The Red Wave is hitting a massive fork in the road. Honestly, if you’ve been following Fresno State football lately, you know the vibe is shifting. We aren’t just talking about a new season; we’re talking about the jump to the Pac-12 in 2026. This isn't your older brother's Mountain West lineup anymore.
Everything changed when Matt Entz took the reins. Moving from the FCS powerhouse of North Dakota State to USC and then landing in the Central Valley, Entz brought a "big game" philosophy that’s basically gutted and rebuilt the Fresno State football lineup.
Most fans are still mourning the loss of E.J. Warner. He did his job, put up the yards, and helped the Dogs nab an Arizona Bowl win over Miami (OH) to cap off a solid 9-4 run in 2025. But he’s gone. Eligibility is a beast.
Now, we’re looking at a 2026 depth chart that feels like a science experiment in the transfer portal.
The Quarterback Room: Life After Warner
You’ve probably heard the name Khristian Martin. If you haven't, you will. The Maryland transfer is the guy everyone is pointing to as the presumptive heir. He’s got that "it" factor—a 6-foot-3 frame and an arm that can actually stretch a defense.
Remember the Michigan game back in late '25? Martin came off the bench for the Terps and went 3-for-3 with a touchdown against one of the nastiest defenses in the country. That's the kind of poise Entz wants.
But it’s not just a coronation.
Carson Conklin is still hanging around. He’s a rising junior who actually saw some real snaps in 2025. People forget he threw for nearly 3,000 yards at Sacramento State before coming to the Valley. He knows the system. He’s steady.
Then you’ve got the local hero factor. Jayden Mandal, the Buchanan High product, is coming back from surgery. He started that 2024 Potato Bowl and showed flashes, but he’s fighting an uphill battle against the portal arrivals.
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Don't ignore the freshmen either. Deagan Rose and Jacob Chambers are the new kids on the block. Rose is a Clovis High kid. You know how Fresno loves its local QBs. It’s basically a religion here.
The Offensive Identity: Who’s Carrying the Rock?
Losing Elijah Gilliam and Johnathan Arceneaux stings. Those guys were the heart of the ground game. Basically, the Bulldogs are resetting the backfield from scratch.
Keep an eye on Rayshon Luke. The "Speedy" nickname isn't just marketing. He’s the St. John Bosco product who can break a game open if he finds a crease. He’s smaller, sure, but in Josh Davis’s pistol offense, that quick-twitch ability is everything.
Supporting him:
- Bryson Donelson: The sophomore who averaged massive yards against Colorado State.
- Brandon Ramirez: A local Hanford kid who brings the "thunder" to Luke's "lightning."
- Julius Gillick: A physical freshman who might surprise people in short-yardage sets.
The offensive line is where things get dicey. Jacob Spomer is gone. That’s a massive hole at center. The left side is okay—Edward Fonua is a rock at guard and Brayden Walton is returning at tackle—but the right side is a total construction zone. Entz has been hitting the portal hard for "untested blockers" who can play multiple positions.
A Defense in Transition
If the offense is a puzzle, the defense is a complete overhaul.
We lost Korey Foreman. We lost Finn Claypool. We lost Jadon Pearson, who was essentially the glue of the linebacker corps before declaring for the NFL Draft. That’s a lot of production to replace in one offseason.
Deijon Laffitte is the name to watch on the interior. He stayed put while everyone else was jumping ship. He had three sacks and five TFLs last year, and he’s going to be the anchor.
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The secondary? Total chaos.
Al'zillion Hamilton is headed to the pro ranks. Jakari Embry is gone. The Bulldogs are basically replacing four starters in the defensive backfield.
Jaden Carrillo is one of the few veterans sticking around. He’s the guy who housed that Oregon State punt return last year. He’ll likely move from a special teams ace to a primary corner. Beside him, expect to see Ethan Tierney (the Northern Illinois transfer) and maybe some of the younger guys like Loyall Mouzon.
The Coaching Factor: The Entz Effect
Matt Entz didn't come here to play second fiddle. He’s a winner.
His staff is a mix of retained "Bulldog Born" guys and fresh blood. John Baxter staying as Special Teams Coordinator is huge. The man is a wizard with kick blocks.
But the real eyes are on Nick Benedetto, the Defensive Coordinator. He’s running a 4-2-5 base, which means that "Nickel" position—the hybrid safety/linebacker—is the most important spot in the Fresno State football lineup.
With the move to the Pac-12 looming, the speed on defense has to improve. The Mountain West was about toughness; the Pac-12 is about not getting burned by track stars on the perimeter.
What the Numbers Actually Say
If you look at the betting totals from last year, the Bulldogs over-performed.
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The ELO rankings usually have Fresno State somewhere in the 50-60 range nationally. That’s respectable. But to compete with the likes of Washington or Oregon in the future, that roster depth has to go from "Mountain West good" to "Power Four deep."
People think the lineup is just about the starters. It’s not.
Injuries destroyed the run game in 2024. In 2025, they survived because the portal additions like E.J. Warner held the fort. For 2026, the success of the Fresno State football lineup depends entirely on whether these 20+ transfers can gel in spring camp.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Season
If you're looking to track this team, don't just watch the highlights.
- Watch the Center Competition: Whoever replaces Jacob Spomer will dictate if the QB gets time to breathe.
- Follow the "Nickel" battle: That hybrid spot in the 4-2-5 defense will tell you if the defense can stop the pass-heavy Pac-12 offenses.
- Monitor Khristian Martin’s Completion Percentage: He’s got the arm, but the Bulldogs’ offense relies on efficiency, not just big plays.
- Check the Portal Windows: Entz isn't done. Expect another wave of 1-2 year "plug and play" defenders before the season kicks off.
The Bulldogs are gambling on the portal. It worked for the Arizona Bowl, but the Pac-12 is a different animal. This lineup is younger, faster, and much more unpredictable than it was two years ago.
Whether that translates to wins in a tougher conference is the $100 million question.
Next Steps to Follow the Bulldogs:
- Track the Spring Game: Keep a close eye on the snap counts between Khristian Martin and Carson Conklin.
- Scout the Transfer Portal: Watch for any late additions to the offensive line, particularly at the guard and center positions.
- Review the Pac-12 Schedule: Align the current roster depth against the incoming conference opponents to see where the physical mismatches lie.