Following a 53-10 thrashing of fellow Group of Five Kent State, the Fresno State Bulldogs land themselves at No. 25 on the AP Poll after finishing 2022 at #24
FRESNO, Calif.– Possibly one of the most underrated teams at the D1 FBS level, Fresno State has flown under the radar for quite some time. After finishing at No. 24 in 2022, the Bulldogs have once again climbed into the national spotlight by reaching No. 25, the last slot in the published AP Top 25.
The recognition comes after impressive wins over Power 5 teams. The Bulldogs raced with Purdue in the season opener in a 39-35 win in West Lafayette. Quarterback Mikey Keene threw for 366 yards along with four touchdowns– a hot start to a 4-0 stretch where Fresno State seemed like they picked up exactly where they left off. After a thriller against FCS powerhouse Eastern Washington, the Bulldogs outlasted the Eagles in a 34-31 home showdown.
The team travelled to Tempe to take on the Arizona State Sun Devils, a game in which the Bulldog defense shut out and showed out. Fresno State held the Devils scoreless in a game which the Bulldog offense looked poised and ready to reach another Mountain West title.
The Bulldogs are the only non-Power Five team with the exception of independent Notre Dame to be ranked this week. Fresno State has been mistake-free throughout all four weeks, posting a +8 turnover margin and a high powered offense. They sit in the top 25 when it comes to yards allowed per game (227.5) and total yards allowed at 1,190.
Quarterback Mikey Keene has been the star of the show, currently ranked fifth in the FBS for passing touchdowns with 12. Other star players include receiver Erik Brooks with 448 receiving yards and DB Carlton Johnson with three interceptions through four games.
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The Bulldogs find themselves back in the national spotlight after a 53-10 drumming of Kent State, an expected but still impressive outcome. As the Mountain west begins play next week, Fresno State will take on Nevada in their first MWC game of the year. Fresno State is currently projected to run away with the conference after they did so last year with now Saints quarterback Jake Haener.
Fresno State played Washington State last year in the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl, which they won 6-29 after an impressive showing from quarterback Jake Haener. Now, it’s Keene’s turn to show what he can do with a Bulldogs team that has all the talent you could ask for from a non-Power Five program.
He’s gotten off to a hot start, but the question still remains if it’s even enough. The Mountain West is set to get cloudy up at the top with both Boise State and Air Force vying for the top spot. At the end of the day, if Fresno State can keep putting the hurt on teams when it counts, it’ll help them procure the division crown with no hitches. They face Boise State on November 4th at home, a severe advantage.
For how well the Bulldogs are playing, it’s easy to see why they deserve to be in the top 25. The only question is if they can finish.
