2016 Mountain West Conference football season

August 2023 2016 Mountain West Conference football season #Mountain West Conference 1 #Mountain West Conference 2 NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision Football Mountain West Conference logo.svg 150px August 2016–January 2017 12 CBS Sports Network, ABC, ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, CBS 2017 NFL Draft 2017 NFL Draft OG Nico Siragusa, San Diego State Baltimore Ravens, 122nd overall Regular season Mountain Division Wyoming Cowboys Boise State Broncos West Division West San Diego State Aztecs Hawaii Rainbow Warriors Championship Game 2016 Mountain West Conference Football Championship Game San Diego State Wyoming Football 2015 2017 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. Preseason Mountain West Media 2016 Mountain West Football Media Days were held on July 26 and 27 at the Cosmopolitan on the Las Vegas Strip.http://www.themwc.com/page/media_days_m-footbl 2016 Mountain West Football Media Days Mountain West Conference July 28, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160727045042/http://www.themwc.com/page/media_days_m-footbl July 27, 2016 dead mdy-all Preseason polls Reference:http://www.themwc.com/news/mwfb-16-predicted-order Boise State, San Diego State, Picked to Win 2016 Mountain West Football Divisional Titles Mountain West Conference July 26, 2016 July 28, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160806160012/http://www.themwc.com/news/mwfb-16-predicted-order August 6, 2016 dead mdy-all 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 parentheses Preseason All-Mountain West Teams Reference:http://www.themwc.com/news/2016-preseason-all-mwfb 2016 Mountain West Football Preseason All-Conference Team Mountain West Conference July 26, 2016 July 28, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160806165728/http://www.themwc.com/news/2016-preseason-all-mwfb August 6, 2016 dead mdy-all + 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:https://www.maxwellfootballclub.org/news/maxwell-football-club-announces-maxwell-and-bednarik-watch-lists-2016 Maxwell Football Club Announces Maxwell And Bednarik Watch Lists for 2016 July 5, 2016 July 28, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160818023556/https://maxwellfootballclub.org/news/maxwell-football-club-announces-maxwell-and-bednarik-watch-lists-2016 August 18, 2016 dead mdy-all 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:http://www.johnmackeyaward.com/uploads/3/4/7/9/34791900/2016_john_mackey_award_preseason_watch_list_-_final.pdf 2016 John Mackey Award Preseason Watch List July 6, 2016 July 28, 2016 Jake Roh–Boise State Jarred Gipson–Nevada Billy Freeman–San Jose State Wyatt Houston–Utah State Rimington Trophy:http://www.rimingtontrophy.com/watchlist/ Rimington Trophy Official Website:Trophy Watchlist July 6, 2016 July 28, 2016 May 22, 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20090522130030/http://rimingtontrophy.com/watchlist/ dead 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:http://www.lougrozaaward.com/watchlist.html Lou Groza Collegiate Place-Kicker Award Announces 2016 Preseason Watch List July 7, 2016 July 28, 2016 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20160718003948/http://www.lougrozaaward.com/watchlist.html July 18, 2016 Tyler Rausa–Boise State Brent Zuzo–Nevada Ray Guy Award:http://rayguyaward.com/2016-ray-guy-award-preseason-watch-list-announced/ 2016 Ray Guy Award Preseason Watch List Announced July 7, 2016 July 28, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160718151828/http://rayguyaward.com/2016-ray-guy-award-preseason-watch-list-announced/ July 18, 2016 dead mdy-all Hayden Hunt–Colorado State Alex Boy–Nevada Michael Carrizosa–San Jose State Ethan Wood–Wyoming Bronko Nagurski Trophy:https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2016-07-08/college-football-2016-bronko-nagurski-trophy-watch-list-announced College football: 2016 Bronko Nagurski Trophy watch list announced FWAA July 8, 2016 July 28, 2016 Weston Steelhammer–Air Force Tanner Vallejo–Boise State Calvin Munson–San Diego State Outland Trophy:http://www.sportswriters.net/fwaa/news/2016/outland160708.html 2016 Outland Trophy Watch List Unveiled July 8, 2016 July 28, 2016 Fred Zerblis–Colorado State Austin Corbett–Nevada Nico Siragusa–San Diego State Chase Roullier–Wyoming Jim Thorpe Award:https://www.oklahomasportshalloffame.org/2016-jim-thorpe-award-preseason-watch-list.html 2016 Jim Thorpe Award Preseason Watch List July 11, 2016 July 28, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160807000742/https://www.oklahomasportshalloffame.org/2016-jim-thorpe-award-preseason-watch-list.html August 7, 2016 dead mdy-all Roland Ladipo–Air Force Weston Steelhammer–Air Force Damontae Kazee–San Diego State Andrew Wingard–Wyoming Butkus Award:http://www.thebutkusaward.com/watchlist/view.aspx?t=c The Butkus Award 2016 Collegiate Watchlist July 12, 2016 July 28, 2016 August 20, 2010 https://web.archive.org/web/20100820080704/http://www.thebutkusaward.com/watchlist/view.aspx?t=c dead Tanner Vallejo–Boise State Kevin Davis–Colorado State Calvin Munson–San Diego State Fred Biletnikoff Award:http://biletnikoffaward.com/2016-biletnikoff-award-watch-list 2016 Biletnikoff Award Watch List July 13, 2016 July 28, 2016 Thomas Sperbeck–Boise State Hasaan Henderson–Nevada Jerico Richardson–Nevada Devonte Boyd–UNLV Wuerffel Trophy:https://www.ncaa.com/news/football/article/2016-07-13/college-football-wuerffel-trophy-unveils-record-2016-watch-list College football: Wuerffel Trophy unveils record 2016 watch list July 13, 2016 July 28, 2016 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:http://daveyobrienaward.org/2016/07/davey-obrien-award-announces-30-players-on-watch-list/ Davey O'Brien Award announces 30 players on Watch List July 14, 2016 July 28, 2016 Brett Rypien–Boise State Doak Walker Award:http://www.smu.edu/-/media/Site/DoakWalker/2016/News/2016-Doak-Walker-candidates-release.ashx 2016 Doak Walker Award Candidates Announced July 14, 2016 July 28, 2016 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:Al Carbone http://waltercamp.org/2016-walter-camp-player-of-the-year-preseason-watch-list/ 2016 Walter Camp Player of the Year Preseason Watch List July 15, 2016 July 28, 2016 Brett Rypien–Boise State Donnel Pumphrey–San Diego State Paul Hornung Award:http://louisvillesports.org/ph-article/43-players-named-to-2016-paul-hornung-award-watch-list/ 43 Players Named to 2016 Paul Hornung Award Watch List July 15, 2016 July 28, 2016 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 MW 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 Hawaii 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 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football 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 Wk2 Wk3 Wk4 Wk5 Wk6 Wk7 Wk8 Wk9 Wk10 Wk11 Wk12 Wk13 Wk14 Wk15 FinalAir Force AP RV RV RV RV RVC RV RV RV RVCFP Not released Boise State AP RV RV RV RV 24 19 15 14 13 24 24 22 20 RV RV RVC RV RV RV RV RV 19 15 14 13 24 24 23 19 RV RV RVCFP Not released 24 22 20 19 Colorado State AP C CFP Not released Fresno State APCCFP Not released Hawaii APCCFP Not released Nevada AP CCFP Not released New Mexico APCCFP Not releasedSan Diego State AP RV RV RV 22 19 RV RV RV RV RV RV 24 RV RV 25C RV RV RV RV 24 RV RV RV RV RV RV 25 RV RV RV 25CFP Not released San José State APCCFP Not released UNLV APCCFP Not released Utah State AP CCFP Not released Wyoming AP RV RV RVC RV RV RV RV RVCFP Not released Championship game Mountain West Conference Football Championship Game The Championship Game was 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. The Aztecs won 27–24, repeating as champions. Running back Rashaad Penny of San Diego State was the offensive MVP, and defensive back Damontae Kazee of San Diego State was the defensive MVP. Bowl games Bowl GameDateStadiumCityTelevisionTeam MatchupsWinning teamScoreLosing teamScore New Mexico Bowl December 17 University Stadium Albuquerque, NM ESPN New Mexico vs. UTSANew Mexico23UTSA20 Las Vegas Bowl December 17 Sam Boyd Stadium Whitney, NV ABC Houston vs. San Diego StateSan Diego State34Houston10 Poinsettia Bowl December 21 Qualcomm Stadium San Diego, CA ESPN BYU vs. WyomingBYU24Wyoming21 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl December 22 Albertsons Stadium Boise, ID ESPN Idaho vs. Colorado State Idaho 61 Colorado State 50 Hawai'i Bowl December 24 Aloha Stadium Honolulu, HI ESPN Hawai'i vs. Middle Tennessee Hawai'i 52 Middle Tennessee 35 Cactus Bowl December 27 Chase Field Phoenix, AZ ESPN Boise State vs. Baylor Baylor 31 Boise State 12 Arizona Bowl December 30 Arizona Stadium Tucson, AZ ASN South Alabama vs. Air Force Air Force 45 South Alabama 21 Mountain West vs Power Conference matchups Records against other conferences 2016 records against non-conference foes: Regular season Power 5 ConferencesRecordACC0–0Big Ten0–6Big 120–1Pac-123–6SEC0–0Notre Dame0–1Power 5 Total3–14Other FBS ConferencesRecordAmerican1–2C-USA1–0MAC3–3Sun Belt4–3Independents (Excluding Notre Dame)3–0Other FBS Total12–8FCS OpponentsRecordFootball Championship Subdivision11–0Total Non-Conference Record26–22 Post Season Power ConferencesRecordBig 120–1Power 5 Total0–1Other FBS ConferencesRecordAmerican1–0C–USA2–0Sun Belt1–1Independents (Excluding Notre Dame)0–1Total Bowl Record4–3 Awards and honors All Conference teams http://www.themwc.com/news/mountain-west-announces-2016-football-all-conference-teams-and-individual-honors-11-28-2016 Mountain West Announces 2016 Football All-Conference Teams and Individual Honors https://web.archive.org/web/20161130190432/http://www.themwc.com/news/mountain%2Dwest%2Dannounces%2D2016%2Dfootball%2Dall%2Dconference%2Dteams%2Dand%2Dindividual%2Dhonors%2D11%2D28%2D2016 2016-11-30 dead Mountain West Conference November 29, 2016 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.NameYr.SchoolNameYr.School First Team Second TeamQBBrett Rypien*SO.Boise StateJosh AllenSO.WyomingWRThomas Sperbeck*SR.Boise StateTanner GentrySR.WyomingWRMichael GallupJR.Colorado StateJalen RobinetteSR.Air ForceRBDonnel Pumphrey**SR.San Diego StateJeremy McNichols***JR.Boise StateRBBrian HillJR.WyomingTeriyon GipsonSR.New MexicoTEJacob HollisterSR.WyomingDavid WellsJR.San Diego StateOLTravis AverillSR.Boise StateJake BennettJR.Colorado StateOLMario YakooSR.Boise StateDejon AllenJR.Hawai'iOLFred ZerblisSR.Colorado StateAustin CorbettJR.NevadaOLNico Siragusa*SR.San Diego StateReno HendersonSR.New MexicoOLChase RoullierSR.WyomingDaniel BrunskillSR.San Diego StatePKJohn Baron IISO.San Diego StateLuke StrebelSR.Air ForcePR/KRRashaad Penny*JR.San Diego StateD.J. MaySR.Wyoming Defense: Pos.NameYr.SchoolNameYr.School First Team Second TeamDLRyan WatsonSR.Air ForceMalik ReedSO.NevadaDLSam McCaskillSR.Boise StateNik D'AvanzoSR.New MexicoDLDavid MoaSO.Boise StateGarrett HughesJR.New MexicoDLAlex Barrett*SR.San Diego StateTravis SeefeldtSR.Utah StateLBCalvin Munson*SR.San Diego StateBen WeaverSR.Boise StateLBJahlani TavaiSO.Hawai'iKevin DavisSR.Colorado StateLBTau LotuleleiSR.UNLVJeff CamilliSR.Fresno StateDBAndre ChachereJR.San Jose StateBrodie HicksSR.Air ForceDBWeston Steelhammer**SR.Air ForceChanceller JamesSR.Boise StateDBAndrew WingardSO.WyomingJonathan MoxeySR.Boise StateDBDamontae Kazee*SR.San Diego StateMalik SmithSR.San Diego StatePHayden HuntSR.Colorado StateSean WaleSR.Boise State (* – Two-Time First-Team Selection)(** – Three-Time First-Team Selection)(*** – Two-Time Second-Team Selection) Honorable Mentions: Air Force: Haji Dunn, Sr., LB; Tim McVey, Jr., KR; Colin Sandor, Sr., OL; Dylan Vail, Sr., OL. Boise State: Steven Baggett, Sr., OL; Mason Hampton, Jr., OL; Tanner Vallejo, Sr., LB; Cedrick Wilson, Jr., WR. Colorado State: Nick Callender, Sr., OL; Nick Stevens, Jr., QB; Paul Thurston, Sr., OL. Fresno State: Stratton Brown, Sr., DB; KeeSean Johnson, So., WR; Kody Kroening, Jr., P. Hawai'i: Trayvon Henderson, Jr., DB; Marcus Kemp, Sr., WR; Leo Koloamatangi, Sr., OL; Meffy Koloamatangi, Jr., DL; Jalen Rogers, Sr., DB; Rigoberto Sanchez, Sr., PK/P. Nevada: James Butler, Jr., RB; Wyatt Demps, Jr., WR; Asauni Rufus, So., DB. New Mexico: Dakota Cox, Sr., LB; Daniel Henry, Sr., DB; Aaron Jenkins, So., OL; Jason Sanders, Jr., PK. San Diego State: Kyle Kelley, Sr., DL; Quest Truxton, Jr., PR. San Jose State: Michael Carrizosa, Jr., P; Isaiah Irving, Sr., DL; Jeremiah Kolone, Jr., OL; Maurice McKnight, Jr., DB; Christian Tago, Sr., LB. UNLV: Troy Hawthorne, Sr., DB; Mike Hughes, Jr., DL; Nathan Jacobson, So., OL; Will Kreitler, Sr., OL; Torry McTyer, Sr., DB. Utah State: Austin Albrecht, Sr., OL; Ricky Ali'ifua, Sr., DL; Wyatt Houston, Sr., TE; Jake Simonich, Sr., OL; Austin Stephens, Sr., OL. Wyoming: Lucas Wacha, Sr., LB Home game attendance TeamStadiumCapacityGame 1Game 2Game 3Game 4Game 5Game 6Game 7TotalAverage% of CapacityAir ForceFalcon Stadium 46,692 34,128 24,173 43,063 18,756 29,132 23,467 23,556 196,275 28,039 60.1%Boise StateAlbertsons Stadium 36,387 36,163 36,602 33,448 34,575 31,863 32,989 — 205,640 34,273 94.2%Colorado StateSonny 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 StateBulldog Stadium 41,031 31,817 23,273 24,731 25,197 26,951 20,991 — 152,960 25,493 62.1%HawaiiAloha Stadium 50,000 23,900 23,503 31,287 23,964 22,731 22,739 — 148,124 24,687 49.4%NevadaMackay Stadium 30,000 19,138 20,457 22,411 18,877 16,730 13,390 — 111,003 18,501 61.7%New MexicoUniversity Stadium 39,224 20,221 19,852 20,090 18,099 17,290 16,698 — 112,250 18,708 47.7%San José StateSpartan Stadium 30,456 13,210 16,041 16,837 15,161 15,733 15,533 — 92,515 15,419 50.6%San Diego StateQualcomm Stadium 54,000 †46,486 42,473 33,296 25,613 41,644 34,223 — 223,735 37,289 69.1%Utah StateMaverik Stadium 25,513 23,008 21,091 23,104 15,067 17,332 15,212 — 114,814 19,136 75.0%UNLVSam Boyd Stadium 35,500 18,575 17,229 17,811 18,362 14,790 23,569 — 110,336 18,389 51.8%WyomingWar Memorial Stadium 29,181 18,483 18,781 26,623 24,023 17,837 19,112 24,001 148,860 21,265 72.9% Bold – Exceed capacity †Season High References 30em expanded