Fresno State wraps up its 15 spring practices Saturday. Now eager Bulldogs fans can then let their minds wander five, six, seven months ahead, because this team fits the profile of Group of Five conference champions that played their way into a big New Year's Day bowl games.
With 17 returning starters from a 10-4 team, the Bulldogs have four more than Central Florida did last season when it went 13-0 and beat Auburn in the Peach Bowl, three more than Western Michigan had in 2016 when it was 13-1 and played Wisconsin in the Cotton Bowl.
They have four more than Houston had in 2015 when it went 13-1 with a victory over Florida State in the Peach Bowl and three more than Boise State in 2014 when it beat Arizona in the Fiesta Bowl and finished 12-2.