The 2016 Mountain West Conference football season was the 18th season of college football for the Mountain West Conference (MW). In the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season, the MW had 12 football members: Air Force, Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, San Diego State, San Jose State, UNLV, Utah State, and Wyoming.
Preseason Mountain West Media 2016 Mountain West Football Media Days were held on July 26 and 27 at the Cosmopolitan on the Las Vegas Strip.
Preseason polls Reference: Place Mountain Division West Division 1 Boise State (27) 172 San Diego State (29) 174 2 Air Force (2) 126 Nevada 129 3 Utah State 111 San Jose State 122 4 Colorado State 95 Fresno State 76 5 New Mexico 74 UNLV 73 6 Wyoming 31 Hawai'i 35 First place votes in parentheses
Preseason All-Mountain West Teams Reference: + Offense Position Player Class Team QB Brett Rypien* SO. Boise State WR Thomas Sperbeck* SR. Boise State WR Devonte Boyd** JR. UNLV RB Donnel Pumphrey* SR. San Diego State RB Brian Hill** JR. Wyoming OL Fred Zerblis** SR. Colorado State OL Nico Siragusa* SR. San Diego State OL Jake Simonich SR. Utah State OL Austin Stephens SR. Utah State OL Chase Roullier** SR. Wyoming TE Billy Freeman* SR. San Jose State
+ Defense Position Player Class Team DL Nik D'Avanzo SR. New Mexico DL Alex Barrett** SR. San Diego State DL Travis Seefeldt GR. Utah State DL Ricky Ali'ifua SR. Utah State LB Christian Tago** SR. San Jose State LB Calvin Munson* SR. San Diego State LB Dakota Cox SR. New Mexico DB Weston Steelhammer* SR. Air Force DB Damontae Kazee* SR. San Diego State DB Dameon Baber** SO. Nevada DB Andrew Wingard** SO. Wyoming
+ Specialists Position Player Class Team P Hayden Hunt** SR. Colorado State P Michael Carrizosa* JR. San Jose State PK Tyler Rausa* SR. Boise State KR Rashaad Penny* JR. San Diego State
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Donnel Pumphrey, SR., RB, San Diego State Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Damontae Kazee, SR., DB, San Diego State Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year: Rashaad Penny, JR., KR, San Diego State
(* - member of the 2015 All-Mountain West first team)
(** - member of the 2015 All-Mountain West second team)
Award watch lists The following Mountain West players were named to preseason award watch lists.
Maxwell Award: Jacobi Owens–Air Force Jeremy McNichols–Boise State Brett Rypien–Boise State Donnel Pumphrey–San Diego State Brian Hill–Wyoming
Chuck Bednarik Award: Damontae Kazee–San Diego State Calvin Munson–San Diego State
John Mackey Award: Jake Roh–Boise State Jarred Gipson–Nevada Billy Freeman–San Jose State Wyatt Houston–Utah State
Rimington Trophy: Jake Bennett–Colorado State Asotui Eli–Hawai'i Nathan Goltry–Nevada Arthur Flores–San Diego State Will Kreitler–UNLV Austin Stephens–Utah State
Lou Groza Award: Tyler Rausa–Boise State Brent Zuzo–Nevada
Ray Guy Award: Hayden Hunt–Colorado State Alex Boy–Nevada Michael Carrizosa–San Jose State Ethan Wood–Wyoming
Bronko Nagurski Trophy: Weston Steelhammer–Air Force Tanner Vallejo–Boise State Calvin Munson–San Diego State
Outland Trophy: Fred Zerblis–Colorado State Austin Corbett–Nevada Nico Siragusa–San Diego State Chase Roullier–Wyoming
Jim Thorpe Award: Roland Ladipo–Air Force Weston Steelhammer–Air Force Damontae Kazee–San Diego State Andrew Wingard–Wyoming
Butkus Award: Tanner Vallejo–Boise State Kevin Davis–Colorado State Calvin Munson–San Diego State
Fred Biletnikoff Award: Thomas Sperbeck–Boise State Hasaan Henderson–Nevada Jerico Richardson–Nevada Devonte Boyd–UNLV
Wuerffel Trophy: Zack Golditch–Colorado State Jeremy Maculey–Nevada Daniel Brunskill–San Diego State Tim Crawley–San Jose State Travis Seefeldt–Utah State
Davey O'Brien Award: Brett Rypien–Boise State
Doak Walker Award: Jacobi Owens–Air Force Paul Harris–Hawai'i James Butler–Nevada Donnel Pumphrey–San Diego State Devante Mays–Utah State Brian Hill–Wyoming
Walter Camp Award: Brett Rypien–Boise State Donnel Pumphrey–San Diego State
Paul Hornung Award: Rashaad Penny–San Diego State Tim Crawley–San Jose State
Coaches NOTE: Stats shown are before the beginning of the season Team Head coach Years at school Overall record Record at school MW record Air Force Troy Calhoun 10 67–50 67–50 40–32 Boise State Bryan Harsin 3 28–11 21–6 12–4 Colorado State Mike Bobo 2 7–6 7–6 5–3 Fresno State Tim DeRuyter 5 30–23 29–23 21–11 Hawaii Nick Rolovich 1 0–0 0–0 0–0 Nevada Brian Polian 4 18–20 18–20 11–13 New Mexico Bob Davie 5 53–57 18–32 9–23 San Diego State Rocky Long 8 108–92 43–23 30–9 San José State Ron Caragher 4 59–44 15–22 11–13 UNLV Tony Sanchez 2 3–9 3–9 2–6 Utah State Matt Wells 4 25–16 25–16 18–6 Wyoming Craig Bohl 3 110–50 6–18 4–12
Rankings
+ Legend Increase in ranking Decrease in ranking Unranked the previous week RV Received votes but were not ranked in Top 25 of poll
Pre Wk2 Wk3 Wk4 Wk5 Wk6 Wk7 Wk8 Wk9 Wk10 Wk11 Wk12 Wk13 Wk14 Wk15 FinalAir Force AP RV RV RV RV RVC RV RV RV RVCFP Not released Boise State AP RV RV RV RV 24 19 15 14 13 24 24 22 20 RV RV RVC RV RV RV RV RV 19 15 14 13 24 24 23 19 RV RV RVCFP Not released 24 22 20 19 Colorado State AP C CFP Not released Fresno State APCCFP Not released Hawaii APCCFP Not released Nevada AP CCFP Not released New Mexico APCCFP Not releasedSan Diego State AP RV RV RV 22 19 RV RV RV RV RV RV 24 RV RV 25C RV RV RV RV 24 RV RV RV RV RV RV 25 RV RV RV 25CFP Not released San José State APCCFP Not released UNLV APCCFP Not released Utah State AP CCFP Not released Wyoming AP RV RV RVC RV RV RV RV RVCFP Not released
Championship game
The Championship Game was played between the San Diego State Aztecs, champions of the West Division, and the Wyoming Cowboys, champions of the Mountain Division, on December 3, 2016, at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie, Wyoming. The Aztecs won 27–24, repeating as champions. Running back Rashaad Penny of San Diego State was the offensive MVP, and defensive back Damontae Kazee of San Diego State was the defensive MVP.
Bowl games
Bowl GameDateStadiumCityTelevisionTeam MatchupsWinning teamScoreLosing teamScore New Mexico Bowl December 17 University Stadium Albuquerque, NM ESPN New Mexico vs. UTSANew Mexico23UTSA20 Las Vegas Bowl December 17 Sam Boyd Stadium Whitney, NV ABC Houston vs. San Diego StateSan Diego State34Houston10 Poinsettia Bowl December 21 Qualcomm Stadium San Diego, CA ESPN BYU vs. WyomingBYU24Wyoming21 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl December 22 Albertsons Stadium Boise, ID ESPN Idaho vs. Colorado State Idaho 61 Colorado State 50 Hawai'i Bowl December 24 Aloha Stadium Honolulu, HI ESPN Hawai'i vs. Middle Tennessee Hawai'i 52 Middle Tennessee 35 Cactus Bowl December 27 Chase Field Phoenix, AZ ESPN Boise State vs. Baylor Baylor 31 Boise State 12 Arizona Bowl December 30 Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ ASN South Alabama vs. Air Force Air Force 45 South Alabama 21
Mountain West vs Power Conference matchups
Records against other conferences 2016 records against non-conference foes:
Regular season
Power 5 ConferencesRecordACC0–0Big Ten0–6Big 120–1Pac-123–6SEC0–0Notre Dame0–1Power 5 Total3–14Other FBS ConferencesRecordAmerican1–2C-USA1–0MAC3–3Sun Belt4–3Independents (Excluding Notre Dame)3–0Other FBS Total12–8FCS OpponentsRecordFootball Championship Subdivision11–0Total Non-Conference Record26–22
Post Season
Power ConferencesRecordBig 120–1Power 5 Total0–1Other FBS ConferencesRecordAmerican1–0C–USA2–0Sun Belt1–1Independents (Excluding Notre Dame)0–1Total Bowl Record4–3
Awards and honors
All Conference teams
Offensive Player of the Year: Donnel Pumphrey, SR., RB, San Diego State Defensive Player of the Year: Damontae Kazee, SR., DB, San Diego State Special Teams Player of the Year: Rashaad Penny, JR., KR, San Diego State Freshman of the Year: Logan Wilson, LB, Wyoming Coach of the Year: Craig Bohl, Wyoming
Offense: Pos.NameYr.SchoolNameYr.School First Team Second TeamQBBrett Rypien*SO.Boise StateJosh AllenSO.WyomingWRThomas Sperbeck*SR.Boise StateTanner GentrySR.WyomingWRMichael GallupJR.Colorado StateJalen RobinetteSR.Air ForceRBDonnel Pumphrey**SR.San Diego StateJeremy McNichols***JR.Boise StateRBBrian HillJR.WyomingTeriyon GipsonSR.New MexicoTEJacob HollisterSR.WyomingDavid WellsJR.San Diego StateOLTravis AverillSR.Boise StateJake BennettJR.Colorado StateOLMario YakooSR.Boise StateDejon AllenJR.Hawai'iOLFred ZerblisSR.Colorado StateAustin CorbettJR.NevadaOLNico Siragusa*SR.San Diego StateReno HendersonSR.New MexicoOLChase RoullierSR.WyomingDaniel BrunskillSR.San Diego StatePKJohn Baron IISO.San Diego StateLuke StrebelSR.Air ForcePR/KRRashaad Penny*JR.San Diego StateD.J. MaySR.Wyoming
Defense: Pos.NameYr.SchoolNameYr.School First Team Second TeamDLRyan WatsonSR.Air ForceMalik ReedSO.NevadaDLSam McCaskillSR.Boise StateNik D'AvanzoSR.New MexicoDLDavid MoaSO.Boise StateGarrett HughesJR.New MexicoDLAlex Barrett*SR.San Diego StateTravis SeefeldtSR.Utah StateLBCalvin Munson*SR.San Diego StateBen WeaverSR.Boise StateLBJahlani TavaiSO.Hawai'iKevin DavisSR.Colorado StateLBTau LotuleleiSR.UNLVJeff CamilliSR.Fresno StateDBAndre ChachereJR.San Jose StateBrodie HicksSR.Air ForceDBWeston Steelhammer**SR.Air ForceChanceller JamesSR.Boise StateDBAndrew WingardSO.WyomingJonathan MoxeySR.Boise StateDBDamontae Kazee*SR.San Diego StateMalik SmithSR.San Diego StatePHayden HuntSR.Colorado StateSean WaleSR.Boise State (* – Two-Time First-Team Selection)(** – Three-Time First-Team Selection)(*** – Two-Time Second-Team Selection)
Honorable Mentions: Air Force: Haji Dunn, Sr., LB; Tim McVey, Jr., KR; Colin Sandor, Sr., OL; Dylan Vail, Sr., OL. Boise State: Steven Baggett, Sr., OL; Mason Hampton, Jr., OL; Tanner Vallejo, Sr., LB; Cedrick Wilson, Jr., WR. Colorado State: Nick Callender, Sr., OL; Nick Stevens, Jr., QB; Paul Thurston, Sr., OL. Fresno State: Stratton Brown, Sr., DB; KeeSean Johnson, So., WR; Kody Kroening, Jr., P. Hawai'i: Trayvon Henderson, Jr., DB; Marcus Kemp, Sr., WR; Leo Koloamatangi, Sr., OL; Meffy Koloamatangi, Jr., DL; Jalen Rogers, Sr., DB; Rigoberto Sanchez, Sr., PK/P. Nevada: James Butler, Jr., RB; Wyatt Demps, Jr., WR; Asauni Rufus, So., DB. New Mexico: Dakota Cox, Sr., LB; Daniel Henry, Sr., DB; Aaron Jenkins, So., OL; Jason Sanders, Jr., PK. San Diego State: Kyle Kelley, Sr., DL; Quest Truxton, Jr., PR. San Jose State: Michael Carrizosa, Jr., P; Isaiah Irving, Sr., DL; Jeremiah Kolone, Jr., OL; Maurice McKnight, Jr., DB; Christian Tago, Sr., LB. UNLV: Troy Hawthorne, Sr., DB; Mike Hughes, Jr., DL; Nathan Jacobson, So., OL; Will Kreitler, Sr., OL; Torry McTyer, Sr., DB. Utah State: Austin Albrecht, Sr., OL; Ricky Ali'ifua, Sr., DL; Wyatt Houston, Sr., TE; Jake Simonich, Sr., OL; Austin Stephens, Sr., OL. Wyoming: Lucas Wacha, Sr., LB
Home game attendance