With a helping hand from the Oregon Ducks, Fresno State has vaulted its way into the Associated Press Top 25 football poll.

Oregon smashed Deon Sanders’ Colorado Buffaloes, 42-6, on Saturday and AP voters dropped 19th-ranked Colorado from the rankings.

Enter Fresno State, which is 4-0 after scoring on each of its first seven drives en route to a 53-10 blasting of Kent State.

AP voters might have also noticed that Fresno State had a much easier time beating Arizona State on Sept. 16 than eighth-ranked USC did on Saturday in Tempe.

The Bulldogs are ranked No. 25 entering their Mountain West Conference schedule and off to their best start since they won nine straight to open the 2013 season.

Jeff Tedford on being ranked:

“When you’re 4-0 that can be even more challenging than 1-4, you know? Because of expectations and everybody patting you on the back and that type of thing. It’s human nature to get in your comfort zone so we have to do our best to stay out of that” pic.twitter.com/kd1aHPDMfQ

— Andrew Marden (@andrewmarden) September 25, 2023

AP college football writer Ralph D. Russo has no quarrel with the Bulldogs’ ranking. He wrote this in a column analyzing Top 25 teams that are possibly rated higher or lower than they deserve to be:

“This is fine,” Russo said about Fresno State while noting “Coach Jeff Tedford has a way with quarterbacks. UCF transfer Mike Keene has been the Mountain West’s best.”

Up next for Fresno State is winless Nevada, which started the year with a 66-14 loss to USC and most recently fell, 35-24, at Texas State.

The atmosphere at Valley Children’s Stadium should be electric this Saturday night as the Bulldogs have become a must-see event for students and the entire community.

The game will be televised by Fox Sports 1.

One Hand TD Grab by Jalen Moss

you’ve been… @jalen_moss | CBSSN pic.twitter.com/CiJ5P6JCNE

— Fresno State Football (@FresnoStateFB) September 24, 2023