Fresno State's rivalry with San Jose State to continue after Pac-12 move

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Even aft its determination to the Pac-12 successful 2026, Fresno State volition support its rivalry with San Jose State, a schoolhouse staying successful the Mountain West.

Starting successful 2026, the Bulldogs volition play the archetypal of six scheduled games with the Spartans.

In the ever-changing scenery of assemblage athletics, preserving the passionateness of rivalry games was key.

In concern with our sister station, KABC 7 successful San Francisco, some schools granted exclusives to the ABC stations to interruption the quality successful their respective markets.

"It's Silicon Valley versus the Valley," said FS diversion manager Garrett Klassy. "We don't request to enactment thing successful beforehand of the Valley, due to the fact that we are the Valley."

Fresno State represents the Central Valley and the satellite of agriculture portion San Jose State reps the satellite of tech successful Silicon Valley.

"During rivalry week successful Fresno, everything's much amped up," said Spartans diversion manager Jeff Konya.

"Just a small spot much connected the line, it's the longest-running rivalry that we have."

Separated by a small much than 150 miles, it's some schools' longest-running rival successful a bid that started backmost successful 1921.

"Going up determination evidently you could spot the rivalry determination and the fans determination were beauteous animated," said Spartans caput shot manager Ken Niumatalolo.

Preserving that past and passionateness is wherefore it was important for some schools to proceed playing for the Valley trophy.

"I'll get acceptable to assistance it erstwhile the clip is right," said Matt Entz, first-year Bulldog coach. "I told radical before, I'm not touching it until we gain it."

While the Bulldogs pb the all-time bid with 45 wins, immoderate of the 39 losses person led to heartbreak astatine the hands of the Spartans.

Ron Cox, Fresno State's all-time sacks leader, remembers a spirited contest.

"They kicked our butt a mates of times and took america retired of the championship," helium told Action News earlier his jersey was retired astatine FS.

"I conscionable privation to spell against them 1 much time. If I had 1 privation that would beryllium the wish: for maine to suit up against them."

It's a sentiment akin to that of erstwhile Bulldog backmost Trent Dilfer.

You would bash anything, manager Sweeney made definite that you understood that beating SJSU was occupation fig one," Dilfer told Action News.

In total, San Jose State and Fresno State person met connected the gridiron 87 times wide and successful 27 of the past 29 years.

"Being capable to triumph this crippled and get the trophy, decidedly helps successful the recruiting process. We enlistee the aforesaid kid a batch of times and successful the aforesaid conflict truthful winning this crippled goes a agelong mode successful trying to triumph immoderate of these battles down the road," said Niumatalolo.

San Jose State - Fresno State Upcoming Non-Conference Football Games

- Sept. 19, 2026 astatine CEFCU Stadium

- Sept. 25, 202,7 astatine Valley Children's Stadium

- Sept. 29, 2029 astatine Valley Children's Stadium

- Oct. 2, 2032 astatine CEFCU Stadium

- Sept. 24, 2033 astatine Valley Children's Stadium

- Sept. 9, 2034 astatine CEFCU Stadium

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