Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | CMP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT | YPA | QBR | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | L 0-39@ USC | 7/15 | 77 | 0 | 1 | 5.1 | 9.5 | |
| Wk 2 | W 49-3vs Sacramento State | 23/26 | 316 | 2 | 0 | 12.2 | — | Season-high 316 yds |
| Total | 30/41 | 393 | 2 | 1 | 8.6 | 9.5 |
#7
Jayden Mandal
Fresno State doesn't have to wonder what it gets from Jayden Mandal; that certainty is the whole point of him.
6′0″ · 205 lb · Clovis, CA · Buchanan HS
Returning to Fresno State for 2026
The numbers
393
passing yards · 2026
2 TD · 1 INT · 9.6 per attempt
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 316 pass yds, 2 TD, 8 rush yds, vs Sacramento State
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
3 quarterback for Fresno State. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 3-star recruit to Fresno State in 2023.
Buzz vs Tape
Fans warmer than rivals
His own fans are far more bullish than the rival fanbase.
19.3own fans
-70rival fans
At some point he will give up on Jayden Mandal. Jayden is not even close to Carr and Manning. Jayden worst than EJ Warner. Short and can't see the field well and that the problem.
Jayden Mandal
Filling the Shoesas of 2026-09-15
Jayden Mandal is a cornerstone for Fresno State — measured against the line he joined.
393PASS YDS2PASS TD-11RUSH YDS
Read the story so far
AI-generated narrative · may contain errors · not journalism · updated 2026-09-15
His career
2023
- Signed with Fresno State3-star out of Buchanan
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★★
CFB
College
Fresno State
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2024–2026
2 coaches2024
Tim Skipper
Fresno State
2026era →
Matt Entz
Fresno State
Coaching transition mid-career: Tim Skipper → Matt Entz. Worth noting in scheme + development context.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
2024Fresno State6-7HC: Tim Skipper · Balanced
2026Fresno State1-1HC: Matt Entz · Run-leaning, slow tempo
Where this profile ranks vs the QB cohort
Box-score percentiles
Elite: yards / att (92nd percentile). Strength: completion % (92nd percentile). Concern: pass yards (0th percentile).
Box-score rates (8)
Percentiles versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score rates.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 196 YDS/g, 1.0 TD/g, 8.6 YPA, 0.5 INT/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Matt Entz
Scheme reads (pass share, tempo, sack rate) need at least 3 team games — 2 games in so far.
Awards
Player standing · 2026
Backup
On the two-deep and pushing for snaps.
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Fresno State | 30 | 41 | 73.2% | 393 | 9.6 | 2 | 1 | 164.9 | -- | -- | -- |
| 2024 | Fresno State | 4 | 9 | 44.4% | 39 | 4.3 | 0 | 2 | 36.4 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 34 | 50 | 68.0% | 432 | 8.6 | 2 | 3 | 141.8 | -- | -- | -- |
| Season | Team | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Fresno State | 12 | -11 | -0.9 | 1 | -- |
| 2024 | Fresno State | 2 | -4 | -2.0 | 0 | -- |
| Career | 14 | -15 | -1.1 | 1 | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 2 · 2026
W 49–3
316 yds · 2 TD · 0 INT · 8 rush yds (4 car) · 1 TD
Dominant 46-point win at home against Sacramento State.
With E. Avit — 2 rec · 103 yds · 1 TD · B. Donelson — 102 rush yds (13 car) · 3 TD
Signature plays
Signature plays · top plays by |EPA|
The plays that mattered most
- Week 2 · Sacramento State · 1&10 · Q2 · EPA +5.93Ezekiel Avit 73 Yd pass from Jayden Mandal (Jayden Mandal Pass to Gavin Correia for Two-Point Conversion)
- Week 1 · USC · 4&8 · Q4 · EPA -3.70(00:41) Shotgun #7 J.Mandal sacked for loss of 7 yards to the USC15 (#95 J.Ramos), TURNOVER ON DOWNS
- Week 2 · Sacramento State · 3&4 · Q2 · EPA +2.96Rayshon Luke 18 Yd pass from Jayden Mandal (Manaki Watanabe Kick)
- Week 2 · Sacramento State · 2&7 · Q1 · EPA +2.71Shotgun #7 J.Mandal pass complete short right to #5 J.Freeman caught at FRES45, for 28 yards to the SACST34, out of bounds at SACST34, 1ST DOWN
- Week 2 · Sacramento State · 2&15 · Q3 · EPA +2.59Shotgun #10 J.Malau’ulu pass complete short right to #7 J.Mandal caught at SACST49, for 21 yards to the SACST26, out of bounds at SACST26, 1ST DOWN
- Week 2 · Sacramento State · 3&1 · Q2 · EPA +2.45#7 J.Mandal rush middle for 1 yard gain to the SACST00 TOUCHDOWN, clock 06:19 #38 M.Watanabe kick attempt good (H: #7 J.Mandal, LS: #52 E.Rossetti)
- Week 1 · USC · 3&3 · Q1 · EPA -2.33(05:34) Shotgun #7 J.Mandal pass intercepted by #16 P.Brown at USC15, End Of Play
- Week 2 · Sacramento State · 2&8 · Q1 · EPA +2.18Shotgun #7 J.Mandal pass complete deep left to #5 J.Freeman caught at SACST24, for 28 yards to the SACST24, End Of Play, 1ST DOWN
- Week 1 · USC · 2&10 · Q1 · EPA +2.16(07:30) Shotgun #7 J.Mandal pass complete short middle to #86 G.Correia caught at FST44, for 12 yards to the FST47 (#0 J.Williams; #6 C.Pierce), 1ST DOWN
- Week 1 · USC · 1&10 · Q3 · EPA -2.13Team Safety
Game log
How he plays
2026 Outlook
Fresno State
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Quarterback · Fresno State
Returning around him
- 38% of 2024 offensive production back (Moderate turnover)
- Transfer portal: +3 net (13 in / 10 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Fresno State · Last season: 9-4 · Talent rank #88 · 2026 recruiting class #70
Heisman trajectory
Heisman Trajectory · 2026
Peak #175
Peaked at #175 this season.
Background
2025 (SOPHOMORE): Did not participate … was out this season with injury. 2024 (R-FRESHMAN): Appeared in six games this season … was the Bulldogs’ starting quarterback against NIU in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl (Dec. 23) … season stats were 4-of-9 for 39 yards and two interceptions … was 3-of-6 w...
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology