Brandstater, a Turlock High graduate, completed 16 of 27 passes, including a 27-yard touchdown throw to tight end Bear Pascoe. Lonyae Miller and Clifton Smith added touchdown runs for the Bulldogs (1-0), who got 77 of their 266 yards rushing from freshman Ryan Matthews.
Sacramento State (0-1) got 49 yards rushing from Travon Jones, accounting for almost half of his team's total offense in coach Marshall Sperbeck's debut. Quarterback Jason Smith finished 13-of-23 for 60 yards in his first college start.
Fresno State retired former quarterback David Carr's No. 8 jersey in a halftime ceremony. Carr, now with the Carolina Panthers after the Houston Texans released their former No. 1 overall pick, led the nation in yards passing and touchdowns in 2001, finishing fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting.
Leading 14-3 at halftime, Fresno State scored the only touchdown of the second half on Smith's 30-yard scamper with 4:35 left in the third quarter. Clint Stitser added a 47-yard field goal for the Bulldogs with 8:36 remaining.
Pascoe led the Bulldogs with 91 yards receiving, including a 44-yard reception that brought Fresno State deep into Hornets territory late in the second quarter. But the Bulldogs couldn't capitalize as Marlon Moore fumbled away a potential touchdown while extending the ball across the goal line.
The Hornets managed 10 first downs and converted just 3 of their 14 third-down chances. Sacramento State didn't commit a turnover, while Fresno State lost three fumbles.
WESTERN WASHINGTON 28, UC DAVIS 21, at Davis -- Adam Perry passed for 362 yards and two touchdowns, and Western Washington spoiled the opening of UC Davis' new stadium. Perry went 31-of-46 for the Division II Vikings (1-0), who had lost their last seven games against UC Davis before the Aggies moved into the Football Championship Subdivision this season.
