It appears that Fresno State’s midseason loss to Wyoming was just a bump in the road as the Bulldogs are picking up where they left off in the national polls.
At 8-1 following last Saturday’s 37-30 win over Boise State, Fresno State is on track for the Mountain West Championship game and is making an argument for the Group of 5’s automatic spot in a New Year’s Six bowl.
Driving the news: Fresno State’s return to the Top 25 comes in the Coaches Poll, placing the Bulldogs at No. 25.
- The Bulldogs are very close to returning to the AP Top 25, just missing the cut as they received the same amount of votes as Kansas State to tie for 26th.
What we’re watching: The College Football Playoff rankings will ultimately be all that matters for Fresno State’s hopes of making a major bowl game.
- Last week the College Football Playoff Committee heavily favored Power 5 teams, only giving the last two spots in the Top 25 to Tulane and Air Force, respectively. Air Force had been 8-0 at that point but lost to Army last Saturday.
- The Bulldogs will have to wait until Tuesday evening to see if they have earned the favor of the Committee. The top ranked Group of 5 school is guaranteed a spot in a New Year’s Six bowl.
Player of the week: Fresno State running back Malik Sherrod was named as the Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Week for his performance in the win over Boise State.
- Sherrod returned a kickoff for a 95-yard touchdown at the end of the second quarter. That was Fresno State’s first kickoff return for a touchdown since A.J. Jefferson did it in 2008.
- While he wasn’t honored as the Offensive Player of the Week, he had 132 rushing yards and 1 touchdown.
