Fresno State loses rivalry game through Mountain West scheduling alliance. Who did ‘Dogs get?

Fresno State put in a lot of work to get Power Five conference opponents on its home football schedule, including Washington State, which will play a home and home series with the Bulldogs in 2026 and 2027.

It got another home game against the Cougars on Thursday through a scheduling agreement between the Mountain West Conference and Oregon State and Washington State, the only teams remaining in a Pac-12 that was decimated by realignment.

The Bulldogs, who end 2023 on Saturday in the New Mexico Bowl against New Mexico State, had Washington State added to their 2024 home schedule while losing a rivalry game against San Diego State.

Fresno State and San Diego State have played 62 times — it has played only one team, San Jose State, more times.

The rest of the Bulldogs’ opponents remain as scheduled — they will play Colorado State, Hawaii and San Jose State in conference games at home, and Washington State at home through the scheduling agreement; and play conference road games at Air Force, Nevada, New Mexico and UNLV.

Dates for the games have not yet been announced..

The Mountain West will have its teams play a seven game conference schedule, plus one game against Oregon State or Washington State. The Beavers and Cougars will not be eligible to win a Mountain West championship.

Landing a home game against one of the Pac-2 teams was a critical piece for the Bulldogs, who will play non-conference guarantee games at Michigan at UCLA next season worth $1.85 million and $1.2 million.

A third road game against a team that should bear some resemblance to a Power Five program in a first season after the implosion of the Pac-12 would have been a difficult task.

With the transfer portal open through Jan. 2, 2024, there is no telling what teams might look like next season, but playing Washington State rather than Oregon State could also be a plus for the Bulldogs.

Washington State this season went 5-7 overall and 2-7 in conference play.

Oregon State is 8-4, 5-4 in the Pac-12 and will play Notre Dame in the Dec. 29 Sun Bowl.

UNLV did get stuck with a third road game against a Power Five-level program. The Rebels are scheduled to play non-conference games at Houston and Kansas and, through the scheduling agreement, picked up a road game at Oregon State.

New Mexico, which also has two Power Five road games scheduled next season, got Washington State at home.

Washington State also will add to a home schedule that was lacking many marquee match ups with non-conference games against FCS Sacramento State and New Mexico State and the conference games against Colorado State, Hawaii and San Jose State.

Fresno State this season led Group of Five conference programs in attendance, averaging 39,067 for six home dates including sellouts against FCS Eastern Washington, UNLV and Boise State.