LAS VEGAS – Boise State was chosen to finish atop the Mountain Division, while two-time Mountain West champion Fresno State was predicted to win the West Division title, as announced today by the Mountain West at its annual Media Summit, being held at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
This marks the sixth season of divisional play for the Conference, which moved to the two, six-team divisional format in 2013 following the additions of San José State and Utah State. The Mountain Division is comprised of Air Force, Boise State, Colorado State, New Mexico, Utah State and Wyoming, while Fresno State, Hawai‘i, Nevada, San Diego State, San José State and UNLV make up the West Division. The two divisional winners will meet in the MW Championship Game on Dec. 1, 2018 at the home stadium of the divisional champion with the highest winning percentage in Conference games only.
Boise State, which has been predicted to win the Mountain Division the last five seasons, finished 2017 with a 7-1 Conference record and defeated Fresno State in the 2017 Mountain West Football Championship Game, 17-14. The Broncos were a unanimous first-place pick, garnering all 22 first-place votes and 132 total points. Fifth-year head coach Bryan Harsin returns 18 starters from 2017, including six on offense and 10 on defense.
Fresno State earned 16 first-place votes in the West Division, earning 126 total points. This is the first year the Bulldogs have been favored to win the division since 2014. Last year, Fresno State compiled a 7-1 record in MW play and became only the second team in FBS history to win double-digit games in a year after losing double-digit contests the year before. The Bulldogs, who ended the 2017 campaign with a victory over Houston in the Hawai‘i Bowl, returns 17 starters from last season.
Wyoming received 95 points for second place in the Mountain Division, with Colorado State’s 82 total points, good for third place. Utah State (78), Air Force (52) and New Mexico (23) round out the Mountain Division poll.
This is the highest Wyoming has been picked to finish since the Conference switched to the two-division format.
San Diego State picked up six first-place votes and 116 total points, good for second place in the West Division. UNLV was third with 78 points, followed by Nevada (72), Hawai‘i (45) and San José State (25).
MOUNTAIN DIVISION
Rank Team (first-place votes) Points
- 1. Boise State (22) 132
- 2. Wyoming 95
- 3. Colorado State 82
- 4. Utah State 78
- 5. Air Force 52
- 6. New Mexico 23
WEST DIVISION
Rank Team (first-place votes) Points
- 1. Fresno State (16) 126
- 2. San Diego State (6) 116
- 3. UNLV 78
- 4. Nevada 72
- 5. Hawai‘i 45
- 6. San José State 25
