Jimmy Kimmel, Guillermo and ... Jake Haener? Late-night TV show next for Fresno State

The Fresno State Bulldogs’ trip to the Jimmy Kimmel L.A. Bowl includes a trip to Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the late-night talk show? Go figure. The Bulldogs will make that trip on Wednesday, be in the audience for the taping of the show that will air at 11:35 p.m. on ABC30, and if it is anything like last year a few players will get some national exposure of a somewhat dubious and embarrassing nature.

Utah State, the 2021 Mountain West Conference champion, matched up against Oregon State in the inaugural bowl last year and when appearing on the show players introduced themselves to a national audience during Kimmel’s monologue, as NFL players did on Monday Night Football broadcasts in years past.

Basically, it’s name and school. But every once in a while, a little personality would sneak through. A classic? How about, “Matthew Judon, body built by Taco Bell” from the former Baltimore Ravens defensive end.

On Jimmy Kimmel Live!, players substituted little-known and, one would hope, made-up fun facts about themselves. Former Bulldogs linebacker Justin Rice, who transferred to Arkansas State in 2020 and to Utah State in 2021, was one of the Aggies who got to go through the player intros.

Rice trotted out on stage and said, “Justin Rice, inside linebacker … I love the smell of kittens.”

That line isn’t likely to fly with Bulldogs and, OK, maybe it’s not, say, vintage Letterman Top 10 list. But who among the Bulldogs gets to run out on stage and what they might say could be worth tuning in for a chuckle or two (maybe Kimmel’s “security guard” Guillermo will be in on the antics). If there are none, well, the team gets to take in Universal Studios Hollywood on Thursday before turning their attention to Washington State and kickoff of the L.A. Bowl on Saturday afternoon (12:30 p.m., ABC30).

“I know we get to obviously watch the show and I’m going to get an opportunity to go up on stage and meet Jimmy and I think that’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience, so I’m just looking forward to that opportunity,” wideout Nikko Remigio said. ”I think it’s a cool experience for myself and everybody else in the program.”