Fresno State Bulldogs:
Fresno State experienced a bit of turmoil late in the offseason when head coach Jeff Tedford stepped away from the program due to health issues. Assistant head coach Tim Skipper takes over the program in the interim, but the loss of Tedford is huge. Unlike many coaches, Tedford is one that adds wins at the margins. There have been no impactful transfers since his departure, but the expectations for the Bulldogs could be dampened by the loss of their head coach.
Offense
Fresno State brings back eight starters on offense, but the most important piece is Mikey Keene. The redshirt sophomore is considered the best quarterback in the conference. Keene completed 66.7% of his passes for 23 touchdowns last season and committed a turnover-worthy play on just 2.4% of his attempts.
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Behind him is Malik Sherrod, a Third Team All-Mountain West running back who rushed for 967 yards and nine touchdowns. Sherrod is a threat to run for 1,000 yards, and he is part of a running back room which brings back its top three rushers from last season.
Offensive line is a massive strength as well for Fresno State. Four starters return from 2023, and among them is First Team All-Mountain West guard Mose Vavao. This group not only paved the way for Sherrod, but it protected Keene at a high level, as he was pressured on just 22.4% of his dropbacks.
Defense
This is the group which has the most questions for Fresno State. The Bulldogs bring back just five starters from last season. It was an average group which finished 69th in opponent EPA per play, but it was among the best in the Mountain West in yards per play allowed (5.3).
The position group hit the hardest is linebacker. Levelle Bailey and Morice Norris – both All-Conference players – depart this season. On the backend the Bulldogs lose First Team All-Mountain West cornerback Carlton Johnson.
Defensive line should be a strength with six of the top eight returning this season. Fresno State allowed just 4.3 yards per carry last season, and the team should be able to reach those figures again. Defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle is back for his third season as well, giving this unit continuity at the top.
Outlook
There were some adjustments in the future market when Tedford announced his resignation, but this team still remains firmly entrenched as one of the favorites in the Mountain West. It should have one of the better offenses in the conference, and they have a schedule that should lead to success. The Bulldogs only have three road trips in conference play: New Mexico, Air Force and UNLV. They avoid Boise State and face four opponents with a win total of 4.5 or lower.
Pick: Over 8 Wins
