In a dominant defensive performance, Fresno State defeated Miami (Ohio) 18-3 in the Arizona Bowl, held Saturday afternoon in Tucson. The Bulldogs' defense stifled the RedHawks' offense, limiting them to just 192 total yards. Fresno State's defense, ranked 14th in the nation coming into the game allowing just 293.4 yards per game, proved too strong for Miami.

E.J. Warner, the son of NHL Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner, led the Fresno State offense, completing 16 of 23 passes for 214 yards and a touchdown. Josiah Freeman was Warner's top target, catching seven passes for 143 yards. Dylan Lynch contributed four field goals for the Bulldogs, while Richie Anderson III caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from Warner in the fourth quarter.

Miami (Ohio) struggled offensively throughout the game. Freshman quarterback Thomas Gotkowski completed just 6 of 22 passes for 72 yards with one interception. The RedHawks' running game didn't fare much better, with 120 yards on 26 carries. Jordan Brunson, who entered the game with 724 rushing yards for the season, was held to just 43 yards on nine carries. Miami's lone score came on their opening drive when Dom Dzioban kicked a 33-yard field goal. They failed to score after the first quarter.

Fresno State's Lynch kicked field goals of 28, 23, and 25 yards in the second quarter, giving the Bulldogs a 9-3 lead at halftime. A 51-yard completion from Warner to Freeman in the third quarter set up another field goal opportunity, but Lynch missed a 28-yard attempt. Warner's touchdown pass to Anderson with 11:12 remaining in the fourth quarter extended the lead to 15-3, and Lynch added his fourth field goal late in the game to seal the victory.

The Bulldogs dominated the time of possession, holding the ball for 38:40 compared to Miami's 21:20. Brandon Ramirez led Fresno State's rushing attack with 53 yards on 11 carries. Defensively, Jakari Embry had an interception, while Camryn Bracha and Jadon Pearson each recorded seven tackles, with Pearson also forcing a fumble.

With the win, Fresno State finishes the season with a 9-4 record, marking a successful first season for head coach Matt Entz. Entz also earned a $45,000 bonus for the victory. This is Fresno State's first bowl win since 2023. Miami (OH) concludes their season at 7-7, failing to repeat as Arizona Bowl champions. The game was held at Arizona Stadium in Tucson, Arizona, and broadcast on The CW.