The 2009 football season is only four games old, and the Bulldogs have already had some significant hopes shattered. But there's plenty of time to pick up the pieces.
Fresno State, at least since Pat Hill took over as head coach in 1997, prides itself on playing a tough non-conference schedule. "Anybody, any time, anywhere" is the team's motto, and this year, the road took them to Wisconsin and Cincinnati.
Those two games ended in defeat. And sandwiched around a Western Athletic Conference loss to No. 5 Boise State at home, they've produced a three-game losing streak for Fresno.
So the Bulldogs are 1-3, and unless Boise State loses a conference game, they'll have no shot at a WAC crown. And Fresno State will have to go 6-2 over its eight remaining games just to finish over .500 overall.
While the most rugged stretch of the schedule is over, Fresno still has some challenging trips ahead. The Bulldogs have a bye this weekend, but have to play at Hawaii in a WAC game Oct. 10. They also face potentially rugged road games vs. Nevada and Idaho in November and vs. Illinois in December.
But the Bulldogs have proven that they're a capable football team. What they haven't done yet is deliver in clutch situations. If they do that, winning eight straight and finishing the regular season 9-3 is a distinct possibility.
Fresno State Could Be 4-0 Instead of 1-3
Since opening the season with a 51-0 blowout of UC Davis, the Bulldogs have been in three tightly contested games. They lost all three despite outgaining their opponents.
Fresno State lost at Wisconsin 34-31 in double overtime, when Ryan Colburn's third interception of the game set up the decisive field goal by the Badgers.
It wasn't as close at Boise State, but the Bulldogs managed 507 yards against an excellent Broncos defense. They lost 51-34 largely because they gave up two 77-yard kickoff returns, and threw two more interceptions – one of which was returned for a touchdown.
The Bulldogs moved Cincinnati all over the field, gaining 443 yards and holding the ball for a remarkable 43 minutes, 42 seconds. But they botched two fourth-quarter drives. One ended in an interception inside the Wisconsin 10-yard line.
Bulldogs Defense Needs to Make Big Plays
The eight turnovers, which include seven interceptions, are obviously a huge concern. Only five teams of the 120 teams in the NCAA Football Bowl Division have thrown more picks.
But there are problems on defense, too, as the Bulldogs are giving up 37.3 points and 416.7 yards over their last three contests. With players like middle linebacker Ben Jacobs leading the way, they've played extremely well during stretches. But they've had trouble sustaining it for more than a quarter at a time.
Compounding the trouble is that the Bulldogs aren't making many big plays on offense. They've forced only two turnovers, tied for 116th in the FBS.
The Bulldogs also have just three sacks – all by defensive end Chris Carter – and are one of just 11 FBS teams averaging less than one per game. Fresno State also ranks low in tackles for losses, managing just 4.25 per game.
Fresno State Offense Explosive
While the Bulldogs have made some critical mistakes on offense, there can be no doubt that they're an explosive team. They're gaining 482.3 yards per game to rank 11th in the FBS.
Fresno State junior Ryan Mathews has rushed for 592 yards and five touchdowns on 6.8 yards per carry. He ranks second in the FBS with a 148.0 per-game average.
And the Bulldogs, who also have talented runners like Robbie Rouse, Anthony Harding and Lonyae Miller, are rushing for 274.7 yards per game to rank second in the FBS.
The passing game's shown promise, too. Colburn has thrown for 790 yards and seven TDs, and the junior has a deep cast of receivers that includes Seyi Ajirotutu (13 catches, 181 yards, 2 TDs) and Devon Wiley (11 catches, 188 yards, 2 TDs).
If the Bulldogs prove they can close out critical drives, they'll be in fine shape.
Bulldogs Face Hawaii in Night Game
Fresno State's Oct. 10 matchup with Hawaii is scheduled for 8 p.m. PST. The game will be telecast by the Bulldog Sports Network.
Hawaii (2-2) features one of the nation's most productive pass offenses, but the Rainbow Warriors have lost two straight. They fell to Louisiana Tech 27-6 in a WAC game Wednesday, Sept. 30.
