WEEK 7 GAME SCHEDULE
Washington State Cougars at Fresno State Bulldogs
FS1 4 p.m. PT
SERIES HISTORY
WSU leads the all-time series 3-2 against Fresno State but FSU won the last meeting 29-6 at the 2022 Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl. The Cougars won the only meeting in Fresno, 39-37 in 1992.
Washington State Notes
COUGARS HEAD TO FRESNO STATE FOR SATURDAY MATCHUP
Washington State returns from its bye week with a trip to Fresno State. Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. Saturday on Fox Sports 1.
ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE
Washington State has opened the season 4-1 for the third straight season and is seeking its first 5-1 start since 2018. The Cougars enter the week with the nation’s No. 10 offense (495.4) and the defense is No. 26 in the country with nine takeaways. Quarterback John Mateer is second in the country in total offense (376.4), No. 14 in passing touchdowns (13) and wideout Kyle Williams is No. 13 in the country with five touchdown catches. Head coach Jake Dickert owns a 19-17 career record and is in his third full season.
COUGAR QUICK GAME
• WSU’s 2024 roster features 49 newcomers including 15 transfers with 13 from four-year schools • WSU’s roster features 38 players from the state of California • WSU opened the year 4-0 for the 2nd straight season, 1st time starting 4-0 in back-to-back seasons since 1906-07 • WSU had two Gesa Field sellouts in 2023 (Wisconsin, Oregon State), 4th in the last 3 seasons • Jake Dickert and Bill Doba (2003-07) are the only WSU HC with 2 Apple Cup wins in 1st 4 seasons since 1960’s
MATEER PUTTING UP BIG DUAL THREAT NUMBERS
Redshirt-sophomore John Mateer has posted some eye-popping numbers in his first five starts. • In 1st career start, threw for 352 yards and 5 TD, rushed for 55 yards including 40-yard TD run • Mateer’s 6 total TD vs. Portland State were most by a Cougar QB in 1st start in program history • Mateer’s 5 TD passes vs. Portland State matched the WSU record for TD passes in a first start – Luke Falk, 2014 at Oregon State; Anthony Gordon, 2019, New Mexico State • Mateer’s 197 rushing yards against Texas Tech week 2 was a WSU record for QB rushing yards – 1st 100-yard game by a Cougar QB since 1987 (105,Timm Rosenbach vs. Oregon) – 8th 100-yard rushing game by a Cougar quarterback in program history • Mateer had 2 rush TD and 1 pass TD in Apple Cup win, rushed for 62 yards, 245 pass yards • In the win over San Jose State, set career-highs with 26 completions and 390 pass yards – 1st Cougar QB in program history with 300 pass yards and 100 rushing yards in a game – 2nd 100-yard rushing game of the season (197, Texas Tech – 111, San Jose State) – Mateer’s 501 yards of total offense was the most by any player in the FBS this season • Mateer had a rush TD and pass TD in each of the 1st four games this season • Mateer’s 5 rush TD are tied for 10th-most rush TD by a quarterback in WSU single-season history • Mateer’s 13 TD passes are No. 14 nationally • Mateer’s 16.1 yards per completion is 5th-best nationally • Mateer’s 376.4 yards of total offense-per-game are 2nd-most nationally • Mateer’s 5 rush TD are tied for 6th-most by a QB nationally • Mateer’s 19 rushes of 10+yards are 2nd-most by a QB nationally, national-best 20+yard runs (8) • Mateer’s 31 missed tackles forced are the most by a QB nationally • Mateer owns the 2nd-best PFF rushing grade (90.2) by a QB nationally (Blake Horvath, Navy)
WHAT A START FOR WAYSHAWN
True freshman running back Wayshawn Parker showed off his all-around game in his collegiate debut, the season-opening win over Portland State and has continued to produce big plays. • In week one against Portland State, 8 carries, 96 rush yards, 54-yard TD run, 52-yard TD rec – 1st WSU true frosh with a rush TD and rec TD in his debut since 2018 (Max Borghi at Wyoming) – Parker’s 54-yard rush TD is longest TD run since 2021 (Max Borghi, 2021, Utah State, 64 yds) • In week two win over Texas Tech, rushed for 69 yards including 43-yard TD run – 1st WSU true freshman with TD in back-to-back games since 2018 (Borghi, Arizona, at Colorado) • In win over San Jose State, made 1st career start, rushed 22 times for 76 yards, long of 20 • Owns 6 carries of 20+ yards, the most among all freshman nationally • Parker’s 325 rushing yards are 7th-most among all freshmen in the country • Parker’s 22 missed tackles forced are 2nd-most by a freshmen running back nationally
Fresno State Notes
SETTING THE STAGE
• The Fresno State football team is coming off of its bye week, following five games in a row to open the season. • Saturday is Boots & Buckles Night at Valley Children’s Stadium. • Fresno State has played three of five games on the road. • This weekend’s game is the first in Fresno for the Bulldogs since Sept. 14. • Fresno State is averaging 40,055 fans at home this season (two games, vs Sacramento State and New Mexico State). • The 4 p.m. PT kickoff this weekend is the earliest home kickoff for the Bulldogs since a 4 p.m. kick against New Mexico on Nov. 13, 2021. • Although five games into the season, the Bulldogs don’t play their conference home opener until October 26 against San Jose State. • Fresno State and Washington State will face each other as nonconference opponents for the last time this weekend (with the way conference realignment is going, who knows if this is factual but it is until at least 2026 I think). • On Sept. 12, Fresno State announced it would be joining the Pac-12 conference in 2026 along with Washington State, Oregon State, Boise State, Colorado State and San Diego State. Since then, Utah State and Gonzaga have been the most recent additions to the Pac-12. • Fresno State and Washington State last met in the 2022 Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl that saw the Bulldogs earn a dominant 29-6 victory to cap a historic season in Fresno State football history. With the win over Washington State last time, Fresno State became the first program in FBS history to begin the season 1-4 and end with 10 wins (10-4). • Senior defensive end Devo Bridges was named the Defensive MVP of the bowl game with career-highs in tackles (8), TFL (2.0) and sacks (2.0). • Fresno State returns home this weekend, following a tough loss on the road at UNLV on Sept. 28. • Washington State is receiving votes in this week’s AP Poll. Of the Bulldogs’ six opponents so far this season, three have been ranked or receiving votes in one or both of the polls – No. 9 Michigan (AP), No. 23 UNLV (Coaches Poll) and RV Washington State (AP). • Fresno State’s cornerback duo of Cam Lockridge and A’zillion Hamilton enter another week as the FBS leaders in passes defended with Lockridge at No. 1 (1.8/game) and Hamilton at No. 2 (1.6/game). • Transfer wide receiver Raylen Sharpe had his best game as a Bulldog last time out at UNLV, finishing with 116 yards on 10 catches for his first 100-yard game as a Bulldog. • Kicker Dylan Lynch did not have a field goal in the game at UNLV, snapping an 18-game streak with at least one field goal for the junior kicker.
Oregon State Beavers at Nevada Wolf Pack
CBSSN 4:30 p.m. PT
SERIES HISTORY
Saturday’s meeting will be the fifth all-time between the Wolf Pack and Beavers, and the first since Nevada’s 37-35 victory at Mackay Stadium in 2018. Oregon State leads the overall series, 3-1. While it is just the fifth all-time meeting between the programs, it has been over a century since the first. The Wolf Pack traveled to Corvallis for a Thanksgiving Day contest on Nov. 26, 1903, which the Beavers won, 15-0.
Oregon State Notes
Game Notes
• Oregon State hits the road for the first time in October Saturday when visiting Nevada at Mackay Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 4:30 p.m. PT.
• The game will air live on the CBS Sports Network. John Sadak (play-byplay), Ross Tucker (analyst) and Tiffany Blackmon (sideline) will call the action.
• The game will air live on the Beaver Sports Radio Network. For a list of affiliates, turn to page two of these notes.
• Every game this season can be heard live on the Varsity Network, a free application available via computer browsers, smartphones and tablets. After downloading the application, search for Oregon State.
• The matchup marks just the fifth all-time meeting between the teams and second this century. OSU last matched up with Nevada in 2018 in Reno.
Oregon State By The Numbers
4 – Wins in five games, putting the Beavers at 4-1 for the second consecutive season and third since 2021.
6 – OSU’s rank nationally for rushing yards per game at 264.4. 8 – OSU conversions on fourth, in 14 attempts.
17 – Rushing touchdowns, tied for eighth nationally. 17 – Drives of 10 or more plays through the first five games for OSU.
32 – Tackles for Skyler Thomas, which leads the team and sets a career-high for the redshirt junior.
35 – Days between road games for the Beavers, who shut out San Diego State, 21- 0, on Sept. 7. 36:37 – Oregon State’s national-best time of possession on average.
51.4 – Third-down conversion percentage, good for 15th nationally.
79 – First downs by rush, accounting for 64.7 percent of the Beavers’ 122 this year.
1,078 – Career rush yards for Anthony Hankerson in 25 games between Oregon State and Colorado.
Against Nevada
• Oregon State and Nevada last played in 2018, a 37-35 win by the Wolf Pack. The Beavers, however, hold a 3-1 advantage in the series, winning in Corvallis in 1903 and 1998 and in Reno in 1999. • OSU passed for 459 yards in the 2018 matchup, with Isaiah Hodgins catching 14 passes for 200 yards. Those 14 receptions are tied for the OSU single-game record while the 200 yards rank 10th. • Timmy Hernandez also caught 11 passes for 116 yards. That game marked the last time OSU had two receivers top 100 yards in the same game. • Ken Simonton totaled 199 yards in a 28- 13 win in 1999. He also ran for three scores in the win. • Simonton also ran for 121 yards while James Battle caught three passes for 99 yards in the 48-6 win in Corvallis in 1998.
Four In Five
• Oregon State is 4-1 on the year for the second consecutive season and third time since 2021. • OSU has won at least four of its first five games nine times since 2000. The Beavers have advanced to a bowl game in seven of those previous eight seasons, with the 2014 campaign the exception. • Head coach Trent Bray has been a player or coach in eight of the nine seasons.
Nevada Notes
NEVADA CLOSES NON-CONFERENCE SLATE WITH OREGON STATE
Nevada closes its regular-season non-conference slate this Saturday, hosting Oregon State for a 4:30 p.m. kickoff. Saturday’s contest against the Beavers will be broadcast on truTV and the Max app, with John Sadak (play-by-play), Ross Tucker (analyst), and Tiffany Blackmon (sideline) on the call. The Wolf Pack Radio Network will call the game on KOZZ 105.7 FM in Northern Nevada, online at www.thevarsitynetwork.com and on the Varsity Network app. John Ramey (play-by-play) and Mike Edwards (analyst) will be in the booth, with the 60-minute pregame show to begin at 3:30 p.m.
B-LEW MAKING ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST CASE
Quarterback Brendon Lewis is having a career season in 2024 and ranks among the top of the Mountain West among fellow signal-callers. Through Week Five, and six games total, Lewis leads all Mountain West QBs, and ranks 21st in the nation, with a 69.0 completion percentage. A top dual-threat quarterback, Lewis is second in the Mountain West in total offense (1,443 yards), and fourth in passing efficiency (140.33) and touchdown passes (nine). He also ranks in the Mountain West top-10, and leads all quarterbacks, in rushing yards (362) and rushing touchdowns (three).
SCORING WITH THE ARM AND LEGS
Saturday at San José State, Brendon Lewis accounted for all four Nevada touchdowns as he threw for two (both to Jaden Smith) and ran for two more. It was the third time at Nevada and fourth time in his career that he’s had a passing and rushing touchdown in a single game. And, it made him the first Wolf Pack QB to account for at least two passing and two rushing touchdowns in a single game since Tyler Stewart had two passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns against New Mexico on Oct. 10, 2015.
MULTI-THREAT RUSHING ATTACK
Nevada ran for 190 yards in Saturday’s game at San José State, and currently ranks fourth in the Mountain West at 192.83 rushing yards per game, and also with 5.01 yards per attempt. The Wolf Pack ground game has accounted for 11 of the Pack’s 20 touchdowns, with Patrick Garwo III leading the way with five. Nevada, in fact, is one of two MW teams (along with Colorado State) to have two players in the conference’s top 10 in rushing yards–Savion Red (456) and Brendon Lewis (362) rank fifth and seventh, respectively. Red also ranks second in the conference with 7.24 yards per attempt.
JADEN SMITH BREAKING OUT
Wide receiver Jaden Smith caught two touchdowns Saturday–his first two-score game with Nevada, and the third of his career (one at Nevada, two at Tarleton State in 2022)–while finishing with six catches for 89 yards. On the year, Smith, a transfer from Tarleton State where he was an All-WAC selection in 2022, leads the Wolf Pack in both receiving touchdowns (three) and receiving yards (407).
RED-ZONE TOUGHNESS ON BOTH ENDS
Nevada’s red-zone performance on both offense and defense has been a significant turnaround in 2024. On offense, the Wolf Pack has converted 21 of 22 red-zone trips into points, the 95.5 percent rate ranking 11th in the country. Of those 22 trips, 20(!) have resulted in touchdowns, an 91.7-percent rate. That rate has, so far, well outdistanced the Pack’s 2023 rate in which it only scored 16 touchdowns on 35 red-zone trips (45.7 percent). On defense, the Pack ranks third in the Mountain West with opponents succeeding in scoring on a red-zone trip just 84.2 percent of the time (16-for-19). More impressively, Nevada has limited its opponents to just 10 touchdowns on those 19 trips.
CONTROL THE BALL, CONTROL THE GAME
Entering this weekend’s action, Nevada ranks seventh in the country and leads the Mountain West in time of possession, holding onto the ball for an average of 33:41 per game
