Game 5
Nevada (0-4, 0-0 MW) at No. 25/- Fresno State (4-0, 0-0 MW)
Saturday, Sept. 30, 2023 - 7:30 p.m.
Fresno, Calif. - Valley Children's Stadium

TV: FS1 (PxP: Dan Hellie; Analyst: Petros Papadakis)
Radio: 105.7 KOZZ / The Varsity Network App (PxP: John Ramey; Analyst: Mike Edwards)

RENO, Nev. - Nevada (0-4, 0-0 MW) opens Mountain West play this Saturday, heading to the San Joaquin Valley to take on No. 25/- Fresno State (4-0, 0-0 MW). Saturday's contest will kick at 7:30 p.m. and air on FS1 with Dan Hellie (play-by-play) and Petros Papadakis (analyst) on the call.

The Wolf Pack Radio Network will call the game on KOZZ 105.7 FM in Northern Nevada, and online at www.thevarsitynetwork.com and on the Varsity Network app, available for download in both the Apple and Google Play app stores. John Ramey (play-by-play) and Mike Edwards (analyst) will be in the booth, with the 60-minute pregame show to begin at 6:30 p.m. PT.

SERIES HISTORY
Nevada and Fresno State will meet this Saturday 100 years after its first meeting (1923). The Bulldogs lead the all-time series, 31-22-1. Nevada has split its last four games in Fresno, picking up wins in 2017 and 2019.

ABOUT FRESNO STATE
Fresno State (4-0, 0-0 MW) enters Mountain West play off the heels of a strong non-conference showing which included wins at Purdue and over Arizona State. The Bulldogs, which cracked this week's Associated Press poll at No. 25, are led by transfer quarterback Mikey Keene (1,205 passing yards, 12 TDs, 67.5 completion pct.) and wide receiver Erik Brooks (32 receptions, 448 yards, four TDs).

ON TO MOUNTAIN WEST SEASON
Nevada is 6-5 in Mountain West openers heading into its 2023 lidlifter at Fresno State. Saturday's contest will mark the first time the Pack has opened Mountain West play against the Bulldogs.

MR. RIGHT PLACE RIGHT TIME
Linebacker Drue Watts continues to be a magnet for the football, leading the nation in fumble recoveries with four after yet another one at Texas State. Going back to last season, Watts is on a streak of five games with a takeaway, as he made an interception in last Nov. 26's season finale at UNLV.

This season, Watts has recovered fumbles in each of Nevada's four games, while having a share of a sack and 14 tackles. Last season, Watts had a run of eight games in a row with a tackle-for-loss, finishing the campaign with 9.0 while being named All-Mountain West Honorable Mention and to College Football News' Freshman All-America Third Team.

TALTON ON THE BRINK OF SOLO POSSESSION OF NEVADA CAREER MARK
Fifth-year kicker Brandon Talton enters his final season intent on reminding many around the Mountain West of his status as one of the top kickers on the West Coast. Talton, named to two preseason watch lists this summer (Lou Groza Award, Comeback Player of the Year Award), is the Mountain West's all-time leader in field goals made (72).

Talton, named to the Lou Groza Award watch list for the fifth time this past July, hit from 30 yards in his only attempt Saturday at Texas State, bringing his career total to 72 and tying Marty Zendejas (1984-87) atop Nevada's all-time list.

Talton also ranks third in kick scoring with 346 points. He is one of just eight players, including four kickers, in Nevada history to have 300 career points.