Matt Entz’s Shocking Admission After Fresno State Defeat Leaves Fans Reeling

Entz said via Gabe Camarillo of Fresno Fox affiliate KMPH 26 during fall camp that “Fresno State would win (and lose) games based on the line of scrimmage.” Kansas dominated on both lines.Entz already dove into a postgame conversation he’s heard.“We’ve got to protect the football, got to be great on third down, all the little things. It’s a game of making plays — and we didn’t make enough plays,” Entz said. “You can’t lose the turnover battle and can’t have penalties. There’s a lot of learning involved.”Ironically, the opposing head coach inside David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium was another past non-Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) leader in Lance Leipold. The latter ended up out-coaching Entz.So where did it all go wrong in Entz’ Fresno State debut?The Bulldog offense self-destructed badly, however. E.J. Warner sparked early buzz among Fresno State fans by winning the starting quarterback nod as Kurt Warner’s son. Warner endured a rigid Bulldogs debut too — throwing two costly interceptions and losing one fumble. The ground attack didn’t fare any better either, averaging a morbid 1.3 yards per carry. No Bulldogs wide receiver surpassed three catches.

Matt Entz transitioning to higher CFB level with Fresno State

Entz is returning as head coach after previously guiding North Dakota State. He rose as a pivotal loss for USC during early December. Pursuing and later accepting the offer to become Fresno State head coach.“I already like the messaging I’m hearing from the veterans in the locker room,” Entz said.Matt Entz piled up a jaw-dropping 60-11 record and two national championships before stepping into the Fresno State head coaching chair. But his start with the Bulldogs? Let’s just say it was a hard pill to swallow. Saturday’s 31-7 route at Kansas left Entz reeling, prompting him to speak bluntly about a performance that fell far short of expectations. Jalon Daniels torched Fresno State’s defense like a hot knife through butter, exposing glaring flaws on both sides of the ball. Entz knows the team’s got the talent — he’s seen it during practice — but when it counts, the little mistakes and missed opportunities pile up fast. Protecting the ball, converting on third downs, penalties — these are fundamentals Fresno State failed to execute, and the scoreboard showed as much. Transitioning from dominating at the FCS level to battling in college football’s upper echelon is no cakewalk, and Entz’s debut paints a tough picture of the uphill climb ahead. But from a gritty locker room attitude to some veteran leadership stepping up, there’s a spark that Entz’s eye caught amidst the wreckage. Now, the question looms: will this setback be the foundation for a fierce Fresno State comeback or just an early warning in a challenging new chapter? LEARN MOREEntz got vocal about his team’s performance. Which featured Jalon Daniels shredding Fresno State by land and air.Daniels threw a near perfect game of 18-of-20 passing. He tacked on 47 rushing yards against a defense that cranked up the blitzes in the second quarter. Entz’ defense even allowed just one second half touchdown the rest of the evening.Matt Entz entered his second head coaching gig with a 60-11 overall record and two national titles. His 72nd game as a head coach ended in brutal fashion with Fresno State football. Forcing him to drop an honest bomb after taking the rough 31-7 loss against Kansas Saturday.“I know we can play better football,” Entz began via 247Sports. “I’ve seen it out on the practice field.”He also received compliments from Leipold, saying his Bulldog-led team played hard. But Entz now must make his first major adjustment as he received a rough intro into his Fresno State chapter.