A new chapter will be written in a rivalry that dates back to 1923 when Fresno State hosts in-state rival San Diego State in The Battle for the Old Oil Can on Saturday.
Both head coaches will make their debuts. Matt Entz took over at Fresno State this year. Sean Lewis is in his second season at San Diego State, but the rivals didn’t play last season. They last met in 2023, a game the Aztecs won 33-18.
History may not be a driving factor for either team, given the new coaches and all the new players on both rosters. But both teams understand how important Saturday’s game is, especially with the Aztecs and Bulldogs in position to make noise in the Mountain West title race.
San Diego State (5-1, 2-0 Mountain West) is one of two remaining teams that are undefeated in league play. A win on Saturday will keep them on the heels of conference leader Boise State (5-2, 3-0) and on the brink of earning a spot in the AP Top 25. The Aztecs earned votes in this week’s poll.
A win by Fresno State (5-2, 2-1) keeps the Bulldogs in the thick of the title race and puts them just ahead of Hawaii (6-2, 3-1) thanks to their two-point win on Sept. 20. UNLV and Utah State also have one conference loss.
“You’ve got to be humble and know what winning requires,” Lewis said on Monday. “You’ve got to relentlessly set our standard and be focused, accountable, smart, and tough until there’s nothing but zeros and the final whistle has blown, however long that takes. Whether it’s a four-quarter fight, we’ve got to go to overtime, or we’ve got to go to double overtime; whatever it takes. We have to have that relentless pursuit of earning the right to win yet again and go get our hands back on the Oil Can.”
San Diego State vs. Fresno State Betting Odds
San Diego State is a three-point college football betting odds favorite on BetMGM as of this writing. The Over/Under is 47.5 points. The moneyline is at -150 for the Aztecs and +125 for Fresno State.
San Diego State leads the all-time series 31-27-4. The Aztecs won their most recent meeting in 2023, but Fresno State won four out of five games in the rivalry between 2017 and 2022.
San Diego State vs. Fresno State On TV
The Mountain West game featuring San Diego State and Fresno State at Valley Children’s Stadium in Fresno, California, will be televised on FS1.
Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET.
San Diego State vs. Fresno State Preview
Both teams are coming off of bye weeks, but they went into the off week on vastly different trajectories. San Diego State has won four straight games, it’s home to one of the nation’s best defenses through the first half of the season, and the offense is starting to click.
Fresno State went into its bye week on the heels of a disastrous 49-21 loss to Colorado State. The Bulldogs were the hottest team in the Mountain West a couple weeks ago. They were on a five-game winning streak thanks in large part to an offense powered by talented running backs Rayshon Luke and Bryson Donelson. But all that came to a crashing halt in a game against the Rams that was marred by turnovers, including three interceptions thrown by quarterback EJ Warner.
Interceptions have been an issue for Warner his whole career. The senior has thrown at least 12 every year dating back to his time as the starter at Temple (2022-23) and Rice (2024). He has thrown nine interceptions and lost three fumbles this season. Warner has also thrown for 1,486 yards and 10 touchdowns and is completing 68.8% of his passes.
“It comes down to decision-making,” Entz said on Monday, reiterating that he is not considering a change at quarterback. “He has 500 snaps under his belt, but we continue to evaluate.”
San Diego State running back Lucky Sutton leads the team with 531 yards and six touchdowns on the ground. Michigan transfer quarterback Jayden Denegal has thrown for 1,097 yards, seven touchdowns, and two interceptions.
San Diego State vs. Fresno State Prediction
I predict San Diego State wins 27-21.
The Aztecs defense is playing lights out at every level. After a slow start to the season, Trey White and the pass rush have vastly improved. Owen Chambliss and Tano Letuli are two of the most active linebackers in the conference, and Chris Johnson might be the best cornerback in the Mountain West. He leads the team with three interceptions and six pass breakups and is No. 2 with 32 tackles.
San Diego State is giving up 12.2 points a game, which ranks No. 5 in the country. The Aztecs are giving up 95.6 rushing yards a game, which ranks No. 16.
Fresno State has the pieces to win this game. The Bulldogs have several running backs who can get hot, Josiah Freeman is a solid receiver, and they have plenty of talent on defense. I just think they’re going to struggle to run the ball against San Diego State, and that would be bad news, especially given Warner’s propensity for turning the ball over.
