Once again, Fresno State proved it belonged on the same field with the one of the NCAA's top teams. Once again, they came tantalizingly close to a season-defining victory.

Unfortunately, almost doesn't count.

The Bulldogs hung tough but ultimately fell to 14th ranked Cincinnati 28-20 on Saturday afternoon at Nippert Stadium.

Ryan Mathews carried the ball a career-high 38 times for 145 yards, topping the 100-yard mark for the fourth straight game. The Bulldogs had 443 yards of total offense to 357 for Cincinnati. Fresno State grounded out 290 yards on the ground. Ryan Colburn passed for 153 yards, one touchdown and had one interception.

The Bulldogs had a chance to take the lead in the third quarter as they had the ball on the Cincinnati six-yard line but on a fourth-and-two from the Bearcat six-yardline, quarterback Ryan Colburn was intercepted, ending a 14 play. 59 yard and 7:34 drive.

Fresno State had one last shot to tie the game as they drove to the Cincinnati 38-yard line thanks to a Lonyae Miller 33-yard run. But the hopes for an upset victory ended when Colburn's fourth-down pass from the Cincinnati 37 was broken up by safety Aaron Webster with 39 seconds left, clinching it.

The Bulldogs next game will take place at Aloha Stadium against the Hawai'i Warriors on October 10th.