SAN JOSE (Interstat) — Fresno State defeated San Jose State 26-10 on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, in an NCAA Football Bowl Division game at CEFCU Stadium. The Bulldogs improved to 2-1. The Spartans fell to 2-2.

Fresno State scored six points in the first quarter, seven in the second and 13 in the third. San Jose State scored three points in the first quarter and seven in the third. The Bulldogs led 13-3 at halftime and 26-10 after three quarters. Neither team scored in the fourth.

Fresno State quarterback Jayden Mandal, a 6-foot, 206-pound Clovis, California, native, completed 15 of 29 passes for 186 yards and rushed nine times for 46 yards. He recorded one tackle and accounted for one touchdown. Mandal was the Bulldogs’ top star. Bryson Donelson, a 5-foot-11, 207-pound running back from Visalia, California, rushed nine times for 57 yards, caught one pass for 4 yards and scored one touchdown. Rayshon Luke, a 5-foot-9, 170-pound running back from Los Angeles, rushed 14 times for 49 yards, caught two passes for 6 yards and returned one kickoff for 19 yards. Julius Gillick, a 5-foot-11, 217-pound running back from Seattle, rushed five times for 19 yards and caught one pass for 20 yards. Josiah Freeman, a 6-foot-3, 193-pound receiver from Soledad, California, caught six passes for 95 yards and one touchdown. Ezekiel Avit caught three passes for 52 yards. Jake Appleget, a 6-foot-4, 245-pound tight end from Lincoln, Nebraska, caught one pass for 5 yards, and Gavin Correia caught one pass for 4 yards.

San Jose State quarterback Luke Weaver, a 6-foot-3, 195-pound Manteca, California, native, completed 21 of 38 passes for 244 yards and one touchdown. Anthony Ivey, a 5-foot-11, 186-pound receiver from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, caught seven passes for 150 yards and returned one punt for no gain. Carson Clark caught five passes for 27 yards and one touchdown. Jabari Bates, a 5-foot-6, 167-pound running back from Compton, California, rushed 19 times for 94 yards and caught one pass for 8 yards. Isaiah Carlson, a 6-foot-1, 225-pound running back from Ferndale, Washington, rushed two times for 6 yards. Jerry McClure, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound receiver from Coronado, California, caught three passes for 18 yards. Cooper Hoch caught two passes for 23 yards. Jordan Anderson, a 5-foot-11, 172-pound receiver from Inglewood, California, caught two passes for 10 yards. Malachi Riley, a 6-foot-2, 180-pound receiver from Corona, California, caught one pass for 8 yards. Dominique McKenzie, a 5-foot-11, 180-pound receiver from St. George, Utah, returned one kickoff for 8 yards. Trent Carrizosa, a 6-foot-2, 225-pound punter from San Jose, California, punted seven times for 298 yards. Trajan Sinatra, a 5-foot-10, 193-pound kicker from San Jose, California, made a 45-yard field goal.

Fresno State’s defense was led by Gerayas Grimes and K’vion Thunderbird, who each recorded 10 tackles. Thunderbird, a 6-foot, 210-pound linebacker from Chicago, added one sack. Simeon Harris, a 6-foot, 175-pound cornerback from Vallejo, California, had six tackles and one interception. Jahzon Jacks, a 6-foot-5, 262-pound defensive lineman from East Palo Alto, California, had six tackles, half a sack and one quarterback hurry. Dylan Hampsten, a 6-foot-3, 237-pound defensive lineman from Santa Clarita, California, had five tackles and half a sack. Tytus Khajavi, a 6-foot, 235-pound linebacker from Fresno, California, had four tackles. Kiontre Harris, a 5-foot-11, 159-pound defensive back from Lemoore, California, had four tackles and one interception. Jaden Carrillo had two tackles.

San Jose State’s defense was led by Dylan Lee, a 6-foot-1, 212-pound linebacker from French Camp, California, with 11 tackles. Naseri Danielson, a 6-foot, 195-pound linebacker from Stockton, California, had nine tackles. Tuli Tagovailoa-Amosa, a 5-foot-10, 186-pound receiver from Ewa Beach, Hawaii, had seven tackles. Caleb Womack, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound cornerback from Santa Cruz, California, had six tackles. Justin Stearns, a 6-foot-2, 223-pound linebacker from San Diego, California, had five tackles, one sack and three quarterback hurries. Jayland McGlothen and Solomone Langi, a 6-foot, 285-pound offensive lineman from Provo, Utah, each had four tackles. Jeremiah Tuiileila had three tackles and three quarterback hurries. Ethan Powell, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound linebacker from San Bernardino, California, had three tackles. John Norwood, Greco Carrillo, Jayden Robertson and Brian Dukes Jr. each had two tackles. Noa Siaosi, a 6-foot-2, 250-pound defensive lineman from Vacaville, California, had one tackle and one quarterback hurry. Etu Finau, a 6-foot-4, 260-pound defensive lineman from Oakland, California, Kamaehu Kopa-Kaawalauole, Brady Van Bennekum, Nate Lewis, Ian Shewell and Joseph Harbert each had one tackle.

Fresno State punter Nick Verdugo punted seven times for 286 yards. Manaki Watanabe made field goals from 52, 51, 44 and 40 yards and missed a 44-yard attempt. San Jose State’s Sinatra made his 45-yard field goal in the first quarter. Bates had a 66-yard touchdown run in the second quarter nullified by an illegal formation penalty. Weaver connected with Clark for a 1-yard touchdown, and Sinatra kicked the extra point. Donelson broke a 36-yard touchdown run, and Watanabe kicked the extra point.

Fresno State had previously beaten Sacramento State 49-3 on Sept. 12 and lost at Southern California 39-0 on Sept. 4. The Bulldogs next host Rice on Sept. 26, visit Washington State on Oct. 3, host Boise State on Oct. 10, visit San Diego State on Oct. 17, host Oregon State on Oct. 31, visit Utah State on Nov. 7, visit Texas State on Nov. 14 and host Colorado State on Nov. 21.

San Jose State had previously beaten Cal Poly 30-20 on Sept. 12, won at Eastern Michigan 27-21 on Sept. 4 and lost at Southern California 42-26 on Aug. 29. The Spartans next visit Hawaii on Oct. 3, host Wyoming on Oct. 9, visit UTEP on Oct. 17, visit Nevada on Oct. 24, host New Mexico on Oct. 31, host Northern Illinois on Nov. 7, visit Air Force on Nov. 14, host UNLV on Nov. 21 and host North Dakota State on Nov. 27.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Fresno State 35, San Jose State 33. Interstat’s ELO system gave Fresno State a 68.8 percent probability to win. San Jose State had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -6.5. The total score of 36 and the over/under line of 49.5 were among the pregame numbers.