As Fresno State adds to win total, it may run into problem toward end of season
Fresno State escaped Hawaii with a 23-21 victory, ending most likely what has been a fierce rivalry with the Bulldogs joining a rebuilding Pac-12 Conference next year.
Future home-and-home series come far more convenient than a 5½-hour flight — there’s Nevada and UNLV, and Fresno State already has booked a six-game series against San Jose State.
The Bulldogs were fortunate to get away with a win, with Hawaii failing to execute a 2-point conversion pass that would have tied the score with 10 seconds remaining.
The Rainbow Warriors put together a 77-yard touchdown drive in the final three minutes, chewing up more yards than it had on its three previous series combined. It was their longest of the game, and the only one of 12 in which they gained more than 41 yards.
“This win showed the resiliency and the mental toughness of this group,” Fresno State coach Matt Entz said. “It was everyone against the Bulldogs tonight, and our players just kept swinging.”
The Bulldogs (4-1, 1-0 Mountain West) had to, because they kept missing when they did swing.
Here are three takeaways from the game:
Leaving a lot on the table
Fresno State forced four turnovers at Hawaii, but scored just 10 points off them despite some very favorable field position, and the touchdown in that equation came on a 59-yard interception return by linebacker K’Vion Thunderbird in the fourth quarter.
The Bulldogs this season have seven takeaways, one fumble recovery and six interceptions. The defense has turned two of those interceptions into touchdowns — cornerback Jakari Embry also has a pick-6, at Oregon State.
But the offense has yet to produce a touchdown following a turnover, and at Hawaii the Bulldogs started series at the Rainbow Warriors’ 18 and 12 yard lines. In the Bulldogs’ other opportunity to score following a turnover, they took possession at their own 47-yard line following an interception against Georgia Southern.
Those three drives, starting 18, 12 and 53 yards from the end zone, ended with two field goals and a missed field goal attempt. The other two turnovers came toward at the end of a half of game, without much chance to score.
That could catch up to Fresno State at some point. The Bulldogs are averaging 32.8 points per game, but only 27.0 against FBS (football bowl subdivision) opponents — and without the two defensive scores and a punt return touchdown by Jaden Carrillo at Oregon State that drops to 22.5.
Fix is in
There will be a correction in the official stats this week. Bryson Donelson was tagged with the lost yardage on the misplayed lateral that Hawaii returned for a touchdown with 1:47 remaining in the first half. It was Rayshon Luke on the receiving end of that play, not Donelson, and the ball was last possessed by quarterback E.J. Warner.
Still, the stat line for Donelson after removing the 22-yard loss on that play will not inspire a great deal of confidence in the Bulldogs’ run game — the sophomore ended up with 14 rushing plays for 23 yards, including eight that went for two yards or less.
Fresno State is on a bye week, but when it returns it will have games against Nevada and San Diego State sandwiched around a road game at Colorado State.
The Wolf Pack is No. 4 in the Mountain West in rushing defense and the Aztecs are No. 1.
Fresno State also could be without true freshman Brayden Walton, who had to be carted off the field in the first half after suffering what appeared to be a serious lower leg injury. Walton, who started the first five games at left tackle, is the third offensive lineman who was a starter of slated to start to suffer a significant injury following USC transfer Gino Quinones in fall camp and Campbell McHarg.
A problem on payday?
The Bulldogs did an outstanding job scrambling the thought processes of Hawaii quarterback Micah Alejado, who hit 59.6% of his passes and was intercepted three times, averaging only 4.7 yards per pass attempt with a passing efficiency rating of 92.96, which is a roundabout way of getting into a potential salary issue with the Fresno State staff.
Entz is one of the lowest paid coaches in the Mountain West this season — even New Mexico is paying its football coach more than Fresno State. Entz’ base salary in 2025 is $1.1 million and the Lobos’ Jason Eck’s is $1.15 million, though the Bulldogs coach has the higher annual average value over the five-year contracts.
But that also extends to the pool for assistant coaches, which could impact the program in the Bulldogs continue to bank wins If a Power Four school comes along and puts a seven-figure offer in front of defensive coordinator Nick Benedetto or Davis, there’s not much Fresno State can do to compete with that. But it shouldn’t be in a position where it is fending off other Group of Six programs.
San Diego State and Oregon State, according to its most recent revenue and expense reports filed to the NCAA, invested more than $5 million in football assistant coaching salaries, bonuses and benefits in 2023-24 and Boise State was at $3.8 million. Fresno State was at $3.1 million.
Add administrative and support staff to the equation, and there is an even wider gap. Oregon State spent more than $8 million on football salaries, San Diego $6.3 million and Boise State $6.1 million, while Fresno State reported just $3.8 million.
This story was originally published September 23, 2025 at 5:30 AM.