Fresno State names E J Warner starting QB

Fresno State confirms veteran transfer E J Warner will be the Week 0 starter after a three man battle.

Fresno State names E J Warner starting QB

Fresno State has named E J Warner the starting quarterback for Week 0 at Kansas on August 23 after a three man competition. Warner, who has started 31 games across Temple and Rice, brings 8,814 passing yards and 58 touchdowns to the Bulldogs and has a track record of consistency. He also led the AAC in passing yards per game in 2023 and set Temple’s single season touchdowns mark with 23.

Warner competed with Sacramento State transfer Carson Conklin and sophomore Jayden Mandal. Fresno State officials described Warner’s experience, steadiness and leadership as decisive factors in his favor. The team also indicated a belief in the quarterback room that they can win with all three signal callers this season, a sign of depth rather than a single savior in a crowded room.

The choice signals Fresno State’s focus on proven production over hype. In modern college football, transfers can deliver immediate upgrades, but they also test the fit with a new coach and system. Warner’s breadth of college starts provides a steadier floor for an offense still aligning with a new head coach, Matt Entz, who arrives from USC and won national titles as a head coach at North Dakota State.

The move also frames a season of measured expectations. Week 0 at Kansas will be the first real test of the plan on game day, and how Fresno State manages the quarterback room under pressure will matter as much as who takes the first snap. Depth at the position could cushion early mistakes, but it could also sharpen internal competition and raise the stakes for every drive.

Highlights

The season will reveal how this choice lands and how the supporting cast responds.