FRESNO, Calif. - Fresno State football will debut perhaps its most unique uniform yet for its Ag Fest-themed home finale, paying homage to the agriculturally-rich Central Valley like never before.
The game, set for 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 22, against Utah State at Valley Children's Stadium, is tabbed as a "whiteout," with the Red Wave encouraged to wear white to match the team. The game will be nationally televised on FS1, giving Fresno State the opportunity to showcase its ag roots to a nationwide audience.
The Bulldogs will don white jerseys with green "Fresno State" lettering across the chest and sublimated farm imagery uniquely integrated into each green jersey number. The concept means each jersey – from Korey Foreman's No. 0 to Michael Jordan Jr.'s No. 99 – will feature different art representing various fruits, nuts, vegetables and livestock that make up the region's agricultural footprint.
"Being from the Valley, I've seen firsthand how vital agriculture is to the Central Valley. It's what makes this place so special, not just locally, but around the world," said senior kicker Dylan Lynch, an agricultural business major from Liberty High in Bakersfield. "Getting the opportunity to play for Fresno State is something I'll always be grateful for. Now, having the chance to wear these jerseys and represent the ag community of Bakersfield and the surrounding areas is truly a special honor. It will be an exciting night."
For decades, the Bulldogs have worn the iconic Green V on the back of their helmets, but – for the first time ever – the Green V will appear on the sides of their white helmets with the four-paw logo on the back.
The Green V, introduced in 1997 when Pat Hill became Fresno State's football coach, symbolizes the pride the university takes in representing the region. The V is green to honor the Valley's agricultural heritage and the hardworking people who feed the nation, with a Bulldog Red line through the middle, symbolizing the university's place as the "Pride of the Valley."
The Central Valley stretches 450 miles through the heart of California, bordered by the Sierra Nevadas to the east and the Coast Ranges to the west. It is divided by the San Joaquin Valley in the south and the Sacramento Valley in the north, with Fresno State boasting the only major college football program between Sacramento and Los Angeles – an area roughly the size of the entire state of West Virginia, with a population similar to the state of Indiana.
The Central Valley produces more than a quarter of the nation's food supply. Nearly 40% of America's fruits and nuts are grown in the region, along with over 250 crops each year — making the Valley the most productive agricultural region in the world.
The Valley also boasts the pride and tradition of a productive football program. Fresh off a resounding, 30-7 win at Boise State to become bowl eligible, the Bulldogs (6-3 overall, 3-2 Mountain West) are in the thick of the conference championship race. They host Wyoming on Nov. 15 before the Nov. 22 Ag Fest home finale.
"The Red Wave is one of the most passionate fan bases in the country, and so much of that pride comes from the Valley's agricultural roots," said Fresno State coach Matt Entz. "The Green V has always meant something here. This jersey is a tribute to the hardworking people who make the Central Valley what it is. We represent them when we step onto the field, but on an even deeper level on Nov. 22 in these new uniforms."
Fans can rep the unique look, too, with several special merchandise offerings available now online and in stores for the whiteout game:
Officially licensed Adidas replica jerseys, including NIL replicas featuring the names and numbers of student-athletes who opted in, are available on the Athletic Solutions website, as well as Kennel Marketplace and Kennel Bookstore. The jerseys were designed by alumnus Joel Beery, a graphic designer on the university's marketing and communications team.
Official "whiteout" game shirts – featuring the new "5V9" mark and other Central Valley area codes representing the Pride of the Valley – are available at Kennel Marketplace, Kennel Bookstore and other retailers as well as in-venue kiosks during the game.
Limited-edition, white 5V9 Yeti tumblers will be available at all Valley Children's concession stands on game day. The tumblers are available for $50 and include free soft drink refills throughout the game.
Exclusive 5V9, Pride of the Valley and four-paw logo apparel patches can be purchased and added to customizable white sweatshirts available on game day at Valley Children's Stadium.
Though the Valley ag industry is intertwined in Fresno State football games every week, the university selects a special game each year to celebrate Ag Fest.
With agriculture being one of the university's most respected academic disciplines, the Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology provides hands-on learning opportunities for students. The Gibson Farm Market on campus is well known for its student-produced goods, like its ever-popular Fresno State sweet corn and its award-winning wine. In 1997, Fresno State became the first American university to operate a commercially bonded, on-campus winery.
The university houses a 1,000-acre campus farm — the University Agricultural Laboratory — which contains 18 enterprises, including a vineyard, vegetable crops, and beef, sheep and swine units, among others. Students operate the units, growing products that are sold at the university's Gibson Farm Market, the Fresno State Creamery and the Fresno State Winery.