“It’s a challenge, right?” Hammock said. “It’s almost like a first-game-of-the-year mentality. You have an idea of what they want to do schematically — and then you’ll figure out the personnel once you get out there.”

–Field Level Media

Jan 8, 2022; Frisco, TX, USA; North Dakota State Bison head coach Matt Entz holds up the championship trophy as the North Dakota State Bison team celebrates the win over the Montana State Bobcats in the FCS Championship at Toyota Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Fresno State on verge of hiring Matt Entz as new head coach

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Fresno State is close to formally naming Southern California assistant head coach Matt Entz as its new head coach.

Entz guided FCS power North Dakota State to two national championships before joining the USC staff after last season.

Fresno State hasn’t officially announced Entz’s hiring, but Trojans head coach Lincoln Riley made it clear Entz is departing.

“When you have a really quality staff, and you have really good people on your staff, you’re gonna have guys that get opportunities to move on, and I think we’re happy for Coach Entz first,” Riley told reporters Wednesday. “College football head coaching jobs are really really hard to get, and I think it’s always a sign of a healthy program, where programs are wanting to come in and hire your people, particularly for head coaching roles.

“He did a great job for us, made us better, made me better, was a great hire, a big part of what was one of the most, statistically, improved defenses in the country. I wish he and (his wife) Brenda the best.”

Entz, 52, went 60-11 from 2019-23 at North Dakota State. The Bison were national champions in 2019 and 2021.

Entz took the job at USC to bolster his resume in hopes of landing an FBS head coaching job. He was linebackers coach in addition to his assistant head coach duties of overseeing the defense.

Entz will replace Tim Skipper, who guided Fresno State to a 6-6 record this season as the interim coach. Skipper took over after Jeff Tedford stepped down in mid-July due to health concerns.

–Field Level Media

Nov 30, 2024; Pasadena, California, USA; Fresno State Bulldogs running back Bryson Donelson (26) catches a pass as UCLA Bruins linebacker Joseph Vaughn (30) moves in during the second quarter during the second quarter at Rose Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

UCLA closes season with win over Fresno State

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Ethan Garbers passed for 289 yards and a touchdown to lead UCLA to a 20-13 win against visiting Fresno State in a nonconference game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., on Saturday afternoon.

Garbers completed 26-of-40 passes without an interception for the third straight game.

Moliki Matavao was Garbers’ top target, catching eight passes for 120 yards for UCLA (5-7) in its season finale.

Mikey Keene completed 30-of-43 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown for Fresno State (6-6), which led 10-6 at the half.

The Bruins retook the lead on their first drive of the second half.

Garbers connected with Matavao on a 35-yard strike to the Fresno State 5 and T.J. Harden ran into the end zone on the next play to give UCLA a 13-10 lead.

UCLA drove inside the Fresno State 10 on its second possession of the second half, but Garbers threw incomplete on 4th-and-1.

A roughing-the-passer penalty on the Bulldogs on a third-down incompletion gave the Bruins a first down at the Fresno State 29, and the Bruins finished off the drive with a 2-yard touchdown pass from Garbers to J.Michael Sturdivant, stretching the lead to 20-10 with 1:38 left in the game.

Dylan Lynch booted his second field goal of the game for the Bulldogs, a 42-yarder with 31 seconds left, to trim the lead to 20-13, but the Bruins recovered the ensuing on-sides kick to secure the win.

Three false start penalties helped stall UCLA’s opening drive near midfield.

The Bruins had 1st-and-goal at the 9-yard line on their second drive, but had to settle for a 23-yard field goal by Mateen Bhaghani, giving UCLA a 3-0 lead with 4:36 left in the opening quarter.

UCLA outgained the Bulldogs 117-15 in the first quarter, but only held a 3-0 lead.

Jalen Moss fumbled a punt return early in the second quarter and UCLA recovered at the Bulldogs’ 12-yard line, but the Bruins had to settle for another field goal, a 40-yarder by Bhaghani that extended the lead to 6-0 with 12:51 left in the half.

Fresno State then strung together a 14-play, 76-yard scoring drive, taking a 7-6 lead on a 7-yard touchdown pass from Keene to Raylen Sharpe with 7:29 remaining in the first half.

Lynch booted a 48-yard field goal as the first half expired to extend the lead to 10-6 at the break.

–Field Level Media