The Bulldogs began a new era when James Sweeny took over as head coach in 1976. Under Sweeny’s leadership, Fresno State went on to rake in some phenomenal seasons. This includes 1985, where they were the only Division I-A team in the nation to finish the season undefeated. Only the Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors left a mark on this record, forcing the team to finish in a tie. This marked the beginning of a long-standing rivalry between the two teams, egged on by each team’s difficulty winning on their opponent’s home field.