The Fresno State Bulldogs, who went 1-11 last year, are 5-3 in 2017 and will play host to the 2-7 Cougars at 8:45 p.m. MDT time at 41,031-seat Bulldog Stadium. The 11th meeting between programs that split their first 10 matchups 5-5 will be televised by ESPN2.
Fresno State played in the 2014 Mountain West Conference championship game, then hit a rough patch that locals had a hard time explaining. Observers in Provo can relate. The Bulldogs went 3-9 in 2015, then were 1-7 last year when coach Tim DeRuyter was fired on Oct. 23. Former Cal coach Jeff Tedford was hired last November, and the turnaround has been impressive.