Next four games will present Fresno State with many challenges.
Now the real tests begin.
With Fresno State's 51-0 demolition of UC Davis out of the way, the level of competition rises sharply as the Bulldogs open a four-game stretch against Wisconsin, Boise State, Cincinnati and Hawaii. Three of the games are away from Bulldog Stadium, two of them have 9 a.m. PDT kickoffs, and one of them likely will be against a ranked team.
It begins with Saturday's 9 a.m. kickoff at Wisconsin of the Big Ten Conference.
The Badgers beat Northern Illinois 28-20 last weekend, hanging on to win in front of a home crowd of 80,532 after entering the fourth quarter with a 22-point lead.
It reminded some of the 2008 season, in which the Badgers allowed three fourth-quarter comebacks. The Badgers marched into Bulldog Stadium ranked 10th in September but stumbled to a 7-6 finish. So, questions remain: Just how good is this Badgers team? Is it a so-so squad in a conference that has lost its luster? Or is it a team rising to its feet after taking one on the chin like Boise State's Byron Hout.
"They're an improved team from last year and I think they're going to play with a chip on their shoulder because they want to prove themselves," Fresno State coach Pat Hill said during Monday's news conference.
Nine Wisconsin players got their first start Saturday, and just seven have more than 10 career starts, which speaks to inexperience. One of those first-time starters was junior quarterback Scott Tolzien, who went 15 of 20 for 257 yards with two interceptions and a touchdown.
Regardless of the talent level, one thing hasn't changed in Madison: its line is huge. The Badgers' offensive line averages 6-foot-6, 324 pounds. Fresno State's defensive line averages 255 pounds, 6-foot-3.
While Hill said the Badgers "blot out the sun" and it's going to be "a great test for our players," defensive tackle Cornell Banks said the Wisconsin offensive line wasn't the best the Bulldogs faced last season.
That would be Boise State, which this year is ranked No. 14 (new rankings will be released today) and visits Fresno State on Sept. 18.
Still, Banks did say the Badgers had good size and fellow tackle Chase McEntee said they use that to their advantage.
"They're so big," McEntee said, "if you get into them, and they get ahold of you, you're not getting away."
The time of the game is another challenge, Hill said.
The Bulldogs will have their pregame meal at 5 a.m. PDT Saturday, and have to play much earlier in the morning than they would regularly. For instance, last week Fresno State practiced between 2 and 6 p.m. and played its game at 7 p.m.
To prepare, Hill will have his players awake for 6 a.m. meetings.
It's a change the Bulldogs will face for three games this season: at Wisconsin, at Cincinnati on Sept. 26 and at Illinois on Dec. 5.
"It's something we need to practice, and that's part of preparing for this game," Hill said.
"You have to get used to eating early in the morning. You have to get used to getting up early in the morning. Your whole system has to get ready to hit the field and be going full speed at 9 a.m. ... We need to change that body chemistry this week. I don't think you can change it on Friday."
Now the real tests begin.
With Fresno State's 51-0 demolition of UC Davis out of the way, the level of competition rises sharply as the Bulldogs open a four-game stretch against Wisconsin, Boise State, Cincinnati and Hawaii. Three of the games are away from Bulldog Stadium, two of them have 9 a.m. PDT kickoffs, and one of them likely will be against a ranked team.
It begins with Saturday's 9 a.m. kickoff at Wisconsin of the Big Ten Conference.
The Badgers beat Northern Illinois 28-20 last weekend, hanging on to win in front of a home crowd of 80,532 after entering the fourth quarter with a 22-point lead.
It reminded some of the 2008 season, in which the Badgers allowed three fourth-quarter comebacks. The Badgers marched into Bulldog Stadium ranked 10th in September but stumbled to a 7-6 finish. So, questions remain: Just how good is this Badgers team? Is it a so-so squad in a conference that has lost its luster? Or is it a team rising to its feet after taking one on the chin like Boise State's Byron Hout.
"They're an improved team from last year and I think they're going to play with a chip on their shoulder because they want to prove themselves," Fresno State coach Pat Hill said during Monday's news conference.
Nine Wisconsin players got their first start Saturday, and just seven have more than 10 career starts, which speaks to inexperience. One of those first-time starters was junior quarterback Scott Tolzien, who went 15 of 20 for 257 yards with two interceptions and a touchdown.
Regardless of the talent level, one thing hasn't changed in Madison: its line is huge. The Badgers' offensive line averages 6-foot-6, 324 pounds. Fresno State's defensive line averages 255 pounds, 6-foot-3.
While Hill said the Badgers "blot out the sun" and it's going to be "a great test for our players," defensive tackle Cornell Banks said the Wisconsin offensive line wasn't the best the Bulldogs faced last season.
That would be Boise State, which this year is ranked No. 14 (new rankings will be released today) and visits Fresno State on Sept. 18.
Still, Banks did say the Badgers had good size and fellow tackle Chase McEntee said they use that to their advantage.
"They're so big," McEntee said, "if you get into them, and they get ahold of you, you're not getting away."
The time of the game is another challenge, Hill said.
The Bulldogs will have their pregame meal at 5 a.m. PDT Saturday, and have to play much earlier in the morning than they would regularly. For instance, last week Fresno State practiced between 2 and 6 p.m. and played its game at 7 p.m.
To prepare, Hill will have his players awake for 6 a.m. meetings.
It's a change the Bulldogs will face for three games this season: at Wisconsin, at Cincinnati on Sept. 26 and at Illinois on Dec. 5.
"It's something we need to practice, and that's part of preparing for this game," Hill said.
"You have to get used to eating early in the morning. You have to get used to getting up early in the morning. Your whole system has to get ready to hit the field and be going full speed at 9 a.m. ... We need to change that body chemistry this week. I don't think you can change it on Friday."
