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Fresno State Faces San Diego State in Rare Day Game With Bowl Eligibility at Stake
David Taub Website photo 2024
By David Taub, Senior Reporter
Published 1 hour ago on
October 24, 2025
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Fresno State prepare for Saturday’s 12:30 p.m. kickoff against San Diego State at Valley Children’s Stadium. The Bulldogs need a win to become bowl eligible and stay in the Mountain West title race. (GV Wire Composite)

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Will the tailgaters be grilling breakfast food on Saturday?

San Diego State (5-1, 2-0 MWC) at Fresno State (5-2, 2-1)
Date/time: Saturday, Oct. 25, 12:30 p.m. PDT
Location: Valley Children’s Stadium, Fresno
TV: FS1 (Noah Reed, Robert Smith)
Radio: Bulldog Sports Network (Paul Loeffler, Pat Hill, Cam Worrell)
Betting line: San Diego State by 3 (DraftKings)

It may not be the most pertinent question, but with a rare day game Saturday, the Red Wave will be home for dinner.

With a win over San Diego State, Fresno State would earn bowl eligibility and keeps hopes alive for a Mountain West Conference title game berth.

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Profile: Richie Anderson

Tight end Richie Anderson III ranks second on the team with 220 receiving yards. He’s set personal bests for receiving yards and catches in a game twice this season. He has a 13-game reception streak.

The redshirt sophomore likes how the offense incorporates tight ends, calling it “amazing.”

“We’ve always had talented tight ends here since I’ve been here. We’re one of the groups that are really strong on this team. We’re super accountable, and we can do anything — in the run game or the passing game,” Anderson said.

Blocking is almost as important as pass catching for tight ends, Anderson said.

“It’s something we do every day in individual drills because you’re going to use it all the time — in the run game, the pass game, run blocking, base drives, getting off the ball, driving your knees. It’s something you need,” Anderson said.

Anderson grew up in Tualatin, Oregon, a Portland suburb.

“It’s a great place for the outdoors — a lot of football in the summer, boating and rivers. That’s one thing I love about Fresno, too — all the sunny days. It feels like summer all the time,” Anderson said.

Several of his family members also played football in high school and college.

“When I do some bad stuff or have a bad block, they love to text me like, ‘Hey, come on, let’s clean that up.’ So I have a lot of respect and they keep me accountable. I’m very thankful,” Anderson said.

Former NFL tight end Jimmy Graham was his favorite player growing up.

“I loved watching him dunk the ball over the goal post,” Anderson said.

Tight end Richie Anderson III enjoys his expanded role in the offense. (Fresno State)

The Mental Game of Dylan Lynch

Kicker Dylan Lynch says the mental aspect of the game is just as important as the physical side

Visualization is key, he said.

“Going into it mentally prepared, understanding your assignment and believing in the process and everything you’ve trained for. Week in and week out, we go onto this field prepared for every outcome. We believe in ourselves, and we put it on the field,” Lynch, a senior from Bakersfield, said.

He is 8-for-12 on field goals this year and has made all 23 extra points. He leads the team with 47 points.

Lynch says he does not consult mental specialists himself.

“I’ve had a pretty strong mental side to my position, and it’s been a journey,” Lynch said.

Part of that strength is flushing away the memory of missed kicks, he said. He missed three of four kicks at Hawai‘i, including a 26-yard attempt.

“If you go out there and keep remembering what just happened — I mean, it’s about the team. You can’t make it about yourself, because the moment you do, you jeopardize your team,” Lynch said.

Lynch ranks seventh all time in program history with 269 points.

Dylan Lynch
Kicker Dylan Lynch, seen here Oct. 4, 2025 against Nevada, talks about the mental side of kicking. (Fresno State)

The Team Up North?

Does San Diego State head coach Sean Lewis think he’s Woody Hayes?

At his news conference this week, he talked about the rivalry with Fresno State.

The title of the YouTube video: “Head Coach Sean Lewis Previews the Team Up North.”

Lewis praised Fresno State’s defense and quarterback E.J. Warner — without using names or the word “Fresno.”

“He’s had a tremendous teacher since birth,” Lewis said of Warner’s Hall of Fame father, Kurt Warner.

He also called it one of the most hostile crowds his team will face.

“There’s no need to give any energy or focus to anything outside of our control,” Lewis said.

Blackout Saturday

It’s homecoming Saturday, and the team has designated a blackout theme. The Bulldogs will wear all black — helmet, jersey and pants.

The team will also sport the old-school “sailor hat” Bulldog logo on the helmet.

The forecast calls for 72 degrees and partly cloudy skies.

Fresno State Bulldogs Football BlackOut black helmet
A look at the blackout helmet to be worn this week. (Fresno State)

There’s a Dog On the Field

Head coach Matt Entz has mentioned his dog in prior news conferences. On Tuesday, he brought his Labrador, Tuddy, to practice.

Tuddy ran around the field after practice ended, loving the attention and jumping around. He made friends with several players.

Head coach Matt Entz brought his dog Tuddy to practice this week. (GV Wire/David Taub)

Bulldog Legends Advance in HOF Voting

Lorenzo Neal and Logan Mankins advanced to the next round of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, announced this week. Both made the cut from 128 names down to 52 names.

The semifinalist list of 25 names is expected in November. The final selections will be named Super Bowl week.

Neal was considered one of the best blocking backs in the NFL during his 16-year career with seven teams. He participated in the legendary “Music City Miracle” play during the 2000 playoffs with Tennessee. He was named to four Pro Bowl teams.

He is a member of Fresno State’s Ring of Honor.

Offensive lineman Mankins, a 2005 first-round draft choice for New England, appeared in two Super Bowl games with the Patriots. He played 11 seasons, earning two first-team All-Pro and seven Pro Bowl honors.

This Week in the Mountain West/Future Pac-12

All times Pacific

Friday, Oct. 24

Boise State (5-2, 3-0) at Nevada (1-6, 0-3)*, 7 p.m., CBS Sports Network (Rich Waltz, Robert Turbin)

Saturday, Oct. 25

Utah State (4-3, 2-1) at New Mexico (4-3, 1-2)*, noon, MW App/Altitude (Robert Portnoy, DonTrell Moore)

Toledo (4-3) at Washington State§ (3-4), 12:30 p.m., The CW/CW 59 in Fresno (Ted Robinson, Ryan Leaf, Nigel Burton)

Colorado State (2-5, 1-2) at Wyoming (3-4, 1-2)*, 4:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network (Dave Ryan, Adam Breneman)

Off: Air Force, Hawai‘i, Oregon State§, San Jose State, Texas State§, UNLV

* MWC game; § 2026 Pac-12 member not in 2025 MWC; most announcer info from 506 Sports.

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David Taub,
Senior Reporter
Curiosity drives David Taub. The award-winning journalist might be shy, but feels mighty with a recorder in his hand. He doesn't see it his job to "hold public officials accountable," but does see it to provide readers (and voters) the information needed to make intelligent choices. Taub has been honored with several writing awards from the California News Publishers Association. He's just happy to have his stories read. Joining GV Wire in 2016, Taub covers politics, government and elections, mainly in the Fresno/Clovis area. He also writes columns about local eateries (Appetite for Fresno), pro wrestling (Off the Bottom Rope), and media (Media Man). Prior to joining the online news source, Taub worked as a radio producer for KMJ and PowerTalk 96.7 in Fresno. He also worked as an assignment editor for KCOY-TV in Santa Maria, California, and KSEE-TV in Fresno. He has also worked behind the scenes for several sports broadcasts, including the NCAA basketball tournament, and the Super Bowl. When not spending time with his family, Taub loves to officially score Fresno Grizzlies games. Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Taub is a die-hard Giants and 49ers fan. He graduated from the University of Michigan with dual degrees in communications and political science. Go Blue! You can contact David at 559-492-4037 or at Send an Email

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