Fresno State Athletics
Photo by: Keith Kountz
Looking ahead to the 2020 schedule
2/24/2020 12:00:00 PM | Football
FRESNO, Calif. – What do we know about 2020 Fresno State football schedule? We know that Fresno State will open its campaign at home for the third time in the last four years, starting on Sept. 5 with the first of four nonconference contests. The Bulldogs' Mountain West schedule will mirror what they played in 2019, but with the host-site flipped for all eight opponents as a part of the annual MW rotation. Six of the Bulldogs' 11 FBS opponents in 2020 qualified for a bowl game in 2019, and the 11 collectively went 73-67 (.521).
September 5, 2020 vs. Idaho State (Big Sky)
Fresno State and Idaho State are set for its first matchup since meeting in 1977 when the Bulldogs were led by the late, great Jim Sweeney. That 1977 game was a 28-7 victory for the Bulldogs at Ratcliffe Stadium, but the only other two matchups between the two programs were victories for the Bengals in 1964 and 1968. Idaho State went 3-9 in 2019, and 2-6 in the Big Sky. The Bengals faced two FBS programs in 2019, Utah (L, 31-0) and BYU (L, 42-10), and will do the same in 2020 as they open the season with New Mexico in week zero – seven days prior to matching up with Fresno State.
September 12, 2020 at Colorado (Pac-12)
The Bulldogs' first road game of 2020 will be against a Power 5 opponent, the Pac-12's Colorado. The Buffs were 5-7 (3-6 Pac-12) in 2019 under first-year head coach Mel Tucker, but will be led by a new skipper for the 2020 campaign, Karl Dorrell. CU played a pair of Mountain West teams last season, Colorado State (W, 52-31) and Air Force (L, 30-23OT) and will do the same in 2020 as they continue their Rocky Mountain Showdown with Colorado State on Sept. 5 in Fort Collins before hosting the Bulldogs on Sept. 12. The last time Fresno State and Colorado played, the Bulldogs dominated a 2012 matchup 69-14 behind Derek Carr's 300 passing yards and five TDs, and Robbie Rouse's electric 94-yard rushing score that made him the Bulldogs' all-time leading rusher – a record that still stands today. Fresno State has won two-straight against Colorado, but trail the all-time series, 4-2. The Buffaloes last win against Fresno State was in 1998.
October 10, 2020 at Texas A&M (SEC)
Fresno State's next nonconference game takes place after nearly a month break from the their last nonconference game when they head to the Lone Star State for an SEC game against Texas A&M on Oct. 10. The Bulldogs' last trip to College Station, and only game they've ever played against Texas A&M, was one for the ages as they took the then-No. 23 Aggies to three overtimes before falling 47-45. Fresno State trailed 19-0 at halftime in that game and fought back, outscoring Texas A&M 29-10 in the second half before trading shots in the overtime periods. Texas A&M was an 8-5 team in 2019 (4-4 SEC), and capped the season defeating No. 25 Oklahoma State 24-21 in the Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl.
October 17, 2020 vs. New Mexico State (FBS-Independent)
While an Oct. 17 matchup with New Mexico State may seem late to close nonconference play for Fresno State, it was just in 2017 when the Bulldogs hosted BYU on Nov. 4 to close the nonconference portion of their schedule. The pairing is the second-half of back-to-back seasons fulfilling a home-and-home series that kicked off in 2019 in Las Cruces. The Bulldogs defeated the Aggies 30-17 last season for their 18th win in 19 tries in a series that started in 1972. The Bulldogs won 17-straight against New Mexico State until falling for the first time in 2011; they remain perfect in home games against NMST at 8-0.
MOUNTAIN WEST HOME GAMES (4)
TBA vs. Air Force
2019 outcome: L, 43-24
2019 opp. record: 11-2 (7-1 MW)
All-time series: AF leads 6-3
TBA vs. Hawai'i
2019 outcome: W, 41-38
2019 opp. record: 10-5 (5-3 MW)
All-time series: FS leads 29-22-1
TBA vs. San Diego State
2019 outcome: L, 17-7
2019 opp. record: 10-3 (5-3 MW)
All-time series: SDSU leads 30-25-4
TBA vs. San Jose State
2019 outcome: L, 17-16
2019 opp. record: 5-7 (2-6 MW)
All-time series: FS leads 42-38-3
MOUNTAIN WEST ROAD GAMES (4)
TBA at Colorado State
2019 outcome: L, 41-31
2019 opp. record: 4-8 (3-5 MW)
All-time series: CSU leads 10-5
TBA at Nevada
2019 outcome: L, 35-28
2019 opp. record: 7-6 (4-4 MW)
All-time series: FS leads 29-21-1
TBA at UNLV
2019 outcome: W, 56-27
2019 opp. record: 4-8 (2-6 MW)
All-time series: FS leads 15-7
TBA at Utah State
2019 outcome: L, 37-35
2019 opp. record: 7-6 (6-2 MW)
All-time series: FS leads 17-13-1
Be there!
Season tickets are on sale now, and continue to be sold at the same low rate of $99 (or $16.50 per game) in select sections when purchasing in pairs. For those existing season ticket holders, renewals are underway.
For more information on tickets, visit: bit.ly/2SW89bs.
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please visit www.bulldogfoundation.org.
Follow us on:
Twitter: @FresnoStateFB
Instagram: Fresno_State_Football
September 5, 2020 vs. Idaho State (Big Sky)
Fresno State and Idaho State are set for its first matchup since meeting in 1977 when the Bulldogs were led by the late, great Jim Sweeney. That 1977 game was a 28-7 victory for the Bulldogs at Ratcliffe Stadium, but the only other two matchups between the two programs were victories for the Bengals in 1964 and 1968. Idaho State went 3-9 in 2019, and 2-6 in the Big Sky. The Bengals faced two FBS programs in 2019, Utah (L, 31-0) and BYU (L, 42-10), and will do the same in 2020 as they open the season with New Mexico in week zero – seven days prior to matching up with Fresno State.
September 12, 2020 at Colorado (Pac-12)
The Bulldogs' first road game of 2020 will be against a Power 5 opponent, the Pac-12's Colorado. The Buffs were 5-7 (3-6 Pac-12) in 2019 under first-year head coach Mel Tucker, but will be led by a new skipper for the 2020 campaign, Karl Dorrell. CU played a pair of Mountain West teams last season, Colorado State (W, 52-31) and Air Force (L, 30-23OT) and will do the same in 2020 as they continue their Rocky Mountain Showdown with Colorado State on Sept. 5 in Fort Collins before hosting the Bulldogs on Sept. 12. The last time Fresno State and Colorado played, the Bulldogs dominated a 2012 matchup 69-14 behind Derek Carr's 300 passing yards and five TDs, and Robbie Rouse's electric 94-yard rushing score that made him the Bulldogs' all-time leading rusher – a record that still stands today. Fresno State has won two-straight against Colorado, but trail the all-time series, 4-2. The Buffaloes last win against Fresno State was in 1998.
October 10, 2020 at Texas A&M (SEC)
Fresno State's next nonconference game takes place after nearly a month break from the their last nonconference game when they head to the Lone Star State for an SEC game against Texas A&M on Oct. 10. The Bulldogs' last trip to College Station, and only game they've ever played against Texas A&M, was one for the ages as they took the then-No. 23 Aggies to three overtimes before falling 47-45. Fresno State trailed 19-0 at halftime in that game and fought back, outscoring Texas A&M 29-10 in the second half before trading shots in the overtime periods. Texas A&M was an 8-5 team in 2019 (4-4 SEC), and capped the season defeating No. 25 Oklahoma State 24-21 in the Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl.
October 17, 2020 vs. New Mexico State (FBS-Independent)
While an Oct. 17 matchup with New Mexico State may seem late to close nonconference play for Fresno State, it was just in 2017 when the Bulldogs hosted BYU on Nov. 4 to close the nonconference portion of their schedule. The pairing is the second-half of back-to-back seasons fulfilling a home-and-home series that kicked off in 2019 in Las Cruces. The Bulldogs defeated the Aggies 30-17 last season for their 18th win in 19 tries in a series that started in 1972. The Bulldogs won 17-straight against New Mexico State until falling for the first time in 2011; they remain perfect in home games against NMST at 8-0.
MOUNTAIN WEST HOME GAMES (4)
TBA vs. Air Force
2019 outcome: L, 43-24
2019 opp. record: 11-2 (7-1 MW)
All-time series: AF leads 6-3
TBA vs. Hawai'i
2019 outcome: W, 41-38
2019 opp. record: 10-5 (5-3 MW)
All-time series: FS leads 29-22-1
TBA vs. San Diego State
2019 outcome: L, 17-7
2019 opp. record: 10-3 (5-3 MW)
All-time series: SDSU leads 30-25-4
TBA vs. San Jose State
2019 outcome: L, 17-16
2019 opp. record: 5-7 (2-6 MW)
All-time series: FS leads 42-38-3
MOUNTAIN WEST ROAD GAMES (4)
TBA at Colorado State
2019 outcome: L, 41-31
2019 opp. record: 4-8 (3-5 MW)
All-time series: CSU leads 10-5
TBA at Nevada
2019 outcome: L, 35-28
2019 opp. record: 7-6 (4-4 MW)
All-time series: FS leads 29-21-1
TBA at UNLV
2019 outcome: W, 56-27
2019 opp. record: 4-8 (2-6 MW)
All-time series: FS leads 15-7
TBA at Utah State
2019 outcome: L, 37-35
2019 opp. record: 7-6 (6-2 MW)
All-time series: FS leads 17-13-1
Be there!
Season tickets are on sale now, and continue to be sold at the same low rate of $99 (or $16.50 per game) in select sections when purchasing in pairs. For those existing season ticket holders, renewals are underway.
For more information on tickets, visit: bit.ly/2SW89bs.
"Fresno State Athletics: The Pride of the Valley" – The Bulldog Foundation creates championship experiences for Fresno State student-athletes as they strive for excellence in the classroom, in competition, and in life. To become a BDF member, please visit www.bulldogfoundation.org.
Follow us on:
Twitter: @FresnoStateFB
Instagram: Fresno_State_Football
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