FRESNO STATE VS. SAN DIEGO STATE, 7 p.m. Saturday at Bulldog Stadium

KEYS TO SUCCESS

FOR FRESNO STATE

The Bulldogs had a lot of trouble with the moving pieces in the Aztecs' 3-3-5 defense last season and need to get them blocked. The Aztecs can pressure -- they are third in the MWC in sacks -- and quarterback Derek Carr has not handled it well in losses at Oregon and Tulsa.

FOR SAN DIEGO STATE

The Aztecs need to figure out what's going on with their pass defense after giving up 724 yards and eight touchdowns in their past two games, a victory over North Dakota and a loss to San Jose State. The Fighting Sioux and Spartans combined averaged 14.8 yards per completion.

PROJECTED STARTERS

FRESNO STATE

Quarterback: Derek Carr

Backfield: Robbie Rouse, RB

Wide receivers: Josh Harper, Isaiah Burse, Rashad Evans, Davante Adams

Tight end: Marcel Jensen

Offensive line: Austin Wentworth, LT; Matt Hunt, LG; Lars Bramer, C; Richard Helepiko, RG; Cody Wichmann, RT

Defensive line: Anthony Williams, DE; Tyeler Davison, NG; Andy Jennings, DE

Linebackers: Tristan Okpalaugo, OLB; Travis Brown, MLB; Patrick Su'a, MLB; Donavon Lewis, OLB

Secondary: L.J. Jones, CB; Phillip Thomas, SS; Derron Smith, FS; Sean Alston, CB

Special teams: Quentin Breshears, PK; Garrett Swanson, KO; Andrew Shapiro, P; Chad Preacher, LS; Andrew Shapiro, PH; Isaiah Burse, KR or Milton Knox, KR; Isaiah Burse, PR or Rashad Evans, PR

SAN DIEGO STATE

Quarterback: Ryan Katz

Backfield: Adam Muema, RB; Chad Young, FB

Wide receivers: Ezell Ruffin, Colin Lockett

Tight end: Gavin Escobar

Offensive line: Bryce Quigley, LT; Japheth Gordon, LG; Alec Johnson, C; Nik Embernate, RG; Zach Dilley, RT

Defensive line: Dontrell Onuoha, DE; Sam Meredith, DT; Jordan Thomas, DE

Linebackers: Nick Tenhaeff, LB; Jake Fely, MLB; Vaness Harris, LB

Secondary: Leon McFadden, CB; Rene Siluano, S; Nat Berhe, S; Eric Pinkins, S; Josh Wade, CB

Special teams: Joe Alesi, P; Chance Marden, PK; Wes Feer, KO; Adam Dingwell, PH; Jeff Overbaugh, LS; Colin Lockett, KR and Ezell Ruffin, KR and Dwayne Garrett, KR; Tim Vizzi, PR

Tailgating

Bulldogs boosted by Evans return: Fresno State did not score an offensive touchdown in the final three quarters of its loss at Tulsa, but with the return of slot receiver Rashad Evans, the Bulldogs will be able to stretch the field the way they imagined when installing this up-tempo spread for the first time this season.

Evans, the only scholarship senior in the position group, had been declared ineligible by the NCAA for the first four games of the season. But the Bulldogs are expecting an immediate boost from Evans, who has 104 career receptions for 1,007 yards and seven touchdowns.

Anthony Riggins and Dillon Root, a converted defensive back and a converted running back, had been lining up in the slot where Evans will be today against San Diego State. Riggins had two receptions for 7 yards in the first four games, while Root did not make a catch.

"It's great having Rashad out here," coach Tim DeRuyter said during the week. "He's brought some energy to it and, you know, the competition level when he's out there obviously goes up. Clearly you have much more experience. Guys that have been working since spring ball at that position, where early on we had some guys that were playing different positions and they're great teammates, they're doing what we ask of them, but they're not going to be as efficient as guys that have been doing it for a living. I feel good about where we are, especially the fact that it's our first league game, so you want to have all your weapons, and I think on offense we're finally at that point."