Bulldogs complete best in-season turnaround in major college football history with L.A. Bowl win

FRESNO STATE 29, WASHINGTON STATE 6

Fresno State showed that the Bulldogs had no problem shining on national TV while down in Southern California for the Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl.

The Bulldogs led from start to finish against Washington State and never were threatened against the Pac-12 program en route to a 29-6 victory Saturday before a nationally televised audience on ABC from SoFi Stadium.

With the bowl victory, Fresno State completed the greatest in-season turnaround in major college football history while becoming the first Football Bowl Subdivision program to start 1-4 but still earn 10 wins.

“It was a lot of pressure there,” Fresno State coach Jeff Tedford said during the on-field, post-game interview about the Bulldogs’ slow start to the season. “We overcame a lot of things. ...

“I couldn’t be prouder of these guys.”

The Bulldogs (10-4), the Mountain West champions, ended the year with nine straight victories after beating the Pac-12’s seventh-place team.

And a strong contingent of Fresno State fans were there to witness the Bulldogs win their four straight bowl game and 31st bowl victory all time.

In all, the second annual Jimmy Kimmel L.A. Bowl drew an announced crowd of 32,405.

Fresno State running back Jordan Mims finished with 202 yards and two touchdowns.

Quarterback Jake Haener, who suffered a high-ankle sprain three games into the season and caused him to miss the ensuing four games, capped off his Bulldogs career by completing 24 of 36 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns.

Haener connected with receivers Nikko Remigio and Zane Pope each for a touchdown while spearheading a Bulldogs offense that generated 501 total yards and converted 6 of 12 third downs.

Washington State (7-6), meanwhile, mustered just 182 total yards and went 4 of 14 on third downs.

Fresno State defensive end Devo Bridges registered two sacks and eight total tackles.

Cornerback Carlton Johnson led the Bulldogs with 10 tackles, including one for a loss, and had a pass breakup.

Fresno State coach Jeff Tedford, who wrapped up his first season back with the Bulldogs after sitting out from coaching in 2020-2021 due to health concerns, has now won at least 10 games in three of his four seasons as head coach of his alma mater.

It’s up for debate which turnaround job was more impressive by Tedford: When Fresno State transformed from a 1-11 team in 2016 just prior to his arrival to a 10-4 team in 2017 during Tedford’s first season, or this season’s righting the ship.

MIMS PUTS IT AWAY

Fresno State running back Jordan MIms has pretty much put an end to this one, scoring on a 2-yard run to give the Bulldogs a 29-6 lead with 8:29 to go.

HIT OR MISS FOR BULLDOGS

Fresno State through three quarters is averaging 9.8 yards per play on first downs, which would hint at more points on the scoreboard than the 22 the Bulldogs have put up.

But it has been hit or miss, since that opening series score.

Fresno State has eight plays that went for 189 yards, four passing and four rushing. On its other 18 first-down plays, they have generated only 65 yards, just 3.6 yards per play.

That explains to some degree the 3 of 8 on third downs. The average yardage to gain for a first down has been 9.6 yards.

MIMS TOPS 100

Fresno State running back Jordan Mims has 129 rushing yards on just 10 plays, his fifth game going over the 100-yard mark this season. Mims also has scored at least one touchdown in nine games in a row.

Mims has broken runs of 14, 11, 24, 14, 10, 22 and 29 yards.

BULLDOGS WITH QUICK RESPONSE

Fresno State answered the Washington State score with an 11-yard touchdown pass from Jake Haener to Nikko Remigio with 36 seconds remaining in the third quarter.

The point-after kick was missed, and the Bulldogs’ lead is 22-6.

Fresno State had punted on four of its past five series, not ended by the end of the half. The Bulldogs scored a touchdown in there, but it was a short, 23-yard drive.

COUGS CUT INTO BULLDOGS’ LEAD

Washington State finally put a drive together and cut the Fresno State lead to 16-6 on a 1-yard touchdown run by Nakia Watson with 3:40 remaining in the third quarter.

A 2-point conversion pass failed.

The Cougars’ drive was 60 yards in 9 plays, the biggest chunk coming on the first play of the series, a 21-yard pass play from Cameron Ward to Billy Riviere.

AND, A PICK

Fresno State out down the Cougars’ best drive of the game with an interception by safety L.J. Early at the Bulldogs’ 8-yard line, where Jake Haener and the offense will take over.

Washington State, which had 59 total yards at halftime had 32 yards on eight plays to start the third quarter.

Fresno State coming out of halftime has shut out 12 opponents on their opening series of the second half. They allowed a field goal to Boise State in the Mountain West championship game and a touchdown in a loss at USC back in September.

Washington State has yet to hit 100 yards of offense. It sits at 91 on its seven series.

HALFTIME

Fresno State has a 16-0 lead at halftime and is two quarters from a 10-4 season, which would be the third in four seasons under coach Jeff Tedford.

The Bulldogs’ defense has dominated the game, allowing just 59 total yards and five first downs. Washington State quarterback Cameron Ward is 8 of 14 for 43 yards and the Cougars have rushed the ball 18 times for 16 yards.

Fresno State has struggled with its offense since scoring on its opening drive. Quarterback Jake Haener is 16 of 24 for 224 yards with the touchdown pass to Zane Pope.

Running back Jordan Mims has eight carries for 76 yards and one touchdown and Nikko Remigio has two receptions for 56 yards.

Fresno State has a 296 to 59 edge in total yards, and 17 to 5 in first downs.

DOMINANT DEFENSE SCORES

Fresno State has two more points and a 16-0 lead with a safety coming when defensive tackle Leonard Payne Jr. chased Cougars’ quarterback Cameron Ward out of the back of the end zone.

Washington State has 20 yards of offense, one first down and is now 0 of 4 on third downs.

MIMS TD RUN PUSHES BULLDOGS LEAD TO 14-0

Fresno State running back Jordan Mims has scored on a 3-yard run from a Wildcat formation, pushing the Bulldogs’ lead to 14-0 with 12:52 remaining in the second quarter.

The touchdown is the sixth for Mims in his past nine quarters and 17 rushing touchdown this season. The school record in a single season is 19 set by Ryan Mathews in 2009.

Mims is tied for second on that list with Anthony Daigle (1992) and Aaron Craver (1990).

BULLDOGS GET A GIFT

Fresno State has stopped Washington State on a 4th-and-1 run play from its own 23-yard line. Then again, the Bulldogs also are three yards away from the red zone, an area of the field they have struggled this season.

The Bulldogs have scored a touchdown on 53.3% of their red zone series, ranking sixth in the Mountain West. The teams directly ahead of then 2-10 Nevada and 5-7 UNLV.

ONE QUARTER DOWN

Fresno State has a 7-0 lead after the first quarter and has a 166 to 19 edge in total yards and 9 to 1 in first downs.

STALLING

Fresno State after ripping its way down the field on its first series has missed a field goal and now punted for the first time, this time after making a move with a 3rd-and-20 conversion on a screen pass from Jake Haener to running back Jordan Mims.

Haener is 9 of 12 for 136 yards and the touchdown to Zane Pope. Mims has rushed the ball four times for 33 yards.

10-0? NO

The Bulldogs’ defense got off the field quickly, but Fresno State could not add to its lead, missing a 37-yard field goal. The Cougars have the ball back at the 20-yard line.

BULLDOGS BREAK ON TOP

Fresno State is 6-0 this season when scoring first and the Bulldogs just scored first on a 22-yard pass from Jake Haener to a wide open Zane Pope to take a 7-0 lead with 11:54 remaining in the first quarter.

Haener has now thrown a touchdown pass in 29 consecutive games, extending a Mountain West Conference record. It was his 66th career touchdown pass. He is three shy of tying Kevin Sweeney for fourth on the Bulldogs’ all-time list.

TV SLIDE

The start of the game will be televised on ESPN News, with a game between Jackson State and North Carolina Central on ABC.

IT’S GAME DAY

TEDFORD VS. THE COUGS

Fresno State and Washington State have not played since 1994, so the Cougars’ 3-1 series lead doesn’t hold much relevance. Neither, for that matter, does Bulldogs’ coach Jeff Tedford’s career record against Washington State.

It is interesting, though. Here it is:

2002 - Lost, 48-38

2005 - Won, 42-38

2006 - Won, 21-3

2007 - Won, 20-17

2008 - Won, 66-3

2009 - Won, 49-17

2010 - Won, 20-13

2011 - Won, 30-7

2012 - Won, 31-17

DICKERT AND THE COUGARS’ DEFENSE

Washington State coach Jake Dickert is running the Cougars’ defense, with defensive coordinator Brian Ward off to Arizona State. He said that he has had fun with the transition back to preparing a defense for a game, and everything that goes into it.

“I probably speak for coach (Tedford), too. We love coaching ball. Love being back in the room, getting a chance to go into the linebacker room, working through some drills, calling the plays, going back to a lot of film study and the process. It brings you back to why you’re sitting here, because you love players, you love the game. You love going out there and competing. And that’s what we’re going to do on Saturday.

“It’s been fun. And just excited about what that can mean for our guys and putting them in the best position possible so they can go have some success.”

Dickert was the defensive coordinator at Wyoming in 2019, and before that the Cowboys’ safeties coach. Wyoming did not play Fresno State in 2019, but it did in 2017 and ‘18, Tedford’s first two seasons at his alma mater.

The Bulldogs won both games, but solid offenses were held to 13 and 27 points in those two games.

The weather might have had something to do with the 2017 game, which is what stood out most to Dickert looking back six years later.

“One time we tried to freeze them out, get a snowstorm to go Fresno and Cheyenne, you guys got caught, right?” he said, sitting next to Tedford on Friday at a LA Bowl press conference.

“So I think they changed the rule where you have to stay in town from now on down in Laramie. But physical comes to mind, well-coached, disciplined. Tough teams. Offensive ingenuity. There’s been a bunch of those good battles. I remember that one being a really close game. The next year, Fresno was ultra competitive. Went down there, I think the coach has gotten the better of us the last few matchups. But have a lot of respect for him, his programs, and just the style and the way they play and how they’re prepared.”

PREGAME NOTES

Washington State quarterback Cameron Ward could present a few interesting twists for Fresno State and defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle on Saturday in the Jimmy KImmel LA Bowl.

The Cougars are without both coordinators, with offensive coordinator Eric Morris taking the head job at North Texas and defensive coordinator Brian Ward taking the same position at Arizona State.

The defensive side of the football is easy — Washington State coach Jake Dickert is a defensive guy, a former coordinator for the Cougars and at Wyoming, and will make the play calls in the bowl. Offensive line coach Clay McGuire is taking the lead with the offense, and he said that Ward, a third-year sophomore who followed Morris to Washington State from FCS Incarnate Word, will be given a lot of freedom at the line of scrimmage to get the Cougars’ pass-heavy offense into the right plays and then ...

“We put together pretty much the script and the game plan already before we got down here,” McGuire said, addressing Morris’ departure in a midweek virtual press conference. “It’s not going to change our approach to how we run this offense. It will be called more trial by committee. Every coach on the offensive side of the ball is going to be very involved in what we’re doing and getting plays called.

“Obviously, the guy that has the most experience in this offense as anybody is Cam, so we’re going to put a lot on Cam … he has the last look at everything and he’s the most experienced guy in this offense of any of us so we’re going to put a lot on him and let him roll with things.

“We’re not going to change our approach. We’re going to play fast and try to get after these guys.”

That opportunity is something the Cougars quarterback is looking forward to.

“I think it’ll be fine,” Ward said. “Just go out there and have fun and check plays. At the same time, I think it will be fun for me, a fun experience for the offense and allow the playmakers to make plays.

“At the end of the day, it’s all about the players. The coaches could have the best game plan but they’re not playing the game. We have to go execute.”

What that might be could force some adjustment for Coyle and a Bulldogs defense that ranks fourth in the Mountain West Conference in passing defense. But adjustment is an area Fresno State has excelled in its eight-game winning streak, particularly coming out of halftime.

The Bulldogs have allowed 57 points in the third quarter this season and only 23, not even a field goal on average, have come in those past eight games. In those third quarters …

San Jose State: 0 points

New Mexico: 3

San Diego State: 7

Hawaii: 0

UNLV: 3

Nevada: 7

Wyoming: 0

Boise State: 3

That last game might’ve been the most impressive. The highest-scoring quarter for Boise State this season is the third. They are tied for 10th in the nation scoring an average of 9.5 third-quarter points in games against FBS opponents. But in the Mountain West championship game, the Bulldogs held the Broncos to 48 yards on 12 plays and the three points.

Five things to know about SoFi Stadium, home of the LA Bowl. How big is that scoreboard?

TIME, TV, RADIO

Here is how to catch the game on TV and radio:

Kickoff: 12:30 p.m.

TV: ABC (Joe Tessitore, Greg McElroy, Molly McGrath)

• Find it fast: Channels 3, 703, 1030 on Comcast, 30 on DirecTV, 30 on Dish Network

Radio: Bulldog Sports Network (Paul Loeffler, Pat Hill, Cameron Worrell)

• Find it fast: 1400 AM in Visalia/Tulare; 1340 AM in Fresno; 1280 AM in Stockton; 970 AM in Bakersfield; 92.9 FM in Modesto; 96.7 FM in Fresno

TEDFORD ON PASSING OF MIKE LEACH

Fresno State coach Jeff Tedford reminisced about some good times with former Washington State, Texas Tech and Mississippi State coach Mike Leach, who passed away on Monday.

The Bulldogs coach matched up with Leach in the 2004 Holiday Bowl, when Tedford led Cal against Leach’s Texas Tech.

The Red Raiders won that game 45-31.

SOMETHING FOR THE NFL RESUME

Fresno State safety Evan Williams went through Senior Day activities before the Bulldogs’ final home game, though he can return in 2023 with an extra year of eligibility available due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He said before that game he had not made a decision, but this likely will be his final game with the Bulldogs, along with a group that includes quarterback Jake Haener, defensive end David Perales, wideouts Jalen Moreno-Cropper, Nikko Remigio and Zane Pope and running back Jordan Mims.

If it is, defensive coordinator Kevin Coyle gave him something to add to the NFL resume. Coyle, a former coordinator with the Miami Dolphins, was asked if Williams is an NFL-caliber safety.

“There’s no question,” Coyle said. ”Evan has all the attributes you look for in a safety. I’ve coached a lot of years in the NFL and coached some really good players, and Evan has the combination of the physical tools and the mental makeup that you really look for at that level. One day I expect to be sitting on the couch watching Evan do his thing at he next level, but certainly we’re real pleased at the way he’s performing for us here.”

Fresno State, despite its success on the field, hasn’t had many players selected in the draft recently.

It had no players taken in 2016, ‘17 or ‘18 before wideout KeeSean Johnson went to Arizona in the sixth round in 2019. Linebacker Mykal Walker went to Atlanta in the fourth round and guard Netane Muti to Denver in the sixth round in 2020 and cornerback DaRon Bland went to Dallas in the fifth round last year.

Haener has accepted an invitation to play in the Feb. 4 Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., and Mims and Moreno-Cropper will play in the Feb. 2 East-West Shrine Bowl at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

MORENO-CROPPER: BURNING MAN

Moreno-Cropper caught five passes for 60 yards in the Bulldogs’ Mountain West championship game victory at Boise State, surpassing the 1,000-yard mark for the season.

The senior has 79 receptions for 1,044 yards and five touchdowns on the season and all three of those numbers could go up against a Cougars defense that plays a lot of man coverage outside and has had more than a few passes go over their heads this season. Washington State has allowed 56 pass plays of 20 or more yards, ranking in a four-way tie for 127th or next-to-last in the nation.

Cropper has not seen a lot of man coverage, just 27.8% of his routes run, according to Pro Football Focus. But he is averaging 20.8 yards on his 17 receptions against man, tied for the third-highest in the nation.

The wideout who is leading the nation in yards per catch against man coverage, the Washington Huskies’ Rome Odunze, caught five passes for 157 yards and one touchdown against the Cougars.

Washington, with former Bulldogs offensive coordinator Ryan Grubb calling the plays for coach Kalen DeBoer, had 10 pass plays of 20 or more yards in that game including touchdowns of 75, 47 and 26 yards.

Man coverage is something the Bulldogs should relish, whenever they get it.

“Every week we’re looking forward to that, the challenge that the back end is going to give us,” Remigio said.

“When defenses play man coverage, we 100% look at that as a challenge and, you know, it’ something that I’m excited to perform against.”

JAKE HAENER 0 for 26? ONLY WAY HE DOESN’T SET A RECORD

Haener is likely to end his Bulldogs career with the highest completion percentage in school history. Haener goes into the LA Bowl having completed 707 of 1,036 passes, 68.2%. He would have to go 0 for 26 to finish behind Derek Carr, who is second on the list at 66.6%.

Haener over his past six games has completed 73.2% of his passes (153 of 209). Carr hit 70.4% of his passes in the best six-game stretch of his career at the start of the 2013 season.

THAT ISN’T SPECIAL

The Cougars’ transfer portal-depleted roster could impact coverage on special teams, but they do have a weapon in punter Nick Haberer, who is leading the Pac-12 in hang time on his kicks (4.14 seconds) and fair catches (27).

Remigio returned a second punt for a touchdown this season in the Mountain West championship game and is averaging 18.5 yards on 14 returns, but his chances could be limited.

Washington State also has a solid kickoff man in Colton Theaker, who has handled 62 of the Cougars’ 63 kickoffs. Only 18 of those have been returned and 37 have been touchbacks.

Fresno State has returned 30 kickoffs this season and has one more shot to avoid a 14th consecutive season without a kickoff return touchdown. The Bulldogs have only 10 in their history; the most recent was by A.J. Jefferson against Nevada on Nov. 7, 2008.

There have been 626 kickoff returns since their last return touchdown.

BULLDOGS’ TRANSFER PORTAL IMPACT

Washington State has taken some hits, losing a number of key players to NFL Draft prep or the transfer portal including two of its top three wideouts and three top linebackers including all-conference pick Daiyan Henley. But what about the Bulldogs, and what impact will losing three players to the portal have on their LA Bowl?

Wideout Josh Kelly: Kelly has been banged-up most of the season and played in only six games, catching 12 passes for 207 yards. He had not played since the Bulldogs’ win at UNLV, sitting out the past three weeks.

His absence won’t be felt against Washington State, but it will next season when seniors Jalen Moreno-Cropper, Nikko Remigio, Zane Pope and Ty Jones are gone.

Cornerback Cale Sanders Jr.: Sanders had a big bowl game a year ago as a true freshman and started nine of the first 11 games this year. But he had struggled with his consistency down the stretch and lost his starting spot to Carlton Johnson the past two games.

Sanders, who has committed to SMU, had seen his playing time cut back severely from 56 snaps at UNLV to 29 at Nevada to zero against Wyoming and he played only two in the Mountain West title game at Boise State. He had his lowest coverage grade of the season at Nevada, allowing two receptions for 82 yards and one touchdown.

Nickel Emari Pait: The true sophomore had played in only four games from scrimmage, none since a win against San Jose State sparked the Bulldogs’ eight game winning streak. Morice Norris has played the majority of snaps at nickel and is graded as the Bulldogs’ second-best defensive player behind defensive end David Peralta.

WASHINGTON STATE QUARTERBACK’S INTERESTING TAKE

Ward on the Bulldogs’ defense: “They’re a real solid defense. I feel like they haven’t played an offense like ours this season, so I feel I would be able to give them troubles at some point, but I feel the biggest thing for us is just staying on schedule.

“You know, you just had to take what they give us and do a lot of different, you know, fronts at certain times of the game. They like to do a lot of different coverages behind it. So, just staying on track, just having a plan. We’re gonna get the ball out when they do blitz and just let our playmakers make plays.”

On track or off track, opposing offenses have had difficulty staying on the field against the Bulldogs. Wyoming converted only 3 of 14 third-down plays (21.4%), with an average yards to gain to move the stick of 6.4. Boise State was only 5 of 17 on third downs (29.4%), needing an average of 6.2 yards for a first down.

QUICK HITTERS, INCLUDING MOUNTAIN WEST VS. PAC-12

Washington State is playing in a bowl for the seventh season in a row, not counting the 2020 COVID season. The Cougars are 2-4 and in their past two bowls have lost to Group of Five conference programs in Central Michigan last season in the Sun Bowl and Air Force in 2019 in the Cheez-It Bowl.

Fresno State running back Jordan Mims has scored 17 touchdowns this season (16 rushing, one receiving) and 43 (35 and eight) in his career. Mims joined the Bulldogs in the same recruiting class as running back Ronnie Rivers, who set the school record for career touchdowns with 52.

The Bulldogs need to score 21 points to average 30.0 or more for a fifth season in a row, extending the longest active streak in the Mountain West.

If the Bulldogs limit Washington State to 13 points, they will allow 19.9 points on the season and fewer than 20 for only the third time going back through 1992. Interestingly, the first two seasons are 2017 and ‘18 were under Tedford.

Washington State has scored a touchdown on 72.3% of its red zone possessions, 34 of 47. Fresno State has scored a TD on only 53.3% of its red zone possessions, 32 of 60.

Mountain West Conference programs are 14-12 all-time against the Pac-12 in bowl games and have won four of their past five matchups with Utah State beating Oregon State last season in the LA Bowl, Air Force beating Washington State in the 2019 Cheez-It Bowl, Boise State losing to Washington in the 2019 Las Vegas Bowl, Fresno State beating Arizona State in the 2018 Las Vegas Bowl and Boise State beating Oregon in the 2017 Las Vegas Bowl.