Opponent Preview: Fresno State

Fresno State hosts its first home game of the season Saturday when it welcomes No. 19 Nebraska to Bulldogs Stadium. Although FSU is 0-2 this season and has been outscored by 71 points, Fresno State has won 13 consecutive home games, the longest home winning streak in the country. The Bulldogs have averaged 46.0 points per game at home during the win streak.

The Bulldogs are averaging 20.0 points through two games this season while averaging 221.5 passing yards per game and 106.0 rushing yards per contest. Marteze Waller is the leading rusher, carrying 31 times for 158 yards and two touchdowns this season. Brandon Connette has added 23 carries for 53 yards while completing 23-of-41 passes for 245 yards. Brian Burrell has completed 19-of-35 passes for 198 yards and two TDs.

Josh Harper is Fresno State’s leading receiver with 12 catches for 139 yards. Josh is the son of Willie Harper, who was a two-time All-America defensive lineman at Nebraska in 1971 and 1972, and he was a member of the Huskers’ 1970 and 1971 national championship teams.

Defensively, Fresno State has surrendered more than 50 points in each of its first two games. In addition to allowing 55.5 points per game, the Bulldogs are allowing an average of 613.5 yards per game. FSU ranks last nationally in scoring defense and next-to-last in total defense. Opponents average 6.6 yards per play against the Bulldogs.

Series History
The only previous meeting between Nebraska and Fresno State came on Sept, 10, 2011 in Lincoln, when the 10th-ranked Huskers held off Fresno State, 42-29. Ameer Abdullah, then a freshman, set a school record with 211 kickoff return yards, including a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Kenny Bell had his first career reception against Fresno State, a 42-yard grab in the second quarter.

Fresno State Head Coach Tim DeRuyter
Tim DeRuyter is in his third season at Fresno State, where he has guided the Bulldogs to a 20-8 record. DeRuyter inherited an FSU team that went 4-9 in 2011 before he led the Bulldogs to back-to-back Mountain West championships in 2012 and 2013. With a pair of conference titles in his first two seasons, DeRuyter ended Fresno State’s 13-year drought without a conference championship. Last fall, Fresno State began the season 10-0 and defeated Utah State in the Mountain West Championship Game. DeRuyter has  taken Fresno State to a bowl game in each of his first two seasons.

Fresno State has been especially tough at home in DeRuyter’s first two seasons. FSU is a perfect 12-0 at Bulldog Stadium under DeRuyter. Fresno State has scored at least 37 points in each of its 12 home games under DeRuyter while average 51.9 points per game at Bulldog Stadium the past two seasons. Fresno State has been held under 40 points only twice in 12 home games under DeRuyter.

A graduate of the Air Force Academy in 1985, DeRuyter came to Fresno State after serving as the assistant head coach and defensive coordinator at Texas A&M in 2010 and 2011. He served as defensive coordinator for his alma mater from 2007 to 2009, after coordinating the defenses at Nevada (2005-06), Ohio (2002-04 and 1995-98) and Navy (1999-2000). DeRuyter also coached the Navy secondary in 2001 and was an assistant coach at Air Force from 189 to 1992.