Fresno State’s 2022 season didn’t look promising after going 1-4 to start the year.
The Bulldogs refused to give up, though. They went on a tear, never losing a game for the rest of the season. They won a rematch with Boise State in the Mountain West Championship and defeated Washington State in the LA Bowl.
Now the Bulldogs are hoping to repeat as conference champs.
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Fresno State Football’s Mountain West Title Odds
Fresno State has the second-best odds to win the Mountain West at +350, via BetMGM.
Fresno State Football’s Over/Under Win Total
Fresno State’s win total Over/Under is 8, with Under 8 at -115 and Over 8 at -105.
Fresno State Football’s Schedule
9/2 at Purdue
9/9 vs Eastern Washington
9/16 at Arizona State
9/23 vs Kent State
9/30 vs Nevada
10/7 at Wyoming
10/14 at Utah State
10/28 vs UNLV
11/4 vs Boise State
11/11 at San Jose State
11/18 vs New Mexico
11/25 at San Diego State
Bold indicates Mountain West contests.
Mikey Keene Has A Chance To Take Over At Quarterback For Fresno State’s Offense
Fresno State needed an immediate answer at quarterback now that Jake Haener is in the NFL. The Bulldogs went and picked up former UCF signal caller Mikey Keene this offseason. The former three-star high school recruit was ranked the 13th-best quarterback transfer in the nation after going 8-3 as a starter at UCF.
Keene is immediately one of the best Mountain West quarterbacks. He threw for 1,730 yards, 17 touchdowns, and six interceptions in 11 games as a true freshman. Then during his redshirt season the following year, he completed 60 of 83 passes for 647 yards, six touchdowns, and just one pick in four games.
Jordan Mims, who ran for 1,370 yards and 18 touchdowns last year, is also gone. But Malik Sherrod, who was second on the team with 428 yards and two touchdowns, and Elijah Gilliam, who ran for 101 yards and a touchdown, both return at running back. Fresno State also added former Cal running back Damien Moore this offseason.
The Bulldogs will also be without their top pass catchers from last year. Jalen Moreno-Cropper, who caught 83 passes for 1,086 yards and six touchdowns, Nikko Remigio, who chalked up 852 yards and six touchdowns on 74 receptions, and Zane Pope, who was third on the team with 623 receiving yards, 50 catches, and four touchdowns, are all trying to earn roster spots in the NFL.
Of Fresno State’s top seven receivers last year, only one is on the roster in 2023. Erik Brooks was the program’s leading receiver among returners with 391 yards and three scores on 37 receptions.
Fresno State was eighth in the Mountain West in rushing yards per game (132.1) and allowed the fourth-most sacks (39). But experience up front should help the Bulldogs this year as left tackle Jacob Spomer, left guards Tyrone Sampson Jr. and Jacob Isaia, right guard Mose Vavao, and right tackles Daniel Taumalolo and Braylen Nelson all return after starting multiple games at their respective positions last season.
Cam Lockridge Setting The Pace For Fresno State’s Defense
Fresno State was among the top four teams in the Mountain West for scoring defense (19.4 points per game allowed) and total defense (339.8 yards per game allowed). And while the Bulldogs do lose a few of their stars, they return six of their top 11 tacklers from 2022.
David Perales is one of Fresno State’s biggest losses. He paced the Mountain West with 11.5 sacks to go with 16 tackles for loss, 47 total tackles, six quarterback hurries, five pass breakups, and two forced fumbles.
But the Bulldogs still have plenty of talent on defense.
Cam Lockridge is one of the team’s top returners in the secondary. The HERO Sports G5 Preseason All-American tied for first in the Mountain West with five interceptions while also breaking up nine passes and tallying 38 tackles and three TFLs.
Levelle Bailey was Fresno State’s leading tackler in 2022. The linebacker racked up 87 tackles, 5.5 for loss, and six pass breakups.
Linebacker Malachi Langley was second on the team with 67 tackles. He also added three tackles for loss, two interceptions, two pass breakups, two quarterback hurries, and one sack.
Morice Norris Jr. is also back after an impressive 2022 season. The nickelback totaled 55 tackles, eight TFLs, six pass breakups, a sack, and a forced fumble.
Fresno State also added Tuasivi Nomura, a former USC linebacker, and Dean Clark, a former Kent State safety, via the transfer portal.
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Fresno State Football Season Prediction
Fresno State won’t win the Mountain West title and will fall just short of nine regular season wins.
Ultimately, I think Boise State has a more complete team that’s poised for a run at the conference title. However, the Bulldogs should still win plenty of Mountain West games.
To start the year, Fresno State might go 2-2 with wins at home over Eastern Washington and Kent State and losses on the road to Purdue and Arizona State – though that ASU game is extremely winnable for the Bulldogs.
Against Mountain West teams, Fresno State would have a difficult time going 7-1. The Bulldogs host Boise State, and while Fresno State could win that matchup, they also have to travel to San Diego State at the end of the year. I don’t see Fresno State winning both of those contests.
And I’m also factoring in a letdown loss at some point. Maybe that’s at Wyoming or Utah State, or maybe that’s against UNLV at home.
But that doesn’t mean Fresno State won’t be a strong team again in 2023.
