The 2017 Mountain West Conference football season, part of that year's NCAA Division I FBS football season, was the 19th season of college football for the Mountain West Conference (MW). Since 2012, 12 teams have competed in MW football—the conference's 11 full members, plus football-only member Hawaii. The regular season began on August 26 and ended on November 25. The Mountain West Championship Game was played on December 2, where Mountain Division champion Boise State defeated West Division champion Fresno State to win their first Mountain West championship since 2014.
Preseason
Mountain West Media 2017 Mountain West media days took place on July 25 & 26 at the Cosmopolitan.
Preseason Polls
Place Mountain Division West Division 1 Boise State (21) 161 San Diego State (28) 168 2 Colorado State (6) 135 Hawai'i 135 3 Wyoming (1) 114 UNLV 105 4 Air Force 82 Nevada 79 5 New Mexico 68 San Jose State 54 6 Utah State 28 Fresno State 47 First place votes in parentheses
Preseason All–Mountain West Team
+ Offense Position Player Class Team QB Josh Allen** JR. Wyoming WR Michael Gallup* SR. Colorado State WR Devonte Boyd SR. UNLV RB Rashaad Penny* SR. San Diego State RB Tyrone Owens JR. New Mexico OL Jake Bennett** SR. Colorado State OL Austin Corbett** SR. Nevada OL Dejon Allen** SR. Hawai'i OL Aaron Jenkins JR. New Mexico OL Mason Hampton SR. Boise State TE David Wells** SR. San Diego State
+ Defense Position Player Class Team DL David Moa* JR. Boise State DL Malik Reed** JR. Nevada DL Garrett Hughes* SR. New Mexico DL Mike Hughes Jr. SR. UNLV LB Jahlani Tavai* JR. Hawai'i LB Logan Wilson SO. Wyoming LB Frank Ginda JR. San Jose State DB Andrew Wingard* JR. Wyoming DB Andre Chachere* SR. San Jose State DB Tyler Horton JR. Boise State DB Trayvon Henderson SR. Hawai'i + Specialists Position Player Class Team P Michael Carrizosa SR. San Jose State PK John Baron II* JR. San Diego State RET Rashaad Penny* SR. San Diego State
Preseason Offensive Player of the Year: Josh Allen, JR., QB, Wyoming Preseason Defensive Player of the Year: Andrew Wingard, JR., DB, Wyoming Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year: Rashaad Penny, SR., KR, San Diego State
(* – member of the 2016 All–Mountain West first team)
(** – member of the 2016 All–Mountain West second team)
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 11 77–53 77–53 45–35 Boise State Bryan Harsin 4 38–14 31–9 18–6 Colorado State Mike Bobo 3 14–12 14–12 10–6 Fresno State Jeff Tedford 1 82–57 0–0 0–0 Hawaii Nick Rolovich 2 7–7 7–7 4–4 Nevada Jay Norvell 1 0–0 0–0 0–0 New Mexico Bob Davie 6 62–61 27–36 15–25 San Diego State Rocky Long 9 119–95 54–26 36–11 San José State Brent Brennan 1 0–0 0–0 0–0 UNLV Tony Sanchez 3 7–17 7–17 5–11 Utah State Matt Wells 5 28–25 28–25 19–12 Wyoming Craig Bohl 4 118–56 14–24 10–14
Rankings
Listed are the Mountain West teams who were ranked or received votes at some point during the season. Air Force, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, San Jose State, Utah State and UNLV were never ranked or received any votes.
+ Legend Improvement in ranking Drop in ranking Not ranked previous week RV Received votes but were not ranked in Top 25 of poll
Pre Wk1 Wk2 Wk3 Wk4 Wk5 Wk6 Wk7 Wk8 Wk9 Wk10 Wk11 Wk12 Wk13 Wk14 FinalBoise State Broncos AP RV RV RV RV RV RV 25 RV 25 22C RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RV 24 RV 25 22CFP Not released 25 23 25Colorado State Rams AP C RV RV RV CFP Not released Fresno State Bulldogs AP RV 25 RV RVC RV RV RV RVCFP Not released 25 San Diego State Aztecs AP RV RV RV 22 19 19 19 RV RV RV RV RV RV RV RVC RV RV RV 25 21 21 18 RV RV RV RV RV 25 RV RVCFP Not released Wyoming Cowboys AP C RV CFP Not released
Schedule
Regular season Index to colors and formattingMountain West member wonMountain West member lostMountain West teams in bold
Week One
Week Two
Week Three
Week Four
Week Five
Week Six
Week Seven
Week Eight
Week Nine
Week Ten
Week Eleven
Week Twelve
Week Thirteen
Championship Game
Week Fourteen (Mountain West Championship game)
The 2017 Mountain West Championship Game was held on December 2 between the champions of the Mountain Division, Boise State and the West Division, Fresno State. Boise State beat Fresno State 17–10.
Records against FBS conferences ConferenceRecordThe American1–2ACC0–2Big Ten0–5Big 120–1C-USA0–0Independents4–4MAC1–1Pac-123–7SEC0–3Sun Belt3–1Total12–26
Power Five conferences and independents Power 5 ConferencesRecordACC0–2Big Ten0–5Big 120–1Pac-123–7SEC0–3Notre Dame0–0Power 5 Total3–18
Group of Five conferences Group of 5 ConferencesRecordAmerican1–2C-USA0–0MAC1–1Independents (excluding Notre Dame)4–4Sun Belt3–1Group of 5 Total9–8
FCS Subdivision FCS OpponentsRecordFootball Championship Subdivision9–2Total FCS Record9–2
Postseason Power 5 ConferencesRecordACC0–0Big Ten0–0Big 120–0Pac-121–0Notre Dame0–0SEC0–0Power 5 Total1–0Other FBS ConferencesRecordAmerican1–0C–USA0–1Independents (excluding Notre Dame)0–1MAC1–0Sun Belt0–1Total Bowl Record3–3
Postseason
Bowl games
Legend Mountain West win Mountain West loss
Bowl gameDateSiteTelevisionTime (EST)Mountain West teamOpponentScoreAttendanceLas Vegas BowlDecember 16Sam Boyd Stadium • Las Vegas, NVABC3:30 p.m.#25 Boise State Broncos (10–3)Oregon Ducks (7–5)38–2836,432New Mexico BowlDecember 16Dreamstyle Stadium • Albuquerque, NMESPN4:30 p.m.Colorado State Rams (7–5)Marshall Thundering Herd (7–5)28–3126,087Famous Idaho Potato BowlDecember 22Albertsons Stadium • Boise, IDESPN4:00 p.m.Wyoming Cowboys (7–5)Central Michigan Chippewas (8–4)37–1416,512Armed Forces BowlDecember 23Amon G. Carter Stadium • Fort Worth, TXESPN3:30 p.m.San Diego State Aztecs (10–2)Army Black Knights (8–3)35–4235,986Hawaii BowlDecember 24Aloha Stadium • Honolulu, HIESPN8:30 p.m.Fresno State Bulldogs (9–4)Houston Cougars (7–4)33–2720,546Arizona BowlDecember 29Arizona Stadium • Tucson, AZCBSSN5:30 p.m.Utah State Aggies (6–6)New Mexico State Aggies (6–6)20–2639,132
Boise State's ranking is from the CFP Poll.
Selection of teams: Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Utah State, & Wyoming (6)
Awards and honors
All-Conference teams
Offensive Player of the Year: Rashaad Penny, Sr., RB, San Diego State Defensive Player of the Year: Leighton Vander Esch, Jr., LB, Boise State Special Teams Player of the Year: Rashaad Penny, Sr., KR/PR, San Diego State Freshman of the Year: Armani Rogers, QB, UNLV Coach of the Year: Jeff Tedford, Fresno State
Offense: Pos.NameYr.SchoolPos.NameYr.School First Team Second TeamQBNick StevensSr.Colorado StateQBBrett RypienJr.Boise StateWRCedrick Wilson Jr.Sr.Boise StateWRKeeSean JohnsonJr.Fresno StateWRMichael Gallup*Sr.Colorado StateWRWyatt DempsSr.NevadaRBRashaad PennySr.San Diego StateRBDalyn DawkinsSr.Colorado StateRBLexington ThomasJr.UNLVRBDiocemy Saint JusteSr.HawaiiTEJake RohSr.Boise StateTEDavid Wells*Sr.San Diego StateOLMason HamptonSr.Boise StateOLAlex NortonSr.Air ForceOLJake BennettSr.Colorado StateOLArchie LewisSr.Boise StateOLZack GolditchSr.Colorado StateOLAaron MitchellSr.Fresno StateOLDejon AllenSr.HawaiiOLKeith IsmaelFr.San Diego StateOLAustin CorbettSr.NevadaOLTyler RoemerFr.San Diego StatePKDominik EberleSo.Utah StatePKJimmy CamachoSr.Fresno StatePR/KRRashaad Penny**Sr.San Diego StatePR/KRAvery WilliamsFr.Boise State
(* – Two-Time First-Team Selection)(** – Three-Time First-Team Selection)
Defense:
Pos.NameYr.SchoolPos.NameYr.School First Team Second TeamDLCurtis WeaverFr.Boise StateDLJabril FrazierJr.Boise StateDLMalik ReedJr.NevadaDLDavid MoaJr.Boise StateDLYouhanna GhaifanSo.WyomingDLTobenna OkekeSr.Fresno StateDLCarl GrandersonJr.WyomingDLMike Hughes Jr.Sr.UNLVLBLeighton Vander EschJr.Boise StateLBJahlani TavaiJr.HawaiiLBJeffrey AllisonSo.Fresno StateLBRonley LakalakaJr.San Diego StateLBFrank GindaJr.San Jose StateLBLogan WilsonSo.WyomingDBTyler HortonJr.Boise StateDBKekoa NawahineSo.Boise StateDBKameron KellySr.San Diego StateDBDameon BarberJr.NevadaDBJalen DavisSr.Utah StateDBTariq ThompsonFr.San Diego StateDBAndrew Wingard*Jr.WyomingDBRico GaffordSr.WyomingPCorey BojorquezSr.New MexicoPMichael CarrizosaSr.San Jose State
(* – Two-Time Second-Team Selection)
Honorable Mentions: Air Force: Grant Ross, Sr., LB. Boise State: Ezra Cleveland, Fr., OL; Haden Hoggarth, Jr., PK; Alexander Mattison, So., RB; Tyson Maeva, So., LB; Durrant Miles, Jr., DL; John Molchon, So., OL; DeAndre Pierce, So., DB. Colorado State: Evan Colorito, Sr., LB; Dalton Fackrell, Sr., TE; Trae Moxley, Sr., OL; Ryan Stonehouse, Fr., P; Josh Watson, Jr., LB. Fresno State: Mike Bell, So., DB; Jaron Bryant, So., DB; Christian Cronk, Jr., OL; Malik Forrester, Sr., DL; George Helmuth, Jr., LB; Juju Hughes, So., DB; Marcus McMaryion, Jr., QB; Netane Muti, Fr., OL; David Patterson, Sr., OL; Micah St. Andrew, Jr., OL; Robert Stanley, Sr., DL. Hawai'i: Meffy Koloamatangi, Sr., DL; Viane Moala, So., DL. Nevada: Ty Gangi, Jr., QB; Sean Krepsz, Jr., OL; Austin Paulhus, Sr., LB; Asauni Rufus, Jr., DB. New Mexico: Blaise Fountain, Sr., OL; Garrett Hughes, Sr., DL; Aaron Jenkins, Jr., OL; Jake Rothschiller, Sr., DB. San Diego State: Parker Baldwin, Jr., DB; Mikah Holder, Sr., WR. San Jose State: Bryce Crawford, Jr., PK; Chris Gonzalez, Sr., OL. UNLV: Nathan Jacobson, Jr., OL; Kyle Saxelid, Sr., OL. Utah State: Roman Andrus, Jr., OL; Quin Ficklin, Jr., OL; Dallin Leavitt, Sr., DB; Dax Raymond, So., TE. Wyoming: Josh Allen, Sr., QB; Tyler Hall, So., RET.
Home game attendance
TeamStadiumCapacityGame 1Game 2Game 3Game 4Game 5Game 6Game 7TotalAverage% of CapacityAir ForceFalcon Stadium 46,692 37,286 27,575 26,679 41,875† 24,257 17,252 — 174,924 29,154 62.4%Boise StateAlbertsons Stadium 36,387 31,581 28,385 33,947 35,565† 30,858 33,030 — 193,366 32,228 88.6%Colorado StateColorado State Stadium 41,200 37,583† 27,038 36,765 33,074 32,166 25,743 — 192,369 32,062 77.8%Fresno StateBulldog Stadium 41,031 39,447† 27,434 28,090 27,922 29,370 31,526 — 183,789 30,632 74.7%HawaiiAloha Stadium 50,000 25,472 25,687† 25,019 23,018 21,357 24,910 — 145,463 24,244 48.5%NevadaMackay Stadium 30,000 18,617† 16,394 16,566 16,789 14,604 17,359 — 100,329 16,722 55.7%New MexicoDreamstyle Stadium 39,224 21,475 32,427† 21,864 17,358 19,293 14,744 — 127,161 21,194 54.0%San Diego StateSDCCU Stadium 54,000 46,132 43,040 35,717 49,053† 43,243 29,265 28,978 275,428 39,347 72.9%San José StateCEFCU Stadium 30,456 13,377 10,667 12,426 18,483† 17,629 12,653 — 82,235 14,206 46.6%Utah StateMaverik Stadium 25,513 19,638 24,112† 18,004 22,234 19,012 17,650 — 120,650 20,108 78.8%UNLVSam Boyd Stadium 35,500 15,667 15,009 19,770 18,157 16,278 19,811† — 104,692 17,449 49.2%WyomingWar Memorial Stadium 29,181 19,051 29,139† 17,796 21,784 18,249 22,840 15,440 144,299 20,614 70.6%
Bold – Exceed capacity †Season High
References