What's it take for Fresno State to be ranked?

Don't dismiss the idea so quickly. Keep reading, 'cause you'll want to see this comparison between two teams with eerily similar resumes. One is in the top 25. One is Fresno State. (Shout out to "grantstomb" of BarkBoard fame for bringing this to my attention).

See how long it takes you to figure out which mystery team we're comparing the 'Dogs to?

--This team has a 6-2 conference record.
--Fresno State has a 6-2 conference record.

--This team has 1 win against a team with a winning record.
--Fresno State has 1 win against a team with a winning record.

--This team has 1 win against an AQ (Automatic Qualifier) school (a 4-8 Big East team at home).
--Fresno State has 1 win against an AQ school (a 3-9 Big 10 team on the road).

--This team played 2 AQ schools on the road.
--Fresno State played 3 AQ schools on the road.

--This team has two losses to teams that are going to BCS bowls this year.
--Fresno State has two losses to teams going to BCS bowls this year.

--This team beat San Jose State by 10 points.
--Fresno State beat San Jose State by 20 points.

--This team beat Utah State by 17 points.
--Fresno State beat Utah State by 4 points.

--This team lost at TCU by 28 points.
--Fresno State lost at home to Boise State by 17 points.

--This team lost at Oregon by 7 points.
--Fresno State lost at Cincinnati by 8 points.

--This team's opponents are a combined 48-48.
--Fresno State's opponenets are a combined 47-52.

--This team finished third in the Mountain West Conference.
--Fresno State finished third in the Western Athletic Conference.

--This team is 9-3, ranked No. 23 in the nation and headed to the Poinsettia Bowl to play Cal.
--Fresno State is 8-4, unranked and headed to the New Mexico Bowl to play Wyoming.

One could argue that if Fresno State replaced its non-conference game at Wisconsin with a game against 4-8 San Diego State, the Bulldogs would also be 9-3. But would the Bulldogs be ranked in the top 25? What do you say?

Fresno State in national title game?

Yes, Fresno State is 1-3, but the bye week has left us with too much time to think. And that brings about a few what-ifs. Like, what if Fresno State -- with a schedule featuring two top 10 teams in the first four games this year -- was 4-0 right now?

What if Fresno State went undefeated this season, with wins at Wisconsin, vs. No. 5 Boise State, at No. 10 Cincinnati and at Illinois later in the year? That's a darn solid resumé. And if the 'Dogs did pull off the magical undefeated run (which we obviously now know they won't) it would be worthy of an appearance in the national title game.

But, does Boise State, with its schedule, deserve to play for the national championship when its undefeated season is complete? The Broncos won at home vs. an Oregon team that looked terrible, but now pulled off a stunning blowout of Cal. And the Broncos won at Fresno State, a team with a high-powered offense that should be much better than 1-3 at this point.

Today's Yahoo! story seems to think Boise State in the biggest of big BCS bowl games is a possibility. Do you?

Why the BCS is more fair than a playoff

Now that I got your attention, OF COURSE the BCS is not as fair as a playoff would be!

But, to humor us all, I wanted to draw your attention to perhaps the worst pro-BCS argument I've ever read. It comes from a Penn State blog, and suggests if schools like Fresno State are unhappy with being discriminated against by the BCS they should just join the Pac-10.

Wow! Now that we know it's that simple, let's do it. Oh, wait, it's not that simple. Der!

UNLV student reporter mistaking

College newspaper reporters are allowed the benefit of the doubt when making mistakes, and that's what we'll give to this story from the UNLV student paper arguing that the Mountain West Conference should become a BCS conference.

Most of the story was fine, until I came across this line in support of the writer's argument that the WAC has struggled to score any major victories:
"Fresno State has been a threat but has never been able to finish a game against a major ranked team outside their own field."

Excuse me? Besides Utah, no non-BCS-conference team in the country has as many wins as Fresno State against BCS-conference opponents in recent years. Under Pat Hill, since 2000, the 'Dogs have won against Cal, at Wisconsin, Oregon State twice, home and road against Kansas State, at Colorado (preventing the Buffs from playing for a national title), at Washington, at Rutgers, at UCLA, bowl against UCLA, bowl against Virginia, two bowls against Georgia Tech.

So I ask the reporter, are none of these considered "major" wins? Because if not, no Mountain West team besides Utah has ever had a major win.

On a sidenote, here's a story idea -- By adding Fresno State and Boise State, the Mountain West would have a legit BCS-conference argument. But not without.

Grading the 'Dogs (7-5, 4-4) at No. 9 Boise State (12-0, 8-0)

Quarterbacks: D
Credit Brandstater for being a tough son-of-a-gun, but he's just an average QB at best right now. He doesn't do anything to win ballgames, including when he spiked the ball with 1 second remaining in the first half.

Running Backs: D
2.4 yards per carry will never, ever cut it at Fresno State. Harding stopped moving his feet too often in the backfield. Hard to believe not having Mathews makes that much of a difference with this offense.

Receivers: D+
What a terrible time to start dropping passes. Bear Pascoe and Ajirotutu had costly drops on a key drive that led to a punt, then West drops one (that was thrown behind him) and it gets picked off.

Offensive Line: D
See above 2.4 yards per carry is absurd. The 'Dogs never seem to be able to run on Boise State, and until that is fixed they will struggle against the Broncos.

Defensive Line: C
Applied some of their best pressure of the year in the first half, but Broncos QB Kellen Moore didn't panic and got rid of the ball every time. He made plays when necessary.

Linebackers: D
Reverted to more poor tackling and struggled to get off blocks in the second half.

Defensive Backs: C
Great pick-6 by Owens in the first quarter, but 'Dogs confusion in the third quarter more than negated it.

Special Teams: F
Here we go again. Two blocked kicks for the 'Dogs and then what do they do? Allow a 90-yard punt return for a TD (yes, Malone was held by a Bronco, but the team shouldn't have had to rely on its punter anyway). For a special teams guru such as coach Baxter, he sure doesn't seem to be doing much coachinig this year. Where are the adjustments in personnel? The 'Dogs don't have enough speed on the coverage unit, especially with Wylie out. Dunn defended the punt return horribly and it cost them.

I have a hard time with Bozo State fans...

They're just so cocky. And I don't respect cocky. In fact, I dislike cocky.

Now granted, Boise State has accomplished an amazing thing -- going through its first seven-plus seasons in the WAC undefeated at home on the Smurf turf. That's impressive. Heck, it's almost unbelievable. And they've beaten Fresno State a handful of times while they were winning a handful of WAC titles. So head to head, there's no room for Fresno State to talk. As a college student back in 2001 I didn't have a lot of money, but I would have gone all in betting Boise State would never accomplish anything close to that record. I mean, it's Boise State -- the team we were all so angry was being added to the WAC, a patsy like Utah State, Idaho and New Mexico State.

Only Boise State turned out not to be such a patsy (although it consistently schedules like one). The Broncos enter Friday's 3 p.m. game against visiting Fresno State undefeated at 11-0 and ranked ninth in the nation. That was supposed to be Fresno State's record right now.

The strange thing about Boise State, the conundrum, that I just can't quite figure out, is how it is so darn successful against the WAC but just barely won on the road against a BCS-conference school (Oregon) for the first time in history this year...?

Even more annoying, is when we have to sit back leading up to this week's game and listen to such garbage bravado from Boiseans about how Fresno State hasn't beat anyone good all year. Hello -- Oregon is no better than Rutgers. Rutgers is one game in the loss column from heading to a BCS bowl. Oregon is nowhere near that. And the Pac-10 is down, perhaps, more than ever before.

In actuality, Fresno State has won TWO BCS-conference road games THIS SEASON -- twice as many as Boise State has won in its history. How's that for a fact? Heck, even La Tech matched Boise State's success this year against BCS-conference opponents. I mean, welcome back to planet Earth Boise State. Stop whining about getting shafted from a BCS bowl game.

If you want in, play a respectable schedule, beat highly regarded programs outside of conference, and earn the right. Stop trying to backdoor your way in to the limelight.

Heck, I know your university spawned from what started as a women's college, but it's time to man up.

Boise State is finally potty trained

Mommy wow, these Broncos are big kids now!

OK, OK, Boise State has already been to -- and won -- a BCS bowl game. And Fresno State still hasn't. But Boise State backed in that year with a wussified schedule while Fresno State was sticking to its "anyone, anywhere, anytime" mantra it has never wavered from.

But this past Saturday, Boise State made history by beating a BCS-conference team on the road (Oregon) for the first time ever. Winning at Autzen Stadium isn't easy...even if Oregon was using it's fifth-string quarterback. So the Broncos should be congratulated.

But come on...what's up with this sudden Boise State lovefest in the national media? They jump from unranked to No. 19 and No. 20 in the two major polls, leapfroging Fresno State? Why, because they beat an Oregon team that is notorious for crumbling when its starting QB gets injured (the Ducks blew BCS bowl hopes at Arizona last year for cryin' out loud...Arizona!).

Suddenly, Fresno State is an afterthought after losing by 3 points to the now No. 8/No. 9 Wisconsin Badgers. People, it seems, just expect the 'Dogs to win every big-time non-conference game nowadays while Boise State hides behind its Smurf turf playing the Idaho States of the world.

If -- and this is a huge if right now -- Fresno State wins the rest of its games, and Boise State the rest of its games up to the finale, then can anyone with a conscience honestly rank the Broncos ahead of the Bulldogs when one played three BCS-conf. teams and the other just one?

Apparently, ESPN's Graham Watson and Mark Schizzlegizzlebah (better check that spelling) are already officially off the Fresno State bandwagon and aboard Boise State's. Here's what Schlabach most recently wrote:

4. Don't forget about Boise State.
If a Mountain West team doesn't finish unbeaten, the Broncos might be the team from a non-BCS conference that crashes the BCS party. Boise State is the class of the WAC after upsetting Oregon 37-32 on the road Saturday. Quarterback Kellen Moore is playing well, and tailback Ian Johnson is still running on the blue artificial turf. The Broncos might be 11-0 heading into a Nov. 28 home game against No. 25 Fresno State.

So let's see here, Boise State beat one BCS-conf. team on the road (for the first time ever might I reiterate) and Fresno State has also beaten one (and will go for No. 2 at UCLA on Saturday). Sounds like the 'Dogs have just as good a case right now to me. And that Ian Johnson character he's hyping up...well he hasn't rushed for 100 yards yet this year and averaged a measley 2.1 yards per carry against Oregon.

Oh, and Watson...you really think there are SEVEN non-BCS-conference teams better than Fresno State? Really? Talk about a dip in credibility...

Hawaii to the BCS?

Part of me says "good." (Fresno State could use the extra $300,000 or so)

Part of me says "darn it!" (Who are we kidding? Hawaii has always been full of a bunch of trash-talking jerks in football and b-ball, has a football coach who made screwdriver claims that still haven't been substantiated and unruly fans who pick on old ladies).

Part of me says "I hope they somehow fall to 13th in the BCS rankings." (That way playing a pathetic excuse for a non-conf. schedule won't be encouraged).

Alls I know is that whatever happens, the 'Dogs are setting out to make it next season (only an undefeated 'Dogs record against UCLA, K-State, Wisconsin and Toledo would equal a berth in the national championship). Buckle up Red Wave!

Game Preview: Fresno State (6-3, 5-1) at Hawaii (8-0, 5-0)

Quarterbacks
Tom Brandstater’s most important job Saturday will be keeping Hawaii’s defense honest. If he shows early that he isn’t bashful about playing catch with the wideouts, it’ll open up the running game. Brandstater is having a far better season than last year, throwing for 1,642 yards, nine touchdowns and five interceptions. Most telling is his 60.1% completion rate.

Hawaii’s Colt Brennan (6-3, 201) is the second Heisman candidate Fresno State has faced this season. The other was Oregon’s Dennis Dixon. But unlike Dixon, Brennan isn’t going to look to run much – just pass, pass and pass some more. He has completed 68.6% of his passes, while throwing for 2,820 yards, 26 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. That’s the good news, if there is any – he does make the occasional mistake.
Edge: Warriors

Running Backs
True freshman Ryan Mathews left the Utah State game in the second quarter – and already had 106 yards. He’s questionable for this week’s game, and sophomore starter Lonyae Miller has missed the past two games with injury. Miller is expected to return, but if he can’t senior Clifton Smith, who is best used as a versatile piece of the offense lining up all over the field, will carry the load. Smith led the team with a career-high 126 yards on 27 carries last week. Mathews leads the team with 751 yards and 12 touchdowns (best in the nation by a freshman), while averaging 6.3 yards per carry. Miller has 402 yards and six touchdowns (4.3 per carry) and Smith has 367 yards and three touchdowns (5.3 per carry). Sophomore Anthony Harding has 154 yards and two touchdowns while also seeing time at fullback, but will play tailback if Miller and Mathews aren’t available.

As a team, Hawaii averages just 72.8 yards per game – less than Fresno State’s Mathews averages on his own (83.4). Running isn’t much a part of the Warriors’ gameplan. Freshman Kealoha Pilares (5-11, 190) leads the team with 294 yards and three touchdowns, while sophomore Nebraska transfer Leon Wright-Jackson (6-1, 211) adds 153 yards and a score. Both average 5.9 per carry, but get very few carries.
Edge: Bulldogs

Receivers
Fresno State got a scare with junior tight end Bear Pascoe banged up from a hit during last week’s game, but he’ll be ready to go Saturday. Pascoe’s 37 catches, 462 yards and four touchdowns lead the squad. Sophomore wideout Marlon Moore has been a big boost for the offense since returning from a sprained ankle. He now ranks second on the team with 25 receptions for 315 yards. Clifton Smith also has 25 gras, with 267 yards total. Sophomore Seyi Ajirotutu, who averages 16.6 yards per catch, is a gamebreaker who the ‘Dogs can take better advantage of.

Everyone’s a threat for Hawaii. Four receivers have more than 500 yards, with junior Ryan Grice-Mullen (5-11, 180) leading the way with 952 and nine touchdowns. He averages 119 yards per game. Elusive junior Davone Bess (5-10, 195) also has nine scores to go with 748 yards. Senior Jason Rivers (6-2, 189) has 677 yards and six touchdowns, and despite missing most of the past two games is the nation’s active career leader with 3,422 receiving yards. Senior C.J. Hawthorne (5-11, 168) has 519 yards and five touchdowns.
Edge: Warriors

Offensive Line
Much like the Boise State game, the play of Fresno State’s line could be where the game is won or lost. If the line keeps the running backs moving forward and grinds the clock, there’s no reason the Bulldogs shouldn’t win this game. But that’s a big if unless the passing game keeps Hawaii from stacking the box. Fresno State is tied for a WAC-best 12 sacks allowed, matching the total the Bulldogs gave up last season. The team averages 4.7 yards per carry.

Hawaii is not far behind with only 14 sacks allowed, a feat considering how often the Warriors pass. Much like the Bulldogs, Hawaii features a smaller, more mobile line led by senior guards Hercules Satele (6-2, 293) and Larry Saufea (6-2, 294). The unit isn’t what it has been in recent years before the departure of numerous NFL-bound standouts. Hawaii averages just 3.5 yards per carry.
Edge: Bulldogs

Defensive Line
The youth is slowly beginning to step up for Fresno State, with true freshman end Kenny Borg and sophomore Wilson Ramos each collecting two sacks last week. That’s good news, considering senior end Tyler Clutts (7) and junior tackle Jon Monga (6) are amongst the WAC leaders in sacks. Pressuring Brennan into quick, short passes and capitalizing on a mistake or two will be key. Clutts is third on the team with 49 tackles (10 for losses).

Hawaii junior reserve end David Veikune (6-3, 252) leads the team with five sacks, just ahead of senior end Karl Noa (6-4, 251), who has four. Hawaii owns the WAC’s best rushing defense, allowing 102.5 yards per game and 2.9 per carry. But the Warriors haven’t yet faced a running game even close to what Fresno State brings when healthy.
Edge: Bulldogs

Linebackers
It’s hard to find new adjectives every week to accurately describe the type of impact player senior Marcus Riley is. He leads Fresno State with 94 tackles and 12 for losses. He also has three forced fumbles and two sacks. He hits often and hard and hunts down the ball carrier. Redshirt freshman Ben Jacobs is waiting in the wings with 64 tackles (seven for losses) and two sacks. The Bulldogs’ defense is most vulnerable to the run – namely running quarterbacks – something the team won’t have to worry much about this week.

Hawaii has a couple of standout linebackers of its own in juniors Solomon Elimimian (5-11, 218) and Adam Leonard (6-0, 236). Elimimian leads the team with 90 tackles (7.5 for losses) and Leonard is second with 72 tackles (10.5 for losses). Leonard also is tied for the team lead with four interceptions. Brandstater will have to be careful to watch for Leonard lurking in a coverage zone.
Edge: Even

Defensive Backs
Ah, the defensive key to the game. The problem for Fresno State is it has just three proven corners to defend four Hawaii receivers who rank among the WAC’s top 10 in yardage. Damon Jenkins is the only senior, with sophomore Damion Owens and A.J. Jefferson quickly making names for themselves. But watch for junior transfer Sharrod Davis to have a make or break game as the fourth corner, and for versatile redshirt freshman safety Lorne Bell to play a major role. Bell has a knack for picking off passes in practice, but doesn’t have one in a game yet – yet. The ‘Dogs will count on Bell and sophomore Moses Harris to lay big hits and get in the heads of Hawaii’s wideouts. Fresno State’s pass defense ranks second in the WAC, allowing 192.8 yards per game.

Hawaii senior corner Myron Newberry (5-9, 174) is tied for the team lead with four picks. Senior strong safety Jacob Patek (6-0, 204) is third on the team with 53 tackles. As a team, Hawaii has 16 interceptions, also including two each by senior corner Gerard Lewis (5-9, 175) and junior free safety Keao Montelih (5-11, 193). The ‘Dogs bigger receiving threats might be able to exploit Hawaii’s somewhat undersized corners.
Edge: Even

Special Teams
If you’re Fresno State, you want to ensure that special teams plays a big part in this game. The Bulldogs can dictate field position with the nation’s second-leading kick returner in A.J. Jefferson (36.1-yard average), who had an 88-yard touchdown return last week, and nearly untouchable punt returner Clifton Smith, who averages 16.2 yards and has returned two for scores. Kicker Clint Stitser hit a career-long 52-yard field goal last week, and Kyle Zimmerman ranks third in the WAC at 40.8 yards per punt. The Bulldogs recorded their fourth blocked kick against Utah State.

Hawaii poses a threat with Malcolm Lane (6-2, 184), who has returned two of his seven kick returns for touchdowns, averaging 46 yards. Davone Bess averages 9.8 yards on punt returns. Junior kicker Dan Kelly is 6 of 9 on field goals, with a long of 54 yards. All three of his misses came from 40 yards or more. Junior punter Tim Grasso averages 40.1 yards per attempt, with just 21 attempts on the year.
Edge: Bulldogs

Coaching
It’s a matchup of the WAC’s two longest tenured coaches in Pat Hill (11th season) and June Jones (ninth season). After several years of Hill’s Bulldogs threatening to crash the BCS elitist party, Jones’ Warriors are the biggest threat this season. Will Jones come up with another (tall) tale this season of a thrown screwdriver?
Edge: Even

Intangibles
Fresno State has won at Hawaii just twice since 1965 – but the Bulldogs’ most recent trip, in 2005, was one of those two. Fresno State held a Colt Brennan-led Hawaii club to just 13 points in that game. Hawaii is 29-9 in home WAC games, and its fans have a particular distaste for the Bulldogs – they’ll show and they’ll be heard. If the ‘Dogs were within earshot, we’d give ‘em a big-time, win-one-for-DC3 pep talk – he’s truly amongst the loudest and proudest fans in Red Wave history.
Edge: Warriors