Fresno State 69, New Mexico 28
Senior quarterback Derek Carr moved No. 15 Fresno State one step closer to a long-awaited BCS bowl bid, leading the unbeaten Bulldogs to a 69-28 victory over New Mexico on Saturday before a sellout crowd at Bulldog Stadium in Fresno, Calif.
The Bulldogs clinched the Mountain West Conference West Division title and secured their place in the first Mountain West championship game, setting up a likely rematch with Boise State on Dec. 7 in Fresno.
The Bulldogs (10-0, 7-0 MWC) have won 15 consecutive regular-season games, 12 in a row at home and 12 straight against Mountain West competition.
The Lobos (3-7, 1-5) have lost five of six since beating rival New Mexico State on Oct. 5.
Carr, a three-year starter and projected first-round NFL draft pick who was recently named a finalist for the Walter Camp Award, was sensational for Fresno State.
In three quarters, he completed 27 of 37 passes for a season-high 527 yards with seven touchdowns and no interceptions, nearly eclipsing his career high of 536 yards against San Diego State in 2012. He has attempted 266 passes in the past five games without throwing an interception.
The Bulldogs accumulated 830 yards of total offense and led 35-0 after amassing 418 yards in the first half. Carr was 17-of-21 passing for 309 yards and three touchdowns in the opening half.
The Bulldogs punted only once, and Carr took care of that, too, booting a 45-yarder that was downed at New Mexico's 1-yard line.
Carr connected with Davante Adams on touchdown passes of 57 and 44 yards in the first half. They hooked up again on a 59-yard pass in the third quarter. Carr added a 59-yard scoring strike to Josh Harper later in the third, the 100th touchdown pass of his career.
Fresno State achieved its first 10-win season since 2001, when Carr's big brother, former No. 1 draft pick David Carr, led the Bulldogs into the Top 10 before their BCS hopes were dashed with a midseason loss to Boise State. Twelve years later, Derek has a chance to do something his brother couldn't.
The Bulldogs will conclude the regular season at San Jose State on Nov. 29 before hosting the Mountain West title game a week later. If they remain unbeaten, projections indicate they could land their first-ever BCS bid to the Fiesta Bowl, which will be played Jan. 3 in Glendale, Ariz.
