2024 MW Football Weekly Release - Week 3

Notes

• Eleven Mountain West programs are in action in Week 3, with Utah State hosting No. 10/12 Utah and UNLV, San Diego State and Wyoming facing opponents receiving votes in the national polls. All told, MW squads will face eight opponents from Autonomous 4 conferences in Week 3, while the other three Conference teams will take on Conference USA opponents.
• The Mountain West has the strongest nonconference schedule in the FBS. MW teams have 35 nonconference games scheduled this season against Autonomous 4 opponents, the most of any FBS league (counting Notre Dame, Oregon State and Washington State as A4 teams), with the next-closest totaling 27. The MW has four (4) games against the ACC, eight (8) against the Big 12, six (6) against the Big Ten and two (2) against the SEC in addition to 15 contests against Oregon State and Washington State, most of which are part of a scheduling agreement that will see all 12 MW schools face either the Beavers or Cougars. Fifteen of the MW’s games against Autonomous 4 opponents this season will be played at home.
• It’s a new era for the College Football Playoff in 2024, as the five highest-ranked FBS conference champions and the next seven highest-ranked at-large teams will earn spots in the 12-team postseason playoff. With unprecedented access to the CFP, the Mountain West will be well-positioned to earn a shot at competing for a national title.
• Two Mountain West programs are receiving votes in both the AFCA Coaches Poll and the Associated Press Top 25. Boise State is the second team outside of the AP poll with 77 total points, while UNLV picked up seven. In the AFCA poll, Boise State collected 20 points, with UNLV right behind with 19.
• Mountain West squads have a total of 12 nonconference games this season against teams that have been ranked or are currently ranked or receiving votes in the AFCA and/or AP top-25 polls, including four at home. MW teams took on three ranked teams in Week 1 and two in Week 2, while Utah State hosts No. 10/12 Utah in Week 3. Also in Week 3, UNLV takes on Kansas, Wyoming hosts BYU and San Diego State visits California, with all three opponents receiving votes in the latest polls. Additionally, Colorado State hosts Colorado and New Mexico visits Auburn, with both of these opponents having received votes through Week 2.

• Since 2018, the MW has the best winning percentage over Autonomous 5 teams (27.78) among its peer conferences. MW teams have collected 30 wins over such teams in that span, also the most among its peer conferences.
• Three Mountain West teams will host Big 12 teams on Saturday, with Colorado State vs. Colorado, Wyoming vs. BYU and Utah State vs. Utah. Prior to this weekend, the MW had never had a single weekend with three schools hosting Big 12 opponents.
• A week after its defense shone in a 27-7 win at Houston, UNLV put on an offensive clinic in its 72-14 win over Utah Tech in Week 2. The Rebels, who put up a program-record 695 yards of total offense, saw Greg Burrell rush for 101 yards and a touchdown to earn MW Freshman of the Week honors and pace six UNLV players with a rushing TD. Starter Matthew Sluka, the first of three Rebel quarterbacks to see action on the day, completed eight passes for 161 yards and three TDs, all of which went to Ricky White III. White finished with 111 receiving yards and a blocked punt on special teams and did not play in the second half.
• UNLV will take on Kansas on a neutral field at Children’s Mercy Park in Kansas City, Kansas, in Week 3 for its second of four contests against Autonomous 4 opponents this season. The Rebels and Jayhawks, who squared off in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl last season, are both receiving votes in the AFCA and Associated Press polls this week.
• San José State opened MW play with a 17-7 win at Air Force in Week 2. Spartan junior linebacker Jordan Pollard had a career-high 17 tackles in the contest, including nine solo stops and a tackle for loss, en route to MW Defensive Player of the Week honors. On the offensive side of the ball, quarterback Emmett Brown was 17-for-32 for 262 yards and two touchdowns. Receivers Nick Nash and Jackson Canaan had a TD catch apiece and went for 90 and 88 yards, respectively. SJSU hosts FBS newcomer Kennesaw State in Week 3 as it looks for its first 3-0 start since opening the 2020 season 7-0.
• Ken Niumatalolo is the first San José State coach to win each of his first two games as head coach of the school since Lynn Stiles in 1976.
• Colorado State picked up its first win of the season with a 38-17 win over Northern Colorado in Week 2. Wide receiver Tory Horton had three catches for 65 yards and got the Rams on the board with a 78-yard punt return for a touchdown just 1:42 into the game. The punt return TD was the third of his career, moving him into a tie for fourth in MW history. Quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi was 18-for-27 for 202 yards and two touchdowns (one passing, one rushing) and running back Keegan Holles had 89 yards and a touchdown on just 10 carries. Redshirt freshman defensive lineman Kenyon Agurs had 2.5 tackles for loss among his five tackles. The Rams host Colorado in Week 3, seeking revenge for a double-overtime loss to the Buffs last season.
• Horton is one of two FBS players this century with at least 25 receiving touchdowns, three punt return touchdowns & a passing touchdown in his college career. The other was current Packers wide receiver Jayden Reed for Western Michigan and Michigan State.
• Fresno State earned its first win of the season with its 46-30 win over Sacramento State in Week 2. Bulldog quarterback Mikey Keene was 24-for-35 for 358 yards and two touchdowns, with senior Mac Delena on the receiving end of seven of those passes for a career-high 235 yards and a score. Running back Malik Sherrod ran for 54 yards and a pair of TDs and Jalen Moss returned a punt 85 yards for a score to earn MW Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
• Utah State will face its second straight ranked foe when it hosts No. 10/12 Utah in Week 3. The Aggies dropped a 48-0 decision at No. 14/13 USC in Week 2 despite 11 tackles each from Ike Larsen and Jordan Vincent, both of whom had seven solo stops. Utah State will be facing the Utes for the 113th time but the first since 2015. The Aggies will be facing consecutive AP-ranked opponents for the first time since 2013.
• Wyoming hosts BYU in Week 3, with the programs meeting for the 79th time and the Cowboys leading the series in Laramie, 17-16-3. The Cougars enter the game receiving votes in both national polls. In Week 2’s 17-13 loss to Idaho, Wyoming senior kicker John Hoyland booted a pair of field goals, connecting from 48 and 22 yards to move past Cooper Rothe for the Cowboys’ career record. With 60 in his career, Hoyland is now fourth in MW history. Linebacker Shae Suiaunoa had 10 tackles against Idaho, including 1.5 tackles for loss.
• Idle last week, New Mexico visits Auburn for its second straight game against an A4 opponent. The Lobos dropped a 61-39 contest at No. 21/21 Arizona in Week 1 in a contest that was closer than the final score indicated. Tied at 14 after the first quarter and down just three at the half, New Mexico posted 471 yards of total offense, led by quarterback Devon Dampier and wide receiver Luke Wysong. Dampier threw for a career-best 260 yards and three TDs and ran for 130 yards and two scores. Wysong finished with a career-high 129 yards and a TD on eight catches.
• San Diego State will also take on its second straight A4 opponent in Week 3 when it visits a California team that is receiving votes in both national polls. The Aztecs dropped a 21-0 decision to Oregon State in Week 2, with the Beavers scoring a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to put away what was a tight defensive affair. Junior cornerback Chris Johnson paced SDSU’s defensive effort with a career-high nine tackles, a forced fumble and a pass breakup.
• Nevada fell 20-17 to Georgia Southern in Week 2 despite outgaining the Eagles 498-285 and winning the time-of-possession battle by nearly 15 minutes. Quarterback Brendon Lewis had a productive day with 23 completions for 271 yards and a touchdown and 18 carries for 98 yards and a score with both yardage totals good for game highs. He had a pair of 100-yard receivers on the day in Cortez Braham Jr. (110 yards and a TD) and Jaden Smith (103 yards). The Wolf Pack looks to even its record in Week 3 when it visits Minnesota, its second A4 opponent of the young season.
• Air Force will look to gets offense back on track when it visits Baylor in Week 3. The Falcons opened MW play with a 17-7 setback to San José State in Week 2, accumulating just 197 yards of total offense. The Falcons’ Cade Harris had a game-high 50 yards rushing, including a 6-yard scoring run in the first quarter. Week 3 sees Air Force visit Baylor, who the Eagles beat in the 2022 Armed Forces Bowl in the squads’ last meeting. Air Force has won five straight games against teams from autonomy conferences.
• Idle in Week 2, Hawai‘i returns to action at Sam Houston. The Rainbow Warriors dropped a close contest at home to UCLA in Week 1, falling 16-13 when the Bruins kicked the go-ahead field goal with just 56 seconds left. Logan Taylor and Jalen Smith led the defensive effort with a first-half interception each, while Peter Manuma had a game-high eight tackles. Brayden Schager completed 25 passes for 227 yards and a touchdown to Pofele Ashlock, who had a game-high 112 receiving yards.
• Boise State fell at No. 6/7 Oregon in Week 2, 37-34, as the Ducks kicked the winning field goal on the final play of the game. Junior running back Ashton Jeanty had another monster day, carrying 25 times for 192 yards and three touchdowns, earning MW Offensive Player of the Week honors for the second week in a row. The Broncos are idle in Week 3 before opening a three-game homestand on Sept. 21.
• Jeanty leads the FBS in scrimmage yard (471), rushing yards (459), rushing yards per game (229.5), rushing touchdowns and total touchdowns (nine), points responsible for and total points scored (54) and scoring (27.0 points per game). He is second in the FBS in all-purpose yards per game (235.5) and points responsible for per game (27.0). His nine rushing TDs through two games are the most in MW history and the most in the FBS since Ricky Williams had nine in Texas’s first two games in 1998. Jeanty has three TD runs of at least 70 yards this year, which tie for the most in a season in MW history.