2020 Fresno State Bulldogs football team

The 2020 Fresno State Bulldogs football team represented California State University, Fresno in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Bulldogs were led by first–year head coach Kalen DeBoer and played their games at Bulldog Stadium as a member of the Mountain West Conference.

2020 Fresno State Bulldogs football
Conference	Mountain West Conference
Record	3–3 (3–3 MW)
Head coach	Kalen DeBoer (1st season)
Offensive coordinator	Ryan Grubb (2nd season)
Offensive scheme	Air raid
Defensive coordinator	William Inge (1st season)
Base defense	Multiple 4–2–5
Home stadium	Bulldog Stadium
Seasons ← 2019 2021 →

2020 Mountain West Conference football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 24 San Jose State y$		6	–	0					7	–	1
Boise State y		5	–	0					5	–	2
Nevada		6	–	2					7	–	2
San Diego State		4	–	2					4	–	4
Hawaii		4	–	4					5	–	4
Fresno State		3	–	3					3	–	3
Air Force		2	–	2					3	–	3
Wyoming		2	–	4					2	–	4
New Mexico		2	–	5					2	–	5
Colorado State		1	–	3					1	–	3
Utah State		1	–	5					1	–	5
UNLV		0	–	6					0	–	6
Championship: San Jose State 34, Boise State 20
$ – Conference champion y – Championship game participant Note: Due to COVID-19, the Mountain West suspended the season, but later decided to begin play on October 24.[1] Rankings from AP Poll

On August 10, 2020, the Mountain West Conference suspended all fall sports competitions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[2]

On September 24, 2020, the Mountain West Conference resumed all fall sports competitions.

Schedule

Fresno State had non-conference games scheduled against Colorado and Texas A&M. They were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.^[3][4]

On November 19, the game vs. San Jose State scheduled for November 21 was canceled because of a positive COVID-19 test and contact tracing within the Fresno State program.^[5]

On November 22, the game vs. San Diego State scheduled for November 27 was canceled due to COVID-19 protocols within the Fresno State football program.^[6]

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
October 24	4:30 p.m.	Hawaii	Bulldog Stadium Fresno, CA (rivalry)	KSEE	L 19–34	0
October 29	7:00 p.m.	Colorado State	Bulldog Stadium Fresno, CA	CBSSN	W 38–17	0
November 7	12:30 p.m.	at UNLV	Allegiant Stadium Paradise, NV	CBSSN	W 40–27	2,000
November 14	11:30 a.m.	at Utah State	Maverik Stadium Logan, UT	FS2	W 35–16	0
November 21	4:00 p.m.	San Jose State	Bulldog Stadium Fresno, CA (rivalry)	CBSSN	Cancelled
November 27	6:00 p.m.	San Diego State	Bulldog Stadium Fresno, CA (rivalry)	FS1	Cancelled
December 5	6:00 p.m.	at Nevada	Mackay Stadium Reno, NV	FS2	L 26–37	50
December 12	7:30 p.m.	at New Mexico	Sam Boyd Stadium Whitney, NV	FS1	L 39–49	250
Homecoming All times are in Pacific time

^[7]

Game summaries

Hawaii

See also: 2020 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football team and Fresno State–Hawaii football rivalry

Game One – Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (0–0) at Fresno State Bulldogs (0–0)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Rainbow Warriors	7	10	7	10	34
Bulldogs	7	6	3	3	19

at Bulldog Stadium • Fresno, California

• Date: Saturday, October 24, 2020
• Game time: 4:30 p.m. PST
• Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 77 °F (25 °C) • Wind: NW 6 mph
• Game attendance: 0
• TV announcers (KSEE): Mark Demsky (play-by-play), Andrew Marden (analyst)
• Pregame line: Fresno State –2.5

Game information

First quarter (11:34) FRES – Ronnie Rivers 7-yard run, Cesar Silva kick (Drive: 5 plays, 26 yards, 3:22; Fresno State 7–0) (4:00) HAW – Chevan Cordeiro 20-yard run, Matthew Shipley kick (Drive: 5 plays, 37 yards, 1:50; Tied 7–7) Second quarter (7:12) HAW – Matthew Shipley 34-yard field goal (Drive: 13 plays, 73 yards, 5:37; Hawaii 10–7) (1:50) FRES – Juan Rodriguez 18-yard pass from Jake Haener, kick missed (Drive: 2 plays, 33 yards, 0:11; Fresno State 13–10) (0:27) HAW – Chevan Cordeiro 3-yard run, Matthew Shipley kick (Drive: 6 plays, 72 yards, 1:17; Hawaii 17–13) Third quarter (6:18) HAW – Calvin Turner 2-yard run, Matthew Shipley kick (Drive: 14 plays, 76 yards, 6:31; Hawaii 24–13) (3:41) FRES – Cesar Silva 22-yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 70 yards, 2:37; Hawaii 24–16) Fourth quarter (12:08) HAW – Matthew Shipley 24-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 62 yards, 2:53; Hawaii 27–16) (10:13) FRES – Cesar Silva 25-yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 68 yards, 1:55; Hawaii 27–19) (4:52) HAW – Calvin Turner 4-yard run, Matthew Shipley kick (Drive: 12 plays, 70 yards, 5:15; Hawaii 34–19)

Statistics	HAW	FRES
First downs	27	22
Plays–yards	87–552	70–409
Rushes–yards	53–323	37–120
Passing yards	229	289
Passing: comp–att–int	20–30–0	17–31–3
Time of possession	32:56	27:04

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Hawaii	Passing	Chevan Cordeiro	20/30, 239 yards
	Rushing	Chevan Cordeiro	13 carries, 116 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Jared Smart	7 receptions, 89 yards
Fresno State	Passing	Jake Haener	17/31, 289 yards TD, 3 INT
	Rushing	Ronnie Rivers	18 carries, 79 yards, TD
	Receiving	Keric Wheatfall	3 receptions, 73 yards

Colorado State

See also: 2020 Colorado State Rams football team

Game Two – Colorado State Rams (0–0) at Fresno State Bulldogs (0–1)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Rams	3	7	0	7	17
Bulldogs	7	17	7	7	38

at Bulldog Stadium • Fresno, California

• Date: Thursday, October 26, 2020
• Game time: 7:00 p.m. PST
• Game weather: Clear • Temperature: 66 °F (19 °C) • Wind: WNW 5 mph
• Game attendance: 0
• TV announcers (CBSSN): Ben Holden (play-by-play), Ross Tucker (analyst)
• Pregame line: Colorado State –2.5

Game information

First quarter (6:44) FRES – Ronnie Rivers 13-yard pass from Jake Haener, Cesar Silva kick (Drive: 12 plays, 86 yards, 6:26; Fresno State 7–0) (4:07) CSU – Robert Liss 24-yard field goal (Drive: 9 plays, 72 yards, 2:32; Fresno State 7–3) Second quarter (13:57) CSU – Marcus McElroy Jr. 15-yard run, Robert Liss kick (Drive: 10 plays, 81 yards, 3:24; Colorado State 10–7) (11:00) FRES – Cesar Silva 34-yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 60 yards, 2:50; Tied 10–10) (6:32) FRES – Ronnie Rivers 32-yard run, Cesar Silva kick (Drive: 6 plays, 68 yards, 2:38; Fresno State 17–10) (1:03) FRES – Jordan Mims 15-yard pass from Jake Haener, Cesar Silva kick (Drive: 10 plays, 91 yards, 3:14; Fresno State 24–10) Third quarter (2:43) FRES – Ronnie Rivers 1-yard run, Cesar Silva kick (Drive: 12 plays, 67 yards, 4:56; Fresno State 31–10) Fourth quarter (7:58) FRES – Jalen Cropper 6-yard pass from Jake Haener, Cesar Silva kick (Drive: 5 plays, 17 yards, 2:41; Fresno State 38–10) (0:41) CSU – Trey McBride 20-yard pass from Patrick O'Brien, Robert Liss kick (Drive: 5 plays, 36 yards, 1:15; Fresno State 38–17)

Statistics	CSU	FRES
First downs	21	24
Plays–yards	73–381	80–432
Rushes–yards	39–158	43–84
Passing yards	223	348
Passing: comp–att–int	17–33–0	25–36–0
Time of possession	24:10	35:50

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Colorado State	Passing	Todd Centeio	10/23, 141 yards
	Rushing	Todd Centeio	12 carries, 89 yards
	Receiving	Trey McBride	8 receptions, 130 yards, TD
Fresno State	Passing	Jake Haener	22/32, 311 yards, 3 TD
	Rushing	Ronnie Rivers	23 carries, 95 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Keric Wheatfall	5 receptions, 87 yards

UNLV

See also: 2020 UNLV Rebels football team

Game Three – Fresno State Bulldogs (1–1) at UNLV Rebels (0–2)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	6	14	7	13	40
Rebels	7	10	10	0	27

at Allegiant Stadium • Paradise, Nevada

• Date: Saturday, November 7, 2020
• Game time: 12:30 p.m. PST
• Game weather: Windy • Temperature: 60 °F (16 °C) • Wind: SW 25 mph
• Game attendance: 2,000
• TV announcers (CBSSN): Ben Holden (play-by-play), Ross Tucker (analyst)
• Pregame line: Fresno State –11.5

Game information

First quarter (10:20) FRES – Jake Haener 54-yard run, kick failed (Drive: 5 plays, 78 yards, 2:16; Fresno State 6–0) (6:11) UNLV – Charles Williams 2-yard run, Daniel Gutierrez kick (Drive: 12 plays, 74 yards, 4:05; UNLV 7–6) Second quarter (11:39) UNLV – Daniel Gutierrez 28-yard field goal (Drive: 18 plays, 74 yards, 6:13; UNLV 10–6) (9:34) FRES – Ronnie Rivers 5-yard run, Cesar Silva kick (Drive: 5 plays, 73 yards, 1:58; Fresno State 13–10) (6:12) UNLV – Tyleek Collins 43-yard pass from Max Gilliam, Daniel Gutierrez kick (Drive: 8 plays, 69 yards, 3:13; UNLV 17–13) (1:25) FRES – Ronnie Rivers 33-yard pass from Jake Haener, Cesar Silva kick (Drive: 5 plays, 63 yards, 0:42; Fresno State 20–17) Third quarter (13:24) FRES – Ronnie Rivers 16-yard run, Cesar Silva kick (Drive: 3 plays, 25 yards, 0:25; Fresno State 27–17) (6:35) UNLV – Daniel Gutierrez 20-yard field goal (Drive: 13 plays, 72 yards, 6:33; Fresno State 27–20) (3:41) UNLV – Max Gilliam 71-yard run, Daniel Gutierrez kick (Drive: 2 plays, 71 yards, 0:17; Tied 27–27) Fourth quarter (14:55) FRES – Ronnie Rivers 10-yard run, Cesar Silva kick (Drive: 11 plays, 79 yards, 3:35; Fresno State 34–27) (7:14) FRES – Cesar Silva 35-yard field goal (Drive: 4 plays, 3 yards, 1:43; Fresno State 37–27) (1:51) FRES – Cesar Silva 31-yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 47 yards, 3:56; Fresno State 40–27)

Statistics	FRES	UNLV
First downs	22	19
Plays–yards	73–487	79–402
Rushes–yards	36–243	46–242
Passing yards	244	160
Passing: comp–att–int	20–35–0	15–31–2
Time of possession	29:35	30:25

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Fresno State	Passing	Jake Haener	15/23, 164 yards, TD
	Rushing	Ronnie Rivers	19 carries, 133 yards, 3 TD
	Receiving	Ronnie Rivers	6 receptions, 99 yards, TD
UNLV	Passing	Max Gilliam	15/31, 160 yards, TD, 2 INT
	Rushing	Max Gilliam	16 carries, 139 yards, TD
	Receiving	Kyle Williams	5 receptions, 52 yards

Utah State

See also: 2020 Utah State Aggies football team

Game Four – Fresno State Bulldogs (2–1) at Utah State Aggies (0–3)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	7	21	0	7	35
Aggies	13	3	0	0	16

at Maverik Stadium • Logan, Utah

• Date: Saturday, November 14, 2020
• Game time: 11:30 a.m. PST
• Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 37 °F (3 °C) • Wind: W 14 mph
• Game attendance: 0
• TV announcers (FS2): Kevin Fitzgerald (play-by-play), Evan Moore (analyst)
• Pregame line: Fresno State –10.5

Game information

First quarter (11:02) USU – Jaylen Warren 86-yard run, kick failed (Drive: 1 plays, 86 yards, 0:13; Utah State 6–0) (4:46) FRES – Jalen Cropper 9-yard pass from Jake Haener, Cesar Silva kick (Drive: 13 plays, 75 yards, 6:10; Fresno State 7–6) (4:43) USU – Savon Scarver 94-yard kick return, Connor Coles kick (Utah State 13–7) Second quarter (12:27) FRES – Jalen Cropper 59-yard pass from Jake Haener, Cesar Silva kick (Drive: 4 plays, 96 yards, 1:27; Fresno State 14–13) (5:41) FRES – Josh Kelly 71-yard pass from Jake Haener, Cesar Silva kick (Drive: 4 plays, 85 yards, 1:20; Fresno State 21–13) (1:59) USU – Connor Coles 38-yard field goal (Drive: 8 plays, 44 yards, 3:35; Fresno State 21–16) (0:34) FRES – Ronnie Rivers 4-yard run, Cesar Silva kick (Drive: 7 plays, 74 yards, 1:25; Fresno State 28–16) Third quarter No scoring plays Fourth quarter (5:21) FRES – Jalen Cropper 44-yard pass from Jake Haener, Cesar Silva kick (Drive: 7 plays, 72 yards, 3:12; Fresno State 35–16)

Statistics	FRES	USU
First downs	25	12
Plays–yards	75–541	60–343
Rushes–yards	37–119	35–199
Passing yards	422	144
Passing: comp–att–int	29–38–1	9–24–0
Time of possession	33:49	26:11

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Fresno State	Passing	Jake Haener	29/38, 422 yards, 4 TD, INT
	Rushing	Ronnie Rivers	25 carries 132 yards, TD
	Receiving	Jalen Cropper	10 receptions, 202 yards, 3 TD
Utah State	Passing	Jason Shelley	9/24, 144 yards
	Rushing	Jaylen Warren	9 carries, 136 yards, TD
	Receiving	Deven Thompkins	3 receptions, 92 yards

Nevada

See also: 2020 Nevada Wolf Pack football team

Game Five – Fresno State Bulldogs (3–1) at Nevada Wolfpack (5–1)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	7	13	0	6	26
Wolf Pack	17	7	0	13	37

at Mackay Stadium • Reno, Nevada

• Date: Saturday, December 5, 2020
• Game time: 6:00 p.m. PST
• Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 44 °F (7 °C) • Wind: WNW 4 mph
• Game attendance: 50
• TV announcers (FS2): Anthony LaPanta (play-by-play), Ron Johnson (analyst)
• Pregame line: Nevada –6.5

Game information

First quarter (11:34) NEV – Brandon Talton 49-yard field goal (Drive: 7 plays, 38 yards, 3:26; Nevada 3–0) (8:05) FRES – Josh Kelly 9-yard run, Mac Delena kick (Drive: 8 plays, 77 yards, 3:23; Fresno State 7–3) (5:12) NEV – Cole Turner 5-yard pass from Carson Strong, Brandon Talton kick (Drive: 4 plays, 40 yards, 1:00; Nevada 10–7) (3:30) NEV – Cole Turner 2-yard pass from Carson Strong, Brandon Talton kick (Drive: 3 plays, 21 yards, 1:19; Nevada 17–7) Second quarter (12:03) FRES – Jake Haener 3-yard run, Mac Delena kick (Drive: 16 plays, 75 yards, 6:27; Nevada 17–14) (9:14) NEV – Tory Horton 17-yard pass from Carson Strong, Brandon Talton kick (Drive: 6 plays, 59 yards, 2:43; Nevada 24–14) (1:32) FRES – Keric Wheatfall 19-yard pass from Jake Haener, kick missed (Drive: 4 plays, 58 yards, 1:00; Nevada 24–20) Third quarter No scoring plays Fourth quarter (13:42) NEV – Tory Horton 85-yard pass from Carson Strong, kick missed (Drive: 3 plays, 85 yards, 0:53; Nevada 30–20) (5:32) NEV – Tory Horton 32-yard pass from Carson Strong, Brandon Talton kick (Drive: 5 plays, 65 yards, 2:40; Nevada 37–20) (1:39) FRES – Zane Pope 21-yard pass from Jake Haener, kick missed (Drive: 12 plays, 75 yards, 3:53; Nevada 37–26)

Statistics	FRES	NEV
First downs	30	14
Plays–yards	105–599	62–416
Rushes–yards	40–114	22–62
Passing yards	485	354
Passing: comp–att–int	41–65–0	23–39–2
Time of possession	35:01	24:59

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Fresno State	Passing	Jake Haener	41/65, 485 yards, 2 TD
	Rushing	Ronnie Rivers	14 carries, 69 yards
	Receiving	Keric Wheatfall	6 receptions, 113 yards, TD
Nevada	Passing	Carson Strong	23/39 354 yards, 5 TD, 2 INT
	Rushing	Toa Taua	11 carries, 39 yards
	Receiving	Tory Horton	5 receptions, 148 yards, 3 TD

New Mexico

See also: 2020 New Mexico Lobos football team

Game Six – Fresno State Bulldogs (3–2) at New Mexico Lobos (1–5)

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bulldogs	7	17	7	8	39
Lobos	7	14	7	21	49

at Sam Boyd Stadium • Whitney, Nevada

• Date: Saturday, December 12, 2020
• Game time: 7:30 p.m. PST
• Game weather: Clear • Temperature: 50 °F (10 °C) • Wind: N 7 mph
• Game attendance: 250
• TV announcers (FS1): Guy Haberman (play-by-play), Charles Arbuckle (analyst)
• Pregame line: Fresno State –14.5

Game information

First quarter (11:28) FRES – Jalen Cropper 10-yard pass from Jake Haener, Asa Fuller kick (Drive: 6 plays, 44 yards, 1:46; Fresno State 7–0) (6:34) UNM – Isaiah Chavez 3-yard run, Donovan Murphree kick (Drive: 9 plays, 75 yards, 4:54; Tied 7–7) Second quarter (14:54) FRES – Zane Pope 16-yard pass from Jake Haener, Asa Fuller kick (Drive: 6 plays, 50 yards, 2:06; Fresno State 14–7) (11:54) UNM – Nathaniel Jones 3-yard run, Donovan Murphree kick (Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 3:00; Tied 14–14) (10:27) FRES – Asa Fuller 39-yard field goal (Drive: 5 plays, 56 yards, 1:22; Fresno State 17–14) (8:47) FRES – Jordan Mims 84-yard run, Asa Fuller kick (Drive: 1 play, 84 yards, 0:15; Fresno State 24–14) (8:47) UNM – Bobby Cole 74-yard run, Donovan Murphree kick (Drive: 7 plays, 71 yards, 3:20; Fresno State 24–21) Third quarter (6:53) FRES – Jake Haener 3-yard run, Asa Fuller kick (Drive: 16 plays, 70 yards, 7:59; Fresno State 31–21) (4:49) UNM – Conner Kinslow 49-yard pass from Isaiah Chavez, Donovan Murphree kick (Drive: 5 plays, 77 yards, 1:58; Fresno State 31–28) Fourth quarter (10:20) UNM – Nathaniel Jones 10-yard run, Donovan Murphree kick (Drive: 14 plays, 85 yards, 7:33; New Mexico 35–31) (7:26) UNM – Bobby Cole 35-yard run, Donovan Murphree kick (Drive: 1 play, 35 yards, 0:07; New Mexico 42–31) (2:33) UNM – Bobby Cole 9-yard run, Donovan Murphree kick (Drive: 5 plays, 70 yards, 2:45; New Mexico 49–31) (1:08) FRES – Mac Delena 24-yard pass from Jake Haener, Jake Haener–Zane Pope 2-pont pass kick (Drive: 8 plays, 74 yards, 1:18; New Mexico 49–39)

Statistics	FRES	UNM
First downs	23	24
Plays–yards	67–408	66–495
Rushes–yards	23–58	48–299
Passing yards	350	196
Passing: comp–att–int	26–43–1	14–18–0
Time of possession	28:27	31:33

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Fresno State	Passing	Jake Haener	26/43, 350 yards, 3 TD, INT
	Rushing	Jordan Mims	3 carries, 84 yards, TD
	Receiving	Jalen Cropper	12 receptions, 134 yards, TD
New Mexico	Passing	Isaiah Chavez	14/18, 196 yards, TD
	Rushing	Bobby Cole	18 carries, 138 yards, 3 TD
	Receiving	Marcus Williams	3 receptions, 55 yards