Fresno State aimed to build on last week’s win over Nevada, hoping to carry that momentum through the rest of the season. Playing in front of a sellout Homecoming crowd and debuting their new black uniforms, the Bulldogs delivered.

Fresno State defeated San Jose State 33-10 in the Battle of the Valley on Saturday at Valley Children’s Stadium, improving to 5-3 overall and 3-1 in the Mountain West Conference. The Bulldogs claimed the Valley Trophy and avenged last year’s season-altering loss to the Spartans.

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The Battle of the Valley Had Big Implications

The game held extra significance with Fresno State’s upcoming move to the Pac-12 in 2026, making Saturday’s matchup potentially the last between the teams as conference rivals.

San Jose State struck first with a 35-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Walker Eget to AP Midseason First-Team All-American wide receiver Nick Nash. Fresno State responded with a field goal, narrowing the score to 7-3 with 9:48 left in the first quarter. From that point, the rest of the first half belonged to the Bulldogs.

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Bulldogs Take Control in First Half

Quarterback Mikey Keene connected with wide receiver Mac Dalena on a deep pass to set up the Bulldogs at the 1-yard line as the first quarter ended. Fresno State opened the second quarter with a rushing touchdown by Elijah Gilliam, giving them a 10-3 lead.

On San Jose State’s next drive, cornerback Al’zillion Hamilton blitzed and forced a fumble, leading to a three-and-out and a punt. Keene then hit wide receiver Jalen Moss for a 43-yard touchdown, extending the Bulldogs’ lead to 17-7 with 11:14 remaining in the second quarter.

Eget attempted a deep pass, but Fresno State cornerback Julian Neal intercepted it in the end zone, giving the Bulldogs possession. Kicker Dylan Lynch then drilled a 48-yard field goal, extending the lead to 20-7 with 2:19 left in the first half.

The Bulldogs’ defense kept up the pressure, forcing an intentional grounding penalty on Eget and leading to a three-and-out. The Spartans regained possession and drove down the field but came up short as kicker Kyle Halvorsen missed a 42-yard field goal attempt to end the half.

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Second Half Dominance Seals Victory

Legend Ron Cox was inducted into the Ring of Honor at halftime, and his presence seemed to inspire the Bulldogs as they dominated the rest of the game.

Fresno State opened the second half strong, with Keene connecting on a 35-yard touchdown pass to Dalena, extending their lead to 27-7 with 11:03 remaining in the third quarter.

The Spartans seemed poised to score until Hamilton intercepted a pass, nearly returning it for a touchdown. His play set Fresno State up at San Jose State’s 24-yard line, but the Bulldogs were unable to convert on fourth down and turned the ball over.

Cornerback Cam Lockridge then intercepted Eget’s pass to close out the third quarter. At the start of the fourth, Keene found Moss for another touchdown pass, extending Fresno State’s lead to 33-7.

San Jose State switched quarterbacks, bringing in Xavier Ward, but it made little difference. Lockridge intercepted Ward with 13:50 remaining, marking his second interception of the night. Keene, despite a strong showing, threw an interception to Spartans safety Robert Rahimi, bringing his season total to 10 turnovers.

San Jose State’s third quarterback, Emmett Brown, got some snaps but only managed a field goal, making the score 33-10 with 5:08 left. Fresno State controlled the clock to secure the victory.

Keene’s Solid Performance Leads Bulldogs

Despite the interception, Keene delivered a solid performance, completing 30 of 41 passes for 275 yards and three touchdowns. This game marked a redemptive moment for him, but the individual stats are secondary; for Keene, the team’s success is what matters most.

“I was just trying to get a win. That’s all I was trying to do. Every single week that’s my mission, to get a win, ultimately that’s the biggest stat line for the team,” said Keene during the post-game press conference.

“I don’t want to be a contributor to a loss. Interceptions are something that I’m trying to limit and working on every single day. The biggest stat line for me is getting the win, I’m proud of our guys, and proud of myself on how we got it done today.”

The defense excelled, limiting Nash’s production throughout the game. Despite his touchdown catch, the nation’s leader in receiving touchdowns finished with only eight receptions for 91 yards. The Bulldogs’ secondary forced four turnovers, underscoring why the defense ranks first in the conference.

It was an energetic win for the team and a positive step forward as they aim for a conference championship.