Fresno State had a chance to upset Washington State on Saturday at Valley Children’s Stadium, but the Cougars came away with a 25-17 victory, dropping the Bulldogs to 3-3 on the season.

While the scoreboard showed a win for the Cougars, the Bulldogs may have beaten themselves. Mental mistakes and questionable play-calling late in the fourth quarter dashed Fresno State’s hopes of handing Washington State a loss.

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Impressive Statistics for Fresno State

The Red Wave came out strong, witnessing a closely contested matchup between Fresno State and Washington State. The Bulldogs outgained the Cougars in total yards with 338 and led in passing yards with 219. Despite having numerous opportunities to take control, costly penalties — 12 in total — two missed field goals, and a pair of interceptions by junior quarterback Mikey Keene dashed Fresno State’s chances of a win.

Fresno State’s defense delivered on its game plan, holding Washington State’s offense — ranked No. 10 in the nation and averaging 41.8 points per game—in check. Standout sophomore quarterback John Mateer had one of his least productive outings, completing 17 of 34 passes for just 172 yards and committing two turnovers.

The Bulldogs recorded four sacks, including two each from junior defensive tackle Jacob Holmes and junior linebacker Phoenix Jackson. The Cougars were held without an offensive touchdown in the entire second half.

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Back-and-Forth First Half

Washington State struck first with a 75-yard scoring drive, capped by a rushing touchdown from quarterback John Mateer, though they failed the 2-point conversion. Fresno State answered with a 77-yard drive of its own, highlighted by a 34-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Josiah Freeman.

Washington State answered with another 75-yard drive to take a 13-7 lead just before the end of the first quarter. In the second quarter, quarterback Mateer scrambled, but redshirt junior defensive end Korey Foreman forced a fumble, which was recovered by junior defensive back Jakari Embry. The Bulldogs, however, were unable to capitalize, missing a field goal.

Later in the quarter, senior safety Dean Clarks intercepted a pass in the end zone just before halftime, but Fresno State quickly gave the ball back to Washington State with an interception by Mikey Keene.

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Fresno State Bulldogs Take Brief Lead

The absence of Malik Sherrod was felt, but senior running back Elijah Gilliam stepped up, rushing for 120 yards on 20 carries and scoring a touchdown in the third quarter. Gilliam’s end zone run gave Fresno State a 14-13 lead, but it would be their last touchdown of the game.

Junior kicker Dylan Lynch’s field goal put the Bulldogs ahead 17-16 with 10:33 remaining in the fourth quarter. Fresno State’s offense regained possession with 8:58 left, aiming to extend their lead.

However, quarterback Mikey Keene threw a game-changing interception to redshirt freshman defensive back Ethan O’Connor, who returned it 60 yards for a touchdown. The Cougars’ failed 2-point conversion left them with a 22-17 advantage.

Late Game Struggles Seal Fresno State’s Fate

A series of unusual events unfolded late in the fourth quarter. Sophomore wide receiver Jalen Moss fielded the kickoff return, but with half of his body in the end zone, the referees marked the ball at the Fresno State 1-yard line.

With 6:51 left, pinned deep in their own territory, the Bulldogs managed a first down through a run by Elijah Gilliam. However, an illegal motion penalty pushed them back. Offensive coordinator Pat McCann then called two consecutive run plays to Gilliam, both of which gained very little yardage.

Washington State added a 23-yard field goal with 1:50 remaining, extending their lead to 25-17. Fresno State drove down to the Washington State 41-yard line, but time expired, ending their comeback hopes. The victory improved the Cougars’ record to 5-1.

A win of this magnitude could have put the Bulldogs on the right track for the rest of the season, proving their ability to compete and win in a more competitive conference as they prepare to join the Pac-12 in 2026.

“This is a tough one to swallow. We had control there at the end and we gave it up. There were too many self-inflicted things,” said head coach Tim Skipper at the post-game press conference. “We’ve got to get back to work, eliminate that stuff, and get better.”

Changes may be necessary if the Bulldogs hope to win out for the rest of the year, whether that means adjustments at quarterback or in the playbook, as offensive struggles continue to hinder the team. Their inconsistency has yet to complement defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle’s solid defense.

Fresno State travels to Nevada on Friday, with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m. PT on CBS Sports Network.