Fresno State suddenly needed a game. It got one the Power Five way: Bulldogs bought it

Fresno State was left with a big hole in its future football schedules when Brigham Young joined the Big 12 and ditched many of its upcoming non-conference games, exercising an out clause in its game contracts.

The one with the Bulldogs: “Either party may cancel this contract if they decide to join a conference, whether currently existing or newly formed, that is different from its current conference or independent affiliation …”

That left Fresno State in a scheduling bind, and to explore what few opportunities were remaining out there at that late date including adding Mountain West rival Boise State as a non-conference opponent.

It ended up filling that hole in its 2023 schedule on Friday in a way a Power Five conference program might, by ponying up a sizable guarantee to buy a game with Kent State. But, Fresno State did it with a creative twist and without busting its budget, which includes game guarantees as a significant source of revenue.

It will pay Kent State $1.1 million to travel to the San Joaquin Valley on Sept. 23, according to a source familiar with the game contract. But the payments will be spread over two seasons and the Bulldogs, even with the large payment to the Golden Flashes, still will be able to hit a revenue target and bank at least $1 million in guarantees.

Fresno State in 2023 is receiving $1.3 million to play at Purdue and $1.1 million to play at Arizona State.

It will pay Kent State $800,000 and FCS Eastern Washington $300,000 for games, and also make a $275,000 payment for a 2025 game against Southern, which will bring its famed marching band known as the Human Jukebox to the San Joaquin Valley.

The Bulldogs will net $1,025,000 in game guarantee revenue in 2023.

In 2024 it will rake in $1.85 million to play at Michigan and $1.2 million to play UCLA, which it has beaten four times in a row including the past three times when taking a trip to the Rose Bowl.

Fresno State hitting revenue goals in deal

It will pay Kent State $300,000 and Southern $275,000 in 2024, in addition to playing games against Sacramento State for $350,000 and New Mexico State for $650,000.

Fresno State will net $1,475,000 in 2024.

The Bulldogs have never played Kent State, but the Golden Flashes are used to playing guarantee games and have not had much success doing it.

They have played three in each of the past three non-COVID football seasons and are 0-9, losing by an average of nearly 30 points. Kent State this season will play at Washington, at Oklahoma and at Georgia, reportedly receiving $1.8 million from the Huskies, $1.5 million from the Sooners and $1.9 million from the Bulldogs.

The game at Washington will be the debut for former coach Kalen DeBoer, who led the Bulldogs to a 12-6 record in two seasons at Fresno State.

In 2023, the Golden Flashes are scheduled to play at Central Florida, at Arkansas and then at Fresno State.