Fresno State suffers historic defeat amid QB change. Turnovers weren’t the only reason

Fresno State changed quarterbacks.

And Bulldogs fans who’ve been wanting coach Matt Entz to bench senior E.J. Warner got their wish.

Entz, too, had wondered long enough if there were better options on the roster and finally decided it was time.

Warner, after all, had thrown more interceptions this season than just about every other quarterback throughout college football.

But could Carson Conklin, a sophomore transfer from Sacramento State, prove to be an upgrade? Especially against a sound San Diego State defense that at least statistically was a Top 5 defense in the nation?

As the old saying goes: Be careful what you wish for.

Because on this day, on Fresno State’s homecoming, this somewhat surprising quarterback change seemed to create only more confusion and uncertainty.

In arguably the most anemic showing in the history of Bulldog Stadium/Valley Children’s Stadium — let alone on a homecoming game — Fresno State suffered a 23-0 loss to San Diego State as the Bulldogs were shut out at home for the first time in 45 years.

It was also the first time the Bulldogs failed to score a single point while playing inside Bulldog Stadium/Valley Children’s Stadium.

“We’re not where we need to be right now,” Entz said. “We’ve got to continue to grow. We’re better than what we’re putting out there. That’s what’s frustrating.”

Entz confirmed among the reasons he made the quarterback change was the turnover problems under Warner, who entered Saturday tied with the second most interceptions (9) in the Football Bowl Subdivision.

The first-year Bulldogs coach also spoke of needing more leadership.

“I felt like I had the right to make that decision,” Entz said. “I walk in here every Monday, and we talk about the ball is the team. And we weren’t living that. We had turned the ball over too many times too often.

“And that the same time, trying to push a button. Try to get more leadership out of some people on offense.”

Warner was believed to be healthy enough to play Saturday but never entered.

Even as Conklin struggled throughout the day, especially in obvious passing situations, against a San Diego State defense that came in holding opposing offenses to a mere 12.2 points and 259.7 total yards per game.

Still, Fresno State trailed just 16-0 and had possession of the ball entering the fourth quarter.

But Entz said he had never thought of pulling Conklin and turning back to Warner.

Conklin did show a bit more mobility in the pocket. His outing also was hindered by a Bulldogs running game that generated just two yards per carry.

“I felt good with my decision,” Entz said. “Slept better at the end of the week than I had the previous 10 days.

“I think we had ample opportunity to move the football today. We got to help one another out. That includes offensively all 11 on the field.”

Conklin finished 20 of 42 (47.6%) for 182 passing yards with a long of 14 yards. He did not throw a touchdown and was intercepted twice, including one pick that was returned for a San Diego State touchdown. He also was sacked twice and finished with -14 rushing yards.

By comparison, Warner, the transfer from Rice and son of Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner, was on the season 139 of 202 passes (68.8%) for 1,486 yards (212.3 passing yards per game) and 10 touchdowns but with a Mountain West-worst nine interceptions.

In Warner’s last game — a 49-21 loss at Colorado State — the senior completed 28 of 49 passes for 350 yards and three touchdowns. But he was intercepted three times and sacked on five occasions.

Earlier in the week, Entz talked about the need for Warner to work on not letting mistakes pile up on each other.

“He needs to let some things go,” Entz said. “I worry that when he has one bad play, one turns into two, two turns into four.”

On top of being shut out at home for the first time in decades, the Bulldogs went scoreless for the first time anywhere since 2016 when they suffered a 37-0 loss at Colorado State. That was five head coaching changes ago.

Nonetheless, days like Saturday — when Fresno State inducted legendary coach Jeff Tedford into the Ring of Honor with past Bulldogs greats like Trent Dilfer, Henry Ellard, Kevin Sweeney, David Carr and Derek Carr all in attendance — certainly had to cause some Red Wave fans to year for the yesteryears.

Just not like the memories of 1980 when Fresno State last got shut out at home in a 14-0 loss to Utah State — three home contests before the first game was held at Bulldog Stadium.

“At the end of the day, extreme ownership,” Entz said. “I’m the head football coach so I’m responsible for everything.

“We need to continue to improve.”

Fresno State has lost two straight after previously winning five in a row. Both of the Bulldogs’ recent defeats occurred after coming off of a bye week, which typically is supposed to help and increase a team’s chances of winning.

Now, Fresno State’s chances of reaching the Mountain West championship game have been severely reduced with the Bulldogs (5-3, 2-2) dropping further behind the conference’s top two programs in San Diego State 6-1, 3-0) and Boise State (6-2, 4-0). Fresno State next plays at Boise State.

The Bulldogs remain one win from becoming bowl eligible.

“This is a tough stretch,” Entz said. “There is a hesitation when we get on Saturdays. All of a sudden, we become indecisive, a little bit hesitant.

“I had the same conversation with Coach Teford earlier in the week: Why the late-season falloff? He made the same comment ‘It’s real. And it’s happened before.’ But we got to figure out why. Why have we plateaued?”

Tedford honored

Former Bulldogs coach Jeff Tedford was honored at halftime, celebrated during a Ring of Honor Induction.

Tedford, 63, compiled a 44-22 overall record with two Mountain West Championship wins and four bowl game victories while coaching his alma mater for five seasons. The Bulldogs also finished in the Top 25 at the conclusion of two seasons.

Perhaps his greatest achievement was accomplished during Tedford’s first season, when he took over a Fresno State program that finished 1-11 in 2016 and turned the Bulldogs into a 10-4 program in 2017.

Fresno State then went 12-2 in 2018 as Tedford helped the Bulldogs to become the first team in Football Bowl Subdivision history to go from double-digit losses in a single season to double-digit wins in back-to-back seasons.

Tedford coached Fresno State from 2017-2019 and 2022-23 with his tenure interrupted, as well as finished, due to medical issues.

As a collegiate head coach, Tedford amassed a 127-79 overall record with his first 11 seasons spent at Cal (2002-12). He remains Cal’s winningest coach with 82 victories.

This story was originally published October 25, 2025 at 5:42 PM.