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ESPN had its A-team over the weekend when the first round of the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff kicked off. On Monday, during the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl between Northern Illinois and Fresno State, ESPN had one of its smaller crews working the game. And after a score from Fresno State in the first quarter, an unfortunate slip-up happened with the chyron.
Instead of the “Bulldogs,” ESPN gave Fresno State a new nickname.
The worst part? It was not an isolated incident.
Once can be chalked up to an unfortunate mistake. But multiple times throughout a broadcast? Not many keyboards have the “N” and “G” keys right next to each other…
Fresno State took a 13-3 lead on NIU late in the first quarter thanks to a 13-yard touchdown run from quarterback Joshua Wood. The backup quarterback completed 8 of his 10 passes for 105 yards in the first half while adding 42 rushing yards. The Bulldogs had a 13-3 lead at the break.
Wood started the game in place of Mikey Keene, who threw for 2,892 yards and 18 touchdowns this season before jumping in the transfer portal. Hours earlier on Monday, Keene committed to transfer to Michigan, a team the Bulldogs lost to in Ann Arbor to open the year.
The Bulldogs are looking to end a down year with some momentum. After posting 9 wins in 3 consecutive seasons, the abrupt loss of coach Jeff Tedford prior to the 2024 year thrust Fresno State into a period of uncertainty. Health concerns forced Tedford’s hand, and interim coach Tim Skipper led a 6-6 campaign. Earlier this month, Fresno State announced it had hired USC assistant and former North Dakota State head coach Matt Entz to be the program’s new coach. Entz will lead Fresno State into the Pac-12 beginning in 2026.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
