Fresno State Bulldogs 2026 Preview
The College Football Experience (@TCEonSGPN) on the Sports Gambling Podcast Network continues its 138 college football team preview series with the Fresno State Bulldogs 2026 Season Preview. Pick Dundee aka (@TheColbyD) & Ryan McIntyre (@Moneyline_Mac) break down the 2026 Fresno State roster and what to expect in the Pac-12 this season. Can Matt Entz keep a 1-out-of-10 hot seat ice cold after a 9-4 debut in Fresno? And is Maryland transfer Khristian Martin the answer at quarterback with just 17 career attempts on his resume?
Can an offense that ranked 93rd in total offense and 112th through the air take a leap under coordinator Josh Davis? Does Nick Benedetto’s defense stay elite after finishing 10th in total defense and 2nd against the pass a season ago? Can returning starters like running back Bryson Donelson, receiver Ezekiel Avit and defensive lineman Jahzon Jacks carry a roster that brings back 52 percent of its offense and 54 percent of its defense? What does a Saturday feel like at Bulldog Stadium when the Red Wave packs Fresno, California? Can Fresno State survive a schedule that opens at USC and runs through San Jose State, Washington State, Boise State and Oregon State in a brand-new Pac-12? And where’s the betting value on the Fresno State win total, Pac-12 odds and College Football Playoff chances? We talk it all and more on this episode of The College Football Experience.
Entz Cools The Seat After A 9-4 Debut
This Fresno State Bulldogs 2026 preview starts with a coach who has already won over the Valley. Matt Entz went 9-4 in his first season in Fresno, California. So the deck rates his seat a 1 out of 10, one of the coldest marks on the whole board. First, Fresno State went a perfect 3-0 in games decided by nine points or less a year ago. Then wins over Oregon State, Hawaii and Nevada showed a team that closed out the tight ones. Because of that debut, 2026 reads like a chance for Entz to build something that lasts in Fresno.
Khristian Martin And An Offense Looking For More
Fresno State’s offense ranked 93rd nationally in total offense in 2025, with the passing game sitting 112th. Josh Davis takes over as offensive coordinator, so the unit hunts for a jump in year two. First, Maryland transfer Khristian Martin steps in at quarterback with just 17 career attempts to his name. Then running back Bryson Donelson returns to headline the backfield. Receivers Ezekiel Avit and Josiah Freeman also come back to give Martin familiar targets. Meanwhile the group returns 52 percent of its production, so Davis inherits a mix of veterans and new faces up front.
Nick Benedetto And A Defense That Carried The Load
Nick Benedetto runs a Fresno State defense that was the strength of the roster in 2025. First, the unit ranked 10th nationally in total defense a season ago. Then the pass defense finished 2nd in the country, the best number on the whole team. Scoring defense landed 16th and the run defense sat 42nd. Because that group returns 54 percent of its production, Benedetto has real pieces to work with. Jahzon Jacks and Martin Owusu anchor the line, while Tytus Khajavi and K’Vion Thunderbird lead the linebackers and Ryan Wilson patrols the secondary.
The Schedule, Bulldog Stadium And The Win Total
Fresno State opens on the road at USC before the Sac State rivalry and the Battle for the Valley against San Jose State. First, the new Pac-12 slate arrives with a debut at Washington State. Then Boise State and San Diego State headline a brutal middle stretch. From there, road trips to Oregon State, Utah State and Texas State lead into a Colorado State clash. What does a Saturday feel like at Bulldog Stadium when the Red Wave packs Fresno, California? The deck sets the Fresno State win total at 7.5, with the Bulldogs at plus 800 to win the Pac-12 and plus 5000 to make the College Football Playoff. So the hosts weigh the over against a first-year Pac-12 schedule.
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Podcast Chapters
00:00 Download the SGPN App Today!
02:42 Hosts And Fresno Love
05:10 2025 Recap And Entz Impact
07:31 Coach Entz Hot Seat Check
08:08 Program History And Identity
09:19 2026 Offense And Portal Adds
14:14 Defense Breakdown And Outlook
17:44 Fresno Culture NIL And Legends
19:53 Bulldog Stadium Tailgates
23:59 Famous Alumni And Tedford Tales
27:10 Season Grade Debate
29:41 Nonconference Opener at USC
31:28 Sac State Rivalry Week
33:03 Battle for the Valley
35:13 Pac-12 Debut at Wazzu
35:51 Boise and SDSU Stretch
37:42 Bye Week and Oregon State
39:17 Colorado State and Flex Game
41:30 Win Totals and Futures Bets
46:06 Wish List Future Opponents
49:47 Fresno History Outro
