Fresno State interim head coach Tim Skipper watches his team warm up during pregame against Michigan, Saturday, Aug. 31, 2024, in Ann Arbor, Mich. (AP/Jose Juarez)
- The Bulldogs' goal was to slow the game down, and they did until cracking in the fourth quarter.
- Fresno State limits Michigan to 269 yards offense and 18 first downs.
- Fresno State safety Camryn Bracha was all over the field, finishing with 10 tackles — seven solo and three assisted.
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ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Fresno State interim head coach Tim Skipper revealed his gameplan after Michigan’s 30-10 football victory over the Bulldogs.
Slow down the No. 9 ranked and defending national champion Wolverines.
The strategy almost worked. Fresno State held Michigan to just 269 yards. And, the Bulldogs pulled within six points, 16-10, with 10:06 left to play.
But Michigan answered with a seven-play, 75-yard drive to build a 13-margin and later extended it to the final 20 points — failing to beat the 21.5-point betting line.
“They have a heart of a champion,” Skipper said of Michigan.
Quarterback Mikey Keene pointed the finger at himself for the Bulldogs’ sputtering offense. Of course, a Michigan defense packed with future NFL players is not an easy nut to crack.
Keene completed 22 of 36 passes for 238 yards and one TD. But he and the Bulldogs were betrayed by two interceptions — one bounced off a receiver’s hands and the other Michigan’s Will Johnson returned for a score.
And, the Bulldogs failed to run the ball with any efficiency. Tailback Malik Sherrod, who wasn’t at full strength, finished with 24 yards on 14 carries. The Bulldogs finished with 244 total yards, with 30 yards lost to the three Michigan sacks of Keene.
Fresno State safety Camryn Bracha was all over the field, finishing with 10 tackles — seven solo and three assisted.
Senior defensive lineman Ezra Christensen had Fresno State’s lone sack.
In all, the Bulldogs surrendered just 18 first downs.
The Thrill of the Big House
Fresno State was not starstruck by the 110,665 fans in attendance at the nation’s largest college football stadium.
Skipper said they trained for the loud noise, and the new helmet intercom system helped.
Even with the loss, players savored the experience.
“This is something I’m going to remember forever. Obviously, we wanted a different outcome. We take it with a grain of salt. We are blessed to be here,” Keene said. “This is a dream you have when you want to play college football.”
Bulldogs linebacker Tuasivi Nomura, a transfer from USC, called the atmosphere “electric.” It helped pump him up during the game.
He also saw the strips of red-clad Fresno State fans among Michigan’s Maize and Blue.
“I see that red out there,” Nomura said.
“We love the Red Wave,” Skipper said. “We travel well.”
