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| University of the Pacific | Fresno State | Santa Clara University |
Fresno State University (the Bulldogs)
Why We're Rivals...
Fresno State and San José State have a deep rivalry that dates back to 1921. The Bulldogs and the Spartans have met more than 65 times in their history, and have one of the closest rivalries in the nation. After a brief interruption, the two teams began meeting annually again in 1996.
Rivalry Stories
In 1986 Fresno State's football team came to San José State ranked #12 in the nation with 4 wins and 0 losses. At that time San José State had 2 wins and 2 losses, and Fresno was favored to win the game. On the first four possessions San José State scored, giving us a 24-0 lead. However, by the time the third quarter had rolled around, Fresno State had caught up to San José State and was leading by a score of 31-24. San José State soon tied the game at 31-31 but heading into the fourth quarter with 1 minute and 10 seconds left on the clock San José State was trailing once more 41-31. When all was said and done San José State came back to win 45-41 in what Sports Illustrated magazine said was the most exciting game of the year. Unfortunately for SJSU, during that game the Spatans set a record for the most penalties in a single game with 24 for 199 yards. By the end of the game the referee was so tired he had to be carried off of the field. Seriously.
1990 marked the first sellout game at Spartan Stadium, with both teams hopeful for a chance at a bowl game. San José State took a quick 28-7 lead with the help of two touchdowns scored within 74 seconds of one another. By the time the game was over, San José State had trampled over Fresno State with a 42-7 win. This day marked the last time San José State would beat Fresno State until 2006. As Fresno would win the next 14 meetings between the two schools. However San Jose's fortunes changed in 2006 as they completed their best regular season since 1990 with a 24-14 win over the Bulldogs at Spartan Stadium. The Spartans left no doubt that this would be their year by scoring a touchdown on their very first offensive play, and then intercepting the ball on the Bulldogs first play for another quick score.
NO RED DAYS!
The main color for Fresno State is red. Because of this, and fueled by the heated rivalry between schools, a new tradition was started by the Spartan Squad in 2005-2006. Whenever the Spartans play the Fresno State Bulldogs in ANY home sporting event at SJSU, the student body is asked to display as litte red (or NO RED) as possible to promote Spartan pride. So on those game days, blue and gold = good, red = bad. No Red Days are listed on the Spartan Squad Calendar under "Events" tab on this website.
Series record between the two universities
| SJSU |
Fresno State |
Ties |
| 33 |
36 |
3 |
| Final scores of each football game
(A "W" signifies an SJSU win) |
| Date |
Score |
Win/Loss |
|
Date |
Score |
Win/Loss |
| 1921 |
14-2 |
W |
9/30/72 |
23-21 |
L |
| 1925 |
23-7 |
W |
9/15/73 |
24-6 |
W |
| 1926 |
34-0 |
L |
9/14/74 |
28-7 |
W |
| 1927 |
10-7 |
L |
11/1/75 |
21-7 |
W |
| 1929 |
26-14 |
W |
10/23/76 |
21-7 |
W |
| 1930 |
27-12 |
L |
10/22/77 |
45-24 |
L |
| 1931 |
32-0 |
L |
10/21/78 |
26-16 |
W |
| 10/22/32 |
0-0 |
T |
10/30/79 |
35-22 |
W |
| 11/18/33 |
18-7 |
W |
10/11/80 |
26-14 |
W |
| 11/3/34 |
7-7 |
T |
10/3/81 |
65-33 |
W |
| 11/24/39 |
42-7 |
W |
10/23/82 |
39-27 |
L |
| 11/16/40 |
14-7 |
W |
10/8/83 |
41-23 |
W |
| 11/14/41 |
0-0 |
T |
10/27/84 |
18-17 |
W |
| 12/26/42 |
6-0 |
L |
10/12/85 |
37-17 |
L |
| 11/2/46 |
13-2 |
W |
10/4/86 |
45-41 |
W |
| 11/27/47 |
21-20 |
L |
10/17/87 |
20-16 |
W |
| 11/19/48 |
41-6 |
W |
10/29/88 |
17-15 |
L |
| 11/24/49 |
43-7 |
W |
11/4/89 |
31-30 |
L |
| 11/3/50 |
33-7 |
W |
11/17/90 |
42-7 |
W |
| 10/6/51 |
32-6 |
W |
11/22/91 |
31-28 |
L |
| 10/10/52 |
40-6 |
W |
9/3/94 |
45-13 |
L |
| 10/3/53 |
27-21 |
W |
10/12/96 |
28-18 |
L |
| 11/19/54 |
28-0 |
W |
11/1/97 |
53-12 |
L |
| 11/18/55 |
28-0 |
L |
|
11/21/98 |
24-21 |
L |
| 11/22/56 |
30-14 |
L |
|
11/20/99 |
63-12 |
L |
| 11/16/57 |
13-6 |
L |
|
11/24/00 |
37-6 |
L |
| 11/15/58 |
48-6 |
W |
|
11/23/01 |
40-21 |
L |
| 10/17/59 |
40-14 |
W |
|
11/23/02 |
19-16 |
L |
| 11/11/60 |
27-12 |
L |
|
11/15/03 |
41-7 |
L |
| 11/18/61 |
36-27 |
L |
|
11/27/04 |
62-28 |
L |
| 11/10/62 |
20-14 |
L |
|
11/5/05 |
45-7 |
L
|
| 11/16/63 |
56-27 |
W |
|
12/2/06 |
24-14 |
W |
| 11/21/64 |
26-14 |
W |
|
10/20/07 |
30-0 |
L |
| 11/20/65 |
24-14 |
L |
|
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| 11/19/66 |
15-13 |
L |
|
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|
| 11/18/67 |
35-30 |
W |
|
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|
| 9/28/68 |
25-21 |
W |
|
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| 11/21/70 |
27-19 |
L |
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| 9/18/71 |
14-7 |
L |
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