2016 Mountain West Conference football season

2016 Mountain West Conference football season
League	NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision
Sport	Football
Duration	August 2016–January 2017
Number of teams	12
TV partner(s)	CBS Sports Network, ABC, FOX, Fox Sports 1, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, CBS
Regular Season
Mountain Division champions	Wyoming Cowboys
Mountain Division runners-up	Boise State Broncos
West Division champions	San Diego State Aztecs
West Division runners-up	Hawaii Rainbow Warriors

2016 Mountain West football standings
	Conf							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
Mountain Division
Wyoming xy		6	–	2					8	–	5
Boise State x		6	–	2					10	–	2
New Mexico x		6	–	2					8	–	4
Air Force		5	–	3					9	–	3
Colorado State		5	–	3					7	–	5
Utah State		1	–	7					3	–	9
West Division
San Diego State xy$		6	–	2					10	–	3
Hawaii		4	–	4					6	–	7
Nevada		3	–	5					5	–	7
San Jose State		3	–	5					4	–	8
UNLV		3	–	5					4	–	8
Fresno State		0	–	8					1	–	11
Championship: San Diego State 27, Wyoming 24
$ – Conference champion x – Division champion/co-champions y – Championship game participant As of December 4, 2016; Rankings from AP Poll

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.

Pre-season

Mountain West Media

2016 Mountain West Football Media Days were held on July 26 & 27 at the The Cosmopolitan on the Las Vegas Strip.^[1]

Preseason polls

Reference:^[2]

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 parenthesis

Preseason All-Mountain West Teams

Reference:^[3]

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:[4] 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:[5] Jake Roh–Boise State Jarred Gipson–Nevada Billy Freeman–San Jose State Wyatt Houston–Utah State

Rimington Trophy:[6] 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:[7] Tyler Rausa–Boise State Brent Zuzo–Nevada

Ray Guy Award:[8] Hayden Hunt–Colorado State Alex Boy–Nevada Michael Carrizosa–San Jose State Ethan Wood–Wyoming

Bronko Nagurski Trophy:[9] Weston Steelhammer–Air Force Tanner Vallejo–Boise State Calvin Munson–San Diego State

Outland Trophy:[10] Fred Zerblis–Colorado State Austin Corbett–Nevada Nico Siragusa–San Diego State Chase Roullier–Wyoming

Jim Thorpe Award:[11] Roland Ladipo–Air Force Weston Steelhammer–Air Force Damontae Kazee–San Diego State Andrew Wingard–Wyoming

Butkus Award:[12] Tanner Vallejo–Boise State Kevin Davis–Colorado State Calvin Munson–San Diego State

Fred Biletnikoff Award:[13] Thomas Sperbeck–Boise State Hasaan Henderson–Nevada Jerico Richardson–Nevada Devonte Boyd–UNLV

Wuerffel Trophy:[14] 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:[15] Brett Rypien–Boise State

Doak Walker Award:[16] 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:[17] Brett Rypien–Boise State Donnel Pumphrey–San Diego State

Paul Hornung Award:[18] 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	MWC 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
Hawaiʻi	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	Wk 2	Wk 3	Wk 4	Wk 5	Wk 6	Wk 7	Wk 8	Wk 9	Wk 10	Wk 11	Wk 12	Wk 13	Wk 14	Wk 15	Final
Air Force	AP						RV	RV							RV
	C					RV	RV								RV
	CFP	Not released
Boise State	AP	RV	RV	RV	RV	24	19	15	14	13	24	24	22	20	RV
	C	RV	RV	RV	RV	RV	19	15	14	13	24	24	23	19	RV
	CFP	Not released									24	22	20	19
Colorado State	AP
	C
	CFP	Not released
Fresno State	AP
	C
	CFP	Not released
Hawaiʻi	AP
	C
	CFP	Not released
Nevada	AP
	C
	CFP	Not released
New Mexico	AP
	C
	CFP	Not released
San Diego State	AP	RV	RV	RV	22	19	RV	RV	RV	RV	RV	RV	24		RV
	C	RV	RV	RV	RV	24	RV	RV	RV	RV	RV	RV	25	RV	RV
	CFP	Not released
San José State	AP
	C
	CFP	Not released
UNLV	AP
	C
	CFP	Not released
Utah State	AP
	C
	CFP	Not released
Wyoming	AP										RV	RV		RV
	C									RV	RV	RV		RV	RV
	CFP	Not released

Championship game

The Championship Game will be 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.

Mountain West vs Power Conference matchups

Records against other conferences

2016 records against non-conference foes:

Regular Season Power 5 Conferences Record ACC 0–0 Big Ten 0–6 Big 12 0–1 Pac 12 3–6 SEC 0–0 Notre Dame 0–1 Power 5 Total 3–14 Other FBS Conferences Record American 1–2 C-USA 1–0 MAC 3–3 Sun Belt 4–3 Independents (Excluding Notre Dame) 3–0 Other FBS Total 12–8 FCS Opponents Record Football Championship Subdivision 11–0 Total Non-Conference Record 26–22 Awards and honors All Conference teams [19] 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. Name Yr. School Name Yr. School First Team Second Team QB Brett Rypien* SO. Boise State Josh Allen SO. Wyoming WR Thomas Sperbeck* SR. Boise State Tanner Gentry SR. Wyoming WR Michael Gallup JR. Colorado State Jalen Robinette SR. Air Force RB Donnel Pumphrey** SR. San Diego State Jeremy McNichols*** JR. Boise State RB Brian Hill JR. Wyoming Teriyon Gipson SR. New Mexico TE Jacob Hollister SR. Wyoming David Wells JR. San Diego State OL Travis Averill SR. Boise State Jake Bennett JR. Colorado State OL Mario Yakoo SR. Boise State Dejon Allen JR. Hawai'i OL Fred Zerblis SR. Colorado State Austin Corbett JR. Nevada OL Nico Siragusa* SR. San Diego State Reno Henderson SR. New Mexico OL Chase Roullier SR. Wyoming Daniel Brunskill SR. San Diego State PK John Baron II SO. San Diego State Luke Strebel SR. Air Force PR/KR Rashaad Penny* JR. San Diego State D.J. May SR. Wyoming Defense: Pos. Name Yr. School Name Yr. School First Team Second Team DL Ryan Watson SR. Air Force Malik Reed SO. Nevada DL Sam McCaskill SR. Boise State Nik D'Avanzo SR. New Mexico DL David Moa SO. Boise State Garrett Hughes JR. New Mexico DL Alex Barrett* SR. San Diego State Travis Seefeldt SR. Utah State LB Calvin Munson* SR. San Diego State Ben Weaver SR. Boise State LB Jahlani Tavai SO. Hawai'i Kevin Davis SR. Colorado State LB Tau Lotulelei SR. UNLV Jeff Camilli SR. Fresno State DB Andrew Chachere JR. San Jose State Brodie Hicks SR. Air Force DB Weston Steelhammer** SR. Air Force Chanceller James SR. Boise State DB Andrew Wingard SO. Wyoming Jonathan Moxey SR. Boise State DB Damontae Kazee* SR. San Diego State Malik Smith SR. San Diego State P Hayden Hunt SR. Colorado State Sean Wale SR. Boise State (* – Two-Time First-Team Selection) (** – Three-Time First-Team Selection) (*** – Two-Time Second-Team Selection) Home game attendance Team Stadium Capacity Game 1 Game 2 Game 3 Game 4 Game 5 Game 6 Game 7 Total Average % of Capacity Air Force Falcon Stadium 46,692 34,128 24,173 43,063 18,756 29,132 23,467 23,556 196,275 28,039 60.1% Boise State Albertsons Stadium 36,387 36,163 36,602 33,448 34,575 31,863 32,989 — 205,640 34,273 94.2% Colorado State Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium 32,500 20,673 26,718 33,500 32,387 23,187 29,133 — 165,598 27,600 84.9% Fresno State Bulldog Stadium 41,031 31,817 23,273 24,731 25,197 26,951 20,991 — 152,960 25,493 62.1% Hawaiʻi Aloha Stadium 50,000 23,900 23,503 31,287 23,964 22,731 22,739 — 148,124 24,687 49.4% Nevada Mackay Stadium 30,000 19,138 20,457 22,411 18,877 16,730 13,390 — 111,003 18,501 61.7% New Mexico University Stadium 39,224 20,221 19,852 20,090 18,099 17,290 16,698 — 112,250 18,708 47.7% San José State Spartan Stadium 30,456 13,210 16,041 16,837 15,161 15,733 15,533 — 92,515 15,419 50.6% San Diego State Qualcomm Stadium 54,000 †46,486 42,473 33,296 25,613 41,644 34,223 — 223,735 37,289 69.1% Utah State Maverik Stadium 25,513 23,008 21,091 23,104 15,067 17,332 15,212 — 114,814 19,136 75.0% UNLV Sam Boyd Stadium 35,500 18,575 17,229 17,811 18,362 14,790 23,569 — 110,336 18,389 51.8% Wyoming War Memorial Stadium 29,181 18,483 18,781 26,623 24,023 17,837 19,112 — 124,859 20,810 71.3% Bold – Exceed capacity †Season High References "2016 Mountain West Football Media Days". Mountain West Conference. Retrieved July 28, 2016. "Boise State, San Diego State, Picked to Win 2016 Mountain West Football Divisional Titles". Mountain West Conference. July 26, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016. "2016 Mountain West Football Preseason All-Conference Team". Mountain West Conference. July 26, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016. "Maxwell Football Club Announces Maxwell And Bednarik Watch Lists for 2016". July 5, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016. "2016 John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List" (PDF). July 6, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016. "Rimington Trophy Official Website:Trophy Watchlist". July 6, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016. "Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Announces 2016 Preseason Watch List". July 7, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016. "2016 Ray Guy Award Preseason Watch List Announced". July 7, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016. "College football: 2016 Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list announced". FWAA. July 8, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016. "2016 Outland Trophy Watch List Unveiled". July 8, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016. "2016 Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List". July 11, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016. "The Butkus Award 2016 Collegiate Watchlist". July 12, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016. "2016 Biletnikoff Award Watch List". July 13, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016. "College football: Wuerffel Trophy unveils record 2016 watch list". July 13, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016. "Davey O'Brien Award announces 30 players on Watch List". July 14, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016. "2016 Doak Walker Award Candidates Announced". July 14, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016. Al Carbone (July 15, 2016). "2016 Walter Camp Player of the Year Preseason Watch List". Retrieved July 28, 2016. "43 Players Named to 2016 Paul Hornung Award Watch List". July 15, 2016. Retrieved July 28, 2016. "Mountain West Announces 2016 Football All-Conference Teams and Individual Honors" (Press release). Mountain West Conference. November 29, 2016.