Fresno State Football Preview 2026: The Bulldogs Will Bully the Pac-12

Story by

Story by
Fresno State Football Preview 2026: The Bulldogs Will Bully the Pac-12

Pete Fiutak · College Football News

Tue, Jun 2, 2026 ·

8 min read

About Our Ads

Yeah, the Pac-12 isn't what it was a few years ago, but whatever.

Fresno State belonged in the Pac-12 back when all the big programs were still around, and now it gets to take a step up overall and make a real push to become a regular in the College Football Playoff hunt.

Fresno State Is Ready to Make the Pac-12 Its Conference

Dec 27, 2025; Tucson, AZ, USA; Fresno State Bulldogs offensive lineman Brayden Walton (76) against the Miami (OH) RedHawks during the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl at Casino Del Sol Stadium.

© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Head coach Matt Entz is used to playing for big things, winning two national titles at North Dakota State and finishing in the FCS top three in four of his five seasons.

He stepped in at Fresno State and made it an instant winner in a strong 9-4 season.

Now Fresno State - won nine or more games in four of the last five years - gets a chance to take that next step and move into Boise State territory as the team everyone in the league is chasing.

It gets a chance this year to make the Pac-12 its own.

Fresno State Quick Hits

Head Coach:Matt Entz (2nd year, 9-4; 7th year overall, 69-15)
Best Case / Worst Case:Win the Pac-12 and go to the CFP/A fight to get bowl eligible
Key Player: Khristian Martin , QB Soph.
2025 Record:9-4
Biggest Question:Can Fresno State do what it does, only better?

- 2026 Fresno State Schedule Analysis

Fresno State Key 2025 Stats

2nd in the nation (behind Ohio State) in pass defense, allowing 153.8 yards per game
Tied for 7th in the nation in takeaways with 26
Fresno State Rushing Yards: 2,216, Passing Yards 2,384

Offense

There's not a lot of fun happening in the Fresno State offense, but that's by design.

Run the ball, own the clock, don't take crazy chances, and control everything. Offensive coordinator Josh Davis is back, and so are most of the top rushing parts to keep it all going.

What's Working

The running game.The Bulldogs did exactly what you're supposed to do, and it's one of the maddening things about football offenses at times. If the other side can't stop you, then keep doing the same thing over and over and over again.

Fresno State ran more than 40 times in six games, and went 8-0 when running 32 times or more. Pound, pound, pound.

The top rushers are back.Lightning-quick Rayshon Luke ran for just over 700 yards, Bryson Donelson hammered away for 600 yards and five scores, 220-pound Brandon Ramirez was third on the team in rushing, and there's more help on the way with Tariq Thomas a 600-yard rusher from Bucknell.

The passing game has its quarterback.EJ Warner - Hall of Fame NFL quarterback Kurt's son - is done, and Carson Conklin left to take over the Sacramento State gig.

In comes 6-4, 230-pound Khristian Martin, who would've been more than fine as Maryland 's quarterback if Malik Washington wasn't still around.

What Needs Work

DON'T STOP RUNNING.Get to 35 carries, Bulldogs.

For the most part, Fresno State beat down teams with the ground game, but once in a while, it just sort of stopped.

It wasn't having a problem moving on Utah State , but it only ran 27 times in the loss.

Things should've been easier against an Oregon State team that didn't have a prayer against the ground attack, but Fresno State ran just 28 times.

Get more out of the passing game.It's there, and now it's up to Martin to take it. Everyone has to load up to handle the Bulldog ground attack, but Fresno State quarterbacks didn't always take advantage of the moments.

They combined to throw 13 picks - Warner threw 11 - and they weren't always consistent. As long as Martin is hitting 65% of his throws, things should be okay. And along with that ...

More downfield pass plays.The veteran receivers are in place, but they have to do more down the field.

Josiah Freeman led the team with 52 catches and six scores, and averaged an okay 12.3 yards per catch. None of the other main receivers averaged more than ten.

Player to Watch

Rayshon Luke, RB Sr.Bryson Donelson is better built to be more of a workhorse, but Luke brings more pizzazz. The former Arizona Wildcat got to show what he could do last season, and while he never hit the 100-yard mark, he averaged over six yards per carry.

Defense

The defense was the best in the Mountain West last season, allowing just 286 yards and 19 points per game.

Defensive coordinator Nick Benedetto did a great job with the Northern Illinois defense before coming over to Fresno State, and now he has the time logged in, along with a loaded group of veterans to work with.

What's Working

The defensive front is loaded.Top pass rusher Finn Claypool is gone, but the 300-pound tackle combination of Deijon Laffitte and Martin Owusu are back on the inside to hold up against the run.

Jahzon Jacks, Stone Noa, and Merhauti Xepera are good-sized ends who can hold up.

When this bunch stopped the run, it was over.The Bulldogs were 9-0 when allowing 140 rushing yards or fewer, and went 0-4 when giving up 190 or more.

To be fair, part of the problem in those four games was an ineffective offense that couldn't keep up, but this group is experienced enough to be even better, especially against the good attacks.

There's size across the board.Again, the defensive tackles are big, the ends are bulky, and the linebackers have Power Four size - Tytus Khajavi is a 235-pound middle linebacker who should come close to leading the team in tackles. There won't be a problem getting physical.

What Needs Work

Where are the pass rushers?The production will come from several spots, but the big ends don't have a ton of flash.
The veterans will bulldoze their way behind the line, but it'll take one of the new edge rushers from the portal - Micah Mosley and Dylan Hampsten from Sacramento State, or Maverick Noonan from Nebraska - to be a disruptive force.

Both top corners need to be replaced.Al'zillion Hamilton was an All-Mountain West playmaker on one side, Jakari Embry led the team with nine broken up passes on the other, and there are no sure things coming in from the portal to fill the gaps.

Can the defense keep up with the better offenses?Fresno State went 1-4 last season when allowing 23 points or more, and this year's schedule has a slew of more dangerous teams.

USC, Boise State (with, potentially, a healthy quarterback this year), at San Diego State (the Aztec offense will roll this year), at Utah State, at Texas State - it'll only take a few wrong moments to screw up a potentially massive season.

Player to Watch

Simeon Harris, S Sr.
The former Colorado Buffalo and Utah State Aggie had a whale of a season that deserved bigger recognition.

Not only did he lead the Mountain West with five picks, but he was one of Fresno State's better playmakers in the backfield with five tackles for loss, along with 54 tackles. He'll be one of the best defensive players in the new Pac-12.

Keys to the Season

You do you, Fresno State, only better.

It was among the more physical teams in the Mountain West, and now it has a better passing quarterback, more experience, a locked-in coaching staff, and more depth than most Group of Six programs could dream of.

Keep the mistakes to a minimum, keep taking the ball away, and own the time of possession battle. This year's team can do all of those things.

Player Who Needs To Shine

Khristian Martin, QB Soph.
EJ Warner could sling it, and Carson Conklin will be great this year for Sacramento State, but the upside for Martin is enormous.

The passing ability is there to open it up more, push it downfield, and all around the good ground game to take the pressure off.

Biggest Concern

The offensive line has to come together in a hurry
This all rocked last season because the line generated a fantastic push in game after game.

The Bulldogs were enormous with four linemen over 315 pounds, working around 290-pound All-Mountain West center Jacob Spomer.

He's done, there are few other replacements, and it all needs to rock right out of the gate for the offense to work.

Biggest Game

at Washington State , October 3
It's muscle-flexing time.

Washington State is one of the remaining old-school Pac-12 programs, and it's not going to be happy with these new members trying to take its turf.

It's the first road game of Fresno State's conference season, and with Boise State and at San Diego State to follow, winning this would be a huge deal.

Transfer Portal

It's fine, but the Bulldogs didn't need to do too much. Most of the main parts and understudies stuck around, and the pieces that did leave aren't irreplaceable.

Overall, the transfer portal experience this offseason was a net positive.

Best Signing

Tariq Thomas, RB (Weber State)
The weird part is that Thomas might not be needed too much with all the backs in place, but he's a good one to have in the rotation.

Quarterback Khristian Martin is the most important signing, but the 5-11, 185-pound Thomas has speed and production, running for close to 1,400 yards in his two seasons.

Biggest Loss

Richie Anderson, TE ( Texas A&M )No, he might not be Travis Kelce , but he's 6-4, 255 with great hands. He was third on the team with 31 catches for 300 yards and three scores, and now he'll be a key part of the A&M passing attack.

Other Names to Know

Croix Stewart, S ( UCLA )
Manaki Watanabe, PK (Ashland)
Jake Appleget, TE (Northern Illinois)

CFN Season Prediction

There's a lot to like about the Bulldogs - they're a bit more put together than most of the Pac-12 newbies.

The coaching staff has its guys in place. There's no real guesswork at most spots, and unlike most teams in the transfer portal era, it won't take a full fall camp to figure out who can play.

But is there really enough talent to win the Pac-12?

CFN Prediction: 8-4

Lost in all of the promise and production of last season was a horrible loss to a miserable Colorado State team, and a home misfire against Utah State - both of those were unforgivable, even with a few injury issues.

This year, the new Pac-12 schedule will be tougher than last year's Mountain West slate - the Bulldogs only played four teams that finished with winning records - and every game should be a fight.

Assume a loss at USC to start the season, and a few misfires here and there - like at San Diego State, and either at Utah State or Washington State or against Boise State - but Fresno State will be a tough out every week.

Mobilize your Website

View Site in Mobile | Classic

Share by: