It was not the outcome that the Fresno State football team was expecting when they stepped foot onto Allegiant Stadium to take on the UNLV Rebels on Sept. 28. They got throttled on both sides of the ball in a 59-14 defeat.

The Bulldogs are seeking redemption as they’re coming off their bye week to take on the Washington State Cougars at Valley Children’s Stadium on Saturday. They’re not leaving anything to chance to not repeat what happened in Las Vegas. Both teams had byes on the same week, but interim head coach Tim Skipper tried using that extra time to prepare and use it as an advantage.

“We were focused on getting really healthy. Our practices weren’t as long, and we cut them down. We put in quality work, and we worked fast,” Skipper told GV Wire at Monday’s press conference. “We practiced on a Sunday, no pads, it isn’t usual, but we wanted to take advantage of the extra time. We wanted to give them a taste and familiarity of what to expect with Washington State.”

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Game With Cougars Has Future Implications

They’ll be meeting for the sixth time in program history on Saturday. Fresno State is 2-3 all time against Washington State. They’ll be looking to repeat their performance from the LA Bowl in 2022 when they beat the Cougars 29-6.

They have history, but this game has future implications. Both teams will face each other as nonconference opponents for the last time this weekend as the Bulldogs will compete in the Pac-12 in 2026. A victory against the Cougars will show college football pundits they deserve to compete in a more competitive conference.

For Skipper, they’re not trying to prove anything to anybody except themselves.

“We’re all about playing for ourselves right now. We have to prove to ourselves that when we work hard and do what we need to do Saturdays get taken care of,” said Skipper. “We’re all completely thinking about what we need to do. We’re going to make the Valley proud and play Bulldog football. We’re just taking care of business for us right now.”

Cougars’ Offensive Threat

Washington State is also looking to bounce back from losing to Boise State 45-24 on Sept. 28, the same day the Bulldogs lost to the Rebels. They’ll rely on the nation’s No. 10 offense with an average of 41.8 points a game.

They’re led by sophomore quarterback John Mateer. He’s ranked No. 2 in the nation in total offense at his position, No. 15 in yards per pass attempt, No. 16 in passing touchdowns. He has 19 rushes of more than 10 yards, which is second-most by a quarterback in FBS. He also leads FBS quarterbacks in missed tackles forced with 31.

Another offensive weapon is senior wide receiver Kyle Williams. He’s on the watchlist for the Biletnikoff Award. He’s been dealing with minor injuries this season but has racked up 25 catches for 464 yards and five touchdowns.

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Bulldogs’ Defensive Challenge

The Bulldogs’ defensive momentum faded when they allowed the Rebels to get 450 offensive yards (198 passing, 252 rushing) and six touchdowns. It didn’t help that senior defensive end Devo Bridges experienced shortness of breath before the game and spent some time in a Las Vegas hospital that day. He’s healthy now and ready to play.

They’ll again be without senior safety Camryn Bracha. Safeties sophomore Jayden Davis and senior Kosi Agina stepped in to fill in for the injured defensive back. Despite the score, Davis led the team with seven tackles. He knows he’s got a lot to live up to with Bracha’s absence.

“I have to fill some big shoes. Camryn was a key factor for us and what he’s done, and I have to play to his role,” said Davis. “With my athleticism and versatility, I’m a hybrid safety, I can cover, fit in the run, and I’m a big hitter. I’m excited to show The Red Wave what I can really do.”

Bracha’s leadership is felt even without him suiting up. His encouragement has allowed his defensive teammates, including Davis, to play better. “He told me to play my game because he knows what I can do. He told me that I earned it and just play like I have been playing,” said Davis.

Fresno State ranks 15th in the FBS and third in the Mountain West Conference in turnovers with 10 on the year. That was absent in Vegas. Zero turnovers.

That performance was disappointing to senior defensive back Cam Lockridge. He’s the FBS leader in passes defended, averaging 1.8 per game and leads the team with four takeaways with three interceptions and one fumble recovery. He knows that they’ll have to get back into the turnover category if they want to have a chance against the Cougars.

“We have to play with passion and enthusiasm and lean on each other to make plays. We were doing that before and that enthusiastic energy helped. We hit a brick wall, but we will overcome it,” said Lockridge.

The duo of Lockridge and junior defensive back Al’zillion Hamilton has been dynamic. Hamilton ranks second in the FBS, averaging 1.6 passes defended per game. This secondary will have to hustle and really push themselves to limit the Cougars’ playmakers.

Defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle and Lockridge share the same philosophy on how to stop the offense. “We got to neutralize the quarterback and the run game. Make them one dimensional. We got good athletes to hold anybody. We got to keep the quarterback in the pocket and force him to make mistakes,” said Lockridge.

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Offensive Rebound Needed

The offensive production felt like a no show against the Rebels, not scoring a touchdown until the third quarter. It shouldn’t be the same story against the Cougars. Their defense ranks No. 126 out of 133 teams in the country. There’s no reason for the Bulldogs not to roll up points on Saturday. However, Bulldogs offensive coordinator Pat McCann says the Washington State defense is better than its numbers suggest.

“Stats can be misleading. They pose some problems so there isn’t anything to exploit. I think they’re pretty good at all three levels and they have a good front four,” said McCann.

A breakout star for the Bulldogs has been junior wide receiver Raylen Sharpe. Despite the loss, he had his first 100-yard receiving game as a Bulldog with 10 catches for 116 yards on the day. He can catch, throw, and run, and McCann told GV Wire he has some tricks up his sleeve to utilize Sharpe’s abilities.

Junior wide receiver Josiah Freeman has some thoughts on what can be done for the offense to click again.

“We need to establish the run game. Once we do that it’ll open up everything for us. We’ve been working on that,” said Freeman. “We’ve been emphasizing that and sticking to our strengths, and when we get that going everything else will fall into place.”

For two straight games they were on the road at New Mexico (Sept. 21) and Las Vegas (Sept. 28). Now they’re home, the game is 95% sold out, and the Bulldogs can show the nation why they were invited to join the Pac-12.

“The Red Wave will be out there. It’s going to be loud. We always feel we got the advantage when we’re at home,” said Freeman.

Get your tickets here.