The new-look Pac-12 kicks off with a reunion nobody saw coming: Kirby Moore built his coaching career at Fresno State, and now he's trying to beat the Bulldogs as Washington State's head coach.
Bush’s Picks
FRESWSU
FRESWSU
OverUnder
Best BetFresno State
Fresno State brings more roster continuity into a game where both teams are breaking in new starting quarterbacks, and that's the deciding factor with no live pricing yet available. Entz's group already has a full season of reps together and a bowl win to build on, while Washington State is asking a new coach and a portal-heavy roster to gel fast. Back the Bulldogs to win outright in what amounts to a true toss-up on paper.
Fresno State
+9-4 in 2025, capped by Arizona Bowl win
+Several key starters announced they're returning
+Entz has a full year running the program
−Starting QB Conklin transferred to Sacramento State
−QB battle between Martin and Mandal unresolved
−First true road trip in a brand-new conference
Washington State
+Kirby Moore adds an offensive-minded, motivated coach
+Added roughly 10 Power Four transfers this offseason
+Closed 2025 with a Potato Bowl blowout win
−Fifth head coach in 6 years, major instability
−QB battle between Dugger and FCS transfer Pinnick unsettled
−Only 7-6 a year ago under a different coach
This one is a Pac-12 opener for both sides, part of the rebuilt eight-team league that pulled Fresno State, Boise State, Colorado State, San Diego State and Utah State out of the Mountain West to join charter members Washington State and Oregon State. Fresno State enters year 2 under Matt Entz, who tied for the second-most wins by a first-year Bulldogs coach in 2025 and closed the season with an 18-3 win over Miami (Ohio) in the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl. Washington State is on its fifth head coach in 6 years, and this time it's Moore — a guy who spent years on the Fresno State staff as receivers coach, passing-game coordinator and offensive coordinator before he left for Missouri and eventually the Cougars job.
Neither program has its quarterback question settled, which is the actual headline story here. Fresno State's 2025 starter Carson Conklin transferred out to Sacramento State, leaving Maryland transfer Khristian Martin as the presumed front-runner over returning backup Impact Mandal. Washington State's picture is just as murky: Julian Dugger returns as a backup-turned-competitor, pushed by UC Davis transfer Caden Pinnick, the reigning Big Sky Freshman of the Year. Whoever wins each job will be doing it in year one of a brand-new conference, against a defense they've never seen.
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FRES Fresno State
WSU Washington State
Fresno State brings more continuity into this one. Guys like Ezekiel Avit, Brayden Walton, Edward Fonua and Tytus Khajavi have already confirmed they're back, giving Entz a roster that isn't starting from scratch even with the QB shuffle. Washington State, by contrast, is leaning hard on the transfer portal — Moore's staff added roughly 10 Power Four transfers this offseason — which means talent upgrades, but also a locker room that's still learning each other's names. WSU did close 2025 with a Potato Bowl blowout over Utah State, a sign the roster has some juice left even through the coaching chaos.
Fresno State Bulldogs
Sep 26?vs Rice—
Sep 19?@ San José State—
Sep 12?vs Sacramento State—
Sep 4?@ USC—
Washington State Cougars
Sep 26?vs Arizona—
Sep 19?vs Duquesne—
Sep 12?@ Kansas State—
Sep 6?@ Washington—
Recent form.
The coaching carousel angle can't be overstated. Jake Dickert bolted for Wake Forest, Jimmy Rogers lasted one 6-6 season before leaving for Iowa State, and now it's Moore's turn to try to stabilize things in Pullman. That's a lot of scheme and staff turnover for a program to absorb heading into a new conference, and it shows up most in QB and offensive-line continuity — exactly the areas that decide October road games.
Fresno State Bulldogs
(0)
Fully healthy — no injuries on ESPN's report
Washington State Cougars
(0)
Fully healthy — no injuries on ESPN's report
Injury report — info via ESPN.
Whichever team's quarterback situation resolves itself faster by Saturday, October 3 probably wins this game. Fresno State has the calmer roster picture and a coach who's already proven he can win close ones; Washington State has the higher offensive ceiling on paper if the portal additions gel, plus a new coach with a chip on his shoulder against the program that made him. Early-season Pac-12 games like this one are usually decided by whoever avoids the freshman-QB mistakes, not by who has the flashier roster.
