Fresno State Athletics
Dogs Ranked No. 24 in Preseason Associated Press Poll
8/20/2005 12:00:00 AM | Football
Aug. 20, 2005
FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State's football program will start the season ranked higher than any other year in school history. The Bulldogs are ranked No. 24 in the 2005 Associated Press College Football Poll, which was released Saturday afternoon.
The Dogs had never before been ranked in the AP preseason poll. Fresno State, coming off a 9-3 season in 2004, were rated No. 22 in the final AP poll last year. The Bulldogs won their final six games of the season is dominating style, including a win over No. 18 Virginia in the MPC Computers Bowl.
With 18 starters returning, Fresno has been ranked anywhere from No. 19 to No. 30 by most preseason publications and rankings. The AP poll is the nation's longest running college football poll.
Defending national champion USC is ranked No. 1 in the preseason poll. The Bulldogs and Trojans will meet Nov. 19 in the Los Angeles Coliseum.
Boise State, the defending WAC champions are ranked No. 18. The Bulldogs and Broncos were the only ranked teams from a non-BCS conference.
"It's great to be ranked in the preseason Top 25," head coach Pat Hill said. "It shows the national media has Fresno State on their minds and think a lot of our program. You have to start somewhere and I'd rather start the season in the top 25. It's easier to climb the polls once you're in them. You have instant credibility. It's much easier than trying to break into the polls."
Fresno State was ranked No. 19 by Sports Illustrated and was one spot shy of the USA Today Coaches Top 25 poll, coming in with the 26th-most votes.
Missing from the AP poll is Utah, last year's BCS buster from the Mountain West Conference. The Utes went 12-0 and finished fourth in the final AP rankings. The last team to finish that high and go unranked in the following preseason poll was Arizona State, which was No. 4 to end the 1996 season.
"This is a great day for our program and the Valley," said Hill. "Having a nationally ranked football team brings outstanding exposure and attention to our university and community."
Fresno State opens the 2005 season Sept. 10 against Weber State.
The Bulldogs will hold their Fan Appreciation Scrimmage at Bulldog Stadium Saturday night beginning at 7 p.m. Admission and tailgating are free.
Season tickets, including Family Value Packages, are still available at the Bulldog Ticket Office, by calling (559) 278-DOGS or online at www.gobulldogs.com.
