Boise State, San Diego State Picked to Win 2017 Mountain West Football Divisional Titles

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LAS VEGAS — Boise State was chosen to finish atop the Mountain Division, while two-time defending Mountain West champion San Diego 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 fifth 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. 2, 2017 at the home stadium of the divisional champion with the highest College Football Playoff Committee ranking.

Boise State, which has been predicted to win the Mountain Division the last four seasons, finished 2016 with a 6-2 Conference record. The Broncos received 21 of a possible 28 first-place votes and earned a total of 161 points. Fourth-year head coach Bryan Harsin returns nine starters from 2016, including five on offense and four on defense.

San Diego State was a unanimous first-place pick in the West Division for the second consecutive year, garnering all 28 first-place votes and 168 total points. The Aztecs are the first team in MW history to be selected as a unanimous divisional champion in back-to-back seasons. SDSU posted a 6-2 league record in 2016 to capture the West Division. They defeated Wyoming in the 2016 Mountain West Football Championship Game, 27-24, before defeating Houston 34-10 in the Las Vegas Bowl. Head Coach Rocky Long returns 14 starters, including 1,000-yard rusher and one of the nation’s top returners in Rashaad Penny.

Colorado State received six first-place votes and 135 points for second place in the Mountain Division, with Wyoming’s 114 total points and one first-place vote good for third place. Air Force (82), New Mexico (68) and Utah State (28) round out the Mountain Division poll.

This is the first time since 2005 that Wyoming has earned a first-place vote in the preseason media poll.

Hawai‘i picked up 135 total points, good for second place in the West Division. UNLV was third with 105 points, followed by Nevada (79), San José State (54) and Fresno State (47).