Fresno State moves up 2022 opener vs. Cal Poly. Will nation get an early peek at Bulldogs?
Fresno State has moved its football season opener against Cal Poly up two days to Thursday, Sept. 1 — a change that comes with a number of benefits for the Bulldogs.
Among them: Fans will be able to pack Bulldog Stadium before heading out on a Labor Day holiday weekend when in past years they have had to make a choice between football and three full days on the coast or in the mountains; then on the back end there will be two extra days for the Bulldogs to prepare for a game against Oregon State, the first of two Power Five opponents on the schedule.
But the move also could put the Bulldogs with quarterback Jake Haener and a ton of offense back from a 10-win team in line for a high-profile televised game and an early opportunity on the national stage against a FCS opponent that in past years didn’t merit much attention.
The Bulldogs and Cal Poly played last season on local TV. In 2020, there were no non-conference games played due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but a 2019 game against Sacramento State and a 2018 game against Idaho were available online only, and there was no television or online broadcast in 2017 for Incarnate Word or in 2016 for Sacramento State.
The Mountain West Conference will not release its national TV schedule for a few weeks, but Fresno State could get an opportunity to make a lasting first impression on a busy holiday weekend of college football, helping to raise its profile and build its brand as well its recruiting efforts.
A year ago, Colorado State moved a Labor Day weekend game against FCS South Dakota State to Friday from Saturday and it was picked up for a national broadcast on FOX Sports 1.
The Rams didn’t do much with the opportunity, losing to the Jackrabbits 42-23 and then stumbling through a 3-9 season with 19 returning starters including a Mackey Award winning tight end in Trey McBride.
But the Bulldogs will go into 2022 with high expectations and intent on a run at a Mountain West title and spot in a New Year’s Six bowl game that goes to the highest ranked champion from a Group of Five conference.
Returning production bolsters Fresno State hopes
Returning production is no guarantee of future success – Bowling Green, as an example, returns 95% of its offensive production in 2022, but from a team that was 4-8 and averaged just 21.4 points per game.
But the Bulldogs do rank favorably with top Group of Five programs headed into 2022 with the return of Haener, running back Jordan Mims and wideouts Jalen Cropper, Josh Kelly and Ty Jones. On defense, Fresno State returns safety Evan Williams, defensive end David Perales and linebacker Levelle Bailey with a rebuilt front.
Fresno State, according to ESPN, returns 78% of its production from 2021 with 83% on offense and 73% on defense, the most of any team from a Group of Five conference that won 10 or more games last season.
Texas-San Antonio from Conference USA, which was 12-2, returns 77% of its offensive and defensive production.
Fresno State this season also will play six games against teams ranked in the bottom 30 in returning production: New Mexico at No. 102, San Jose State at No. 107, Wyoming at No. 112, San Diego State at No. 115, Hawaii at No. 130 and Nevada at No. 131.
Oregon State is ranked 39th and USC is just 94th.