Group of Five: UCF, Boise State headline 2018 preseason power rankings

Fresno State took down rival Boise State once last season, defeating the Broncos in the Battle for the Milk Can. But the Bulldogs couldn’t pull off the feat two weeks in a row, as Boise State won the return match the following week on the Smurf Turf to claim the Mountain West title. The Bulldogs rebounded with a win over Houston in the Hawaii Bowl to complete the school’s first 10-win season since Derek Carr left for the NFL.

There were several reasons for Fresno State’s turnaround in 2017. Jeff Tedford returned to the sidelines after five years away from coaching. He immediately helped stabilize a team that had drifted to irrelevance under Tim DeRuyter. A large reason for that was the presence of Oregon State transfer Marcus McMaryion at quarterback. Both men return in 2018 for the Bulldogs and are ready for another attempt at the school’s first conference title since 2013.

Fresno State gets eight starters back on both sides of the ball, including three starters to an offensive line that ranked third nationally in sacks allowed last year. The defensive line is a bit thinner, with defensive tackle Malik Forrester and defensive end Tobenna Okeke no longer in Fresno. A team that gave up just 320 yards and 18 points per game could see those numbers climb slightly, but the Bulldogs should still field one of the top 30 defenses in the FBS.

Under Pat Hill in the early 21st century, Fresno State made a name for itself as a tough mid-major willing to play any opponent at any venue. This year the Bulldogs take on both Minnesota and UCLA on the road, giving them two chances to make statements against Power Five opponents. If they win both, Fresno State will consolidate its position as a Group of Five contender.