2019 Mountain West Conference football season


The 2019 Mountain West Conference football season, part of that year's NCAA Division I FBS football season, is the 21st season of College Football for the Mountain West Conference since 2012. 12 teams have competed in the MW-football conference. The season began on August 24, 2019 and will end on November 30. The entire schedule was released on February 4, 2019.

Previous season

In 2018 Boise State won the Mountain Division with a 7–1 Conference record, while Fresno State won the West Division with a 7–1 Conference Record. Fresno State beat Boise State 19–16 in Overtime in the 2018 Mountain West Conference Championship football game, held at Albertsons Stadium in Boise.

Preseason

Mountain West Media

The Mountain West Media Days took place on July 23 and 24 at the Cosmopolitan.

Preseason Polls

PlaceMountain DivisionWest Division
1Boise State 120Fresno State 122
2Utah State 108San Diego State 106
3Air Force 73Nevada 74
4Wyoming 66Hawai'i 67
5Colorado State 52UNLV 51
6New Mexico 22San Jose State 22

PositionPlayerClassTeam
QBJordan Love**Jr.Utah State
WRJohn HightowerSr.Boise State
WRCedric Byrd IISr.Hawai'i
RBJuwan WashingtonSr.San Diego State
RBToa TauaSo.Nevada
OLEzra Cleveland*Jr.Boise State
OLJohn Molchon*Sr.Boise State
OLJake NelsonSr.Nevada
OLKeith IsmaelJr.San Diego State
OLJustin PoluSr.UNLV
TEJared Rice**Sr.Fresno State

PositionPlayerClassTeam
DLJordan Jackson**Jr.Air Force
DLDavid Moa*Sr.Boise State
DLCurtis WeaverJr.Boise State
DLTipa GaleaiSr.Utah State
LBMykal WalkerSr.Fresno State
LBKyahva Tezino*Sr.San Diego State
LBDavid Woodward**Jr.Utah State
DBJeremy FejedelemSr.Air Force
DBJuju Hughes**Sr.Fresno State
DBTariq Thompson**Jr.San Diego State
DBDJ WilliamsSo.Utah State

;Jordan Love, Jr., QB, Utah State
;Curtis Weaver, Jr., DL, Boise State
;Cooper Rothe, Sr., PK, Wyoming

Rankings

Listed are the Mountain West teams who were ranked or received votes at some point during the season. Colorado State, Nevada, New Mexico, San Jose State, and UNLV were never ranked nor received any votes.

Coaches

Coaching changes

There was only one coaching change in the Mountain West Conference for the 2019 season.
Gary Andersen, who previously coached at Utah State, returned to Logan to replace Matt Wells, who left to coach at Texas Tech.
TeamHead CoachYears at SchoolOverall RecordRecord at SchoolMW Record
Air ForceTroy Calhoun1387–6787–6752–44
Boise StateBryan Harsin657–2049–1332–8
Colorado StateMike Bobo524–2724–2717–15
Fresno StateJeff Tedford3104–6317–514–2
HawaiiNick Rolovich418–2218–2210–15
NevadaJay Norvell38–148–148–8
New MexicoBob Davie868–7933–5417–39
San Diego StateRocky Long9136–10571–3746–17
San Jose StateBrent Brennan33–223–222–15
UNLVTony Sanchez516–3216–3211–21
Utah StateGary Andersen557–6131–2535–23
WyomingCraig Bohl6132–6728–3419–21

Schedule

The Regular season will begin on August 24 and will end on November 30.

Regular season

Week One

Week Two

Week Three

Week Four

Week Five

Week Six

Week Seven

Week Eight

Week Nine

Week Ten

Week Eleven

Week Twelve

Week Thirteen

Week Fourteen

Championship Game

Week Fifteen (Mountain West Championship game)

The 2019 Mountain West Conference Championship Game was held on December 7 between the champions of the Mountain Division and the West Division.

Postseason

Bowl games

Bowl gameDateSiteTelevisionTime Mountain West teamOpponentScoreAttendance
Frisco BowlDecember 20Toyota Stadium • Frisco, TXESPN25:30 p.m.Utah StateKent State41–5112,120
New Mexico BowlDecember 21Dreamstyle Stadium • Albuquerque, NMESPN11:00 a.m.San Diego StateCentral Michigan48–1118,823
Las Vegas BowlDecember 21Sam Boyd Stadium • Whitney, NVABC5:30 p.m.No. 19 Boise StateWashington7–3834,197
Hawaii BowlDecember 24Aloha Stadium • Honolulu, HIESPN6:00 p.m.HawaiiBYU38–3421,582
Cheez-It BowlDecember 27Chase Field • Phoenix, AZESPN8:15 p.m.Air ForceWashington State31–2134,105
Arizona BowlDecember 31Arizona Stadium • Tucson, AZCBSSN2:30 p.m.WyomingGeorgia State38–1736,892
Famous Idaho Potato BowlJanuary 3, 2020Albertsons Stadium • Boise, IDESPN1:30 p.m.NevadaOhio30-2113,611

Rankings are from CFP rankings. All times Mountain Time Zone. Mountain West teams shown in bold.

Selection of teams

2019–2020 records against non-conference foes:
Regular Season
Post Season

Mountain West vs Power Five matchups

This is a list of games the Mountain West has scheduled versus power conference teams. All rankings are from the current AP Poll at the time of the game.
DateConferenceVisitorHomeSiteScore
August 24Pac-12ArizonaHawaiiAloha Stadium • Honolulu, HIW 45–38
August 30ACCUtah StateWake ForestBB&T Field • Winston-Salem, NCL 35–38
August 30Big TenPurdueNevadaMackay Stadium • Reno, NVW 34–31
August 30Pac-12Colorado StateColoradoSports Authority Field • Denver, COL 31–52
August 31ACCBoise StateFlorida StateDoak Campbell Stadium • Tallahassee, FLW 36–31
August 31SECMissouriWyomingWar Memorial Stadium • Laramie, WYW 37–31
August 31Pac-12Fresno StateUSCLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, CAL 23–31
September 7Pac-12Oregon StateHawaiiAloha Stadium • Honolulu, HIW 31–28
September 7Pac-12San Diego StateUCLARose Bowl • Pasadena, CAW 23–14
September 7Pac-12NevadaOregonAutzen Stadium • Eugene, ORL 6–77
September 7Big TenMinnesotaFresno StateBulldog Stadium • Fresno, CAL 35–38
September 14Pac-12Air ForceColoradoFolsom Field • Boulder, COW 30–23
September 14IndependentNew MexicoNotre DameNotre Dame Stadium • Notre Dame, INL 14–66
September 14Big TenUNLVNorthwesternRyan Field • Evanston, ILL 14–30
September 14SECColorado StateArkansasDonald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium • Fayetteville, ARL 34–55
September 14Pac-12HawaiiWashingtonHusky Stadium • Seattle, WAL 20–52
September 21SECSan Jose StateArkansasDonald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium • Fayetteville, ARW 31–24
October 5SECUtah StateNo. 5 LSUTiger Stadium • Baton Rouge, LAL 6–42
October 12SECUNLVVanderbiltVanderbilt Stadium • Nashville, TNW 34–10
October 19IndependentBoise StateBYULaVell Edwards Stadium • Provo, UTL 25–28
November 2IndependentBYUUtah StateRomney Stadium • Logan, UTL 14–42
November 30IndependentBYUSan Diego StateSDCCU Stadium • San Diego, CAW 13–3

Mountain West vs Group of Five matchups

The following games include Mountain West teams competing against teams from the American, C-USA, MAC or Sun Belt.
DateConferenceVisitorHomeSiteScore
September 6C–USAMarshallBoise StateAlbertsons Stadium • Boise, IDW 14–7
September 7Sun BeltWyomingTexas StateBobcat Stadium • San Marcos, TXW 23–14
September 7AmericanTulsaSan Jose StateCEFCU Stadium • San Jose, CAL 16–34
September 7Sun BeltArkansas StateUNLVSam Boyd Stadium • Whitney, NVL 17–43
September 21MACToledoColorado StateCanvas Stadium • Fort Collins, COL 35–41
September 21AmericanWyomingTulsaSkelly Field at H. A. Chapman Stadium • Tulsa, OKL 21–24
September 21C–USANevadaUTEPSun Bowl • El Paso, TXW 37–21
October 5AmericanAir ForceNavyNavy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium • Annapolis, MDL 25–34

Mountain West vs FBS independents matchups

The following games include Mountain West teams competing against FBS Independents, which includes Army, Liberty, New Mexico State, or UMass.
DateConferenceVisitorHomeSiteScore
September 14IndependentsSan Diego StateNew Mexico StateAggie Memorial Stadium • Las Cruces, NMW 31–10
September 21IndependentsNew Mexico StateNew MexicoDreamstyle Stadium • Albuquerque, NMW 55–52
September 28IndependentsNew MexicoLibertyWilliams Stadium • Lynchburg, VAL 10–17
September 28IndependentsFresno StateNew Mexico StateAggie Memorial Stadium • Las Cruces, NMW 30–17
October 26IndependentsSan Jose StateArmyMichie Stadium • West Point, NYW 34–29
November 2IndependentsArmyAir ForceFalcon Stadium • Colorado Springs, COW 17–13
November 30IndependentsArmyHawaiiAloha Stadium • Honolulu, HIW 52-31

Mountain West vs FCS matchups

DateVisitorHomeSiteScore
August 29Northern ColoradoSan Jose StateCEFCU Stadium • San Jose, CAW 35–18
August 31ColgateAir ForceFalcon Stadium • Colorado Springs, COW 48–7
August 31Sam Houston StateNew MexicoDreamstyle Stadium • Albuquerque, NMW 39–31
August 31Weber StateSan Diego StateSDCCU Stadium • San Diego, CAW 6–0
August 31Southern UtahUNLVSam Boyd Stadium • Whitney, NVW 56–23
September 7Western IllinoisColorado StateCanvas Stadium • Fort Collins, COW 38–13
September 7Stony BrookUtah StateMaverik Stadium • Logan, UTW 62-7
September 14IdahoWyomingWar Memorial Stadium • Laramie, WYW 21–16
September 14Weber StateNevadaMackay Stadium • Reno, NVW 19–13
September 14Portland StateBoise StateAlbertsons Stadium • Boise, IDW 45–10
September 21Sacramento StateFresno StateBulldog Stadium • Fresno, CAW 34–20
September 21Central ArkansasHawaiiAloha Stadium • Honolulu, HIW 35–16

Awards and honors

Player of the week honors

Mountain West Individual Awards

The following individuals received postseason honors as voted by the Mountain West Conference football coaches at the end of the season
AwardPlayerSchool
Offensive Player of the YearJosh Love, Sr., QBSan José State
Defensive Player of the YearCurtis Weaver, Jr., DEBoise State
Special Teams Player of the YearAvery Williams, Jr., Ret.Boise State
Freshman of the YearGeorge Holani, RBBoise State
Coach of the YearNick RolovichHawaii

All-conference teams

All Conference Honorable Mentions

The 2019 College Football All-America Teams are composed of the following College Football All-American first teams chosen by the following selector organizations: Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Foundation, The Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, USA Today ESPN, CBS Sports, FOX Sports College Football News, Bleacher Report, Scout.com, Phil Steele, SB Nation, Athlon Sports, Pro Football Focus and Yahoo! Sports.
Currently, the NCAA compiles consensus all-America teams in the sports of Division I-FBS football and Division I men's basketball using a point system computed from All-America teams named by coaches associations or media sources. The system consists of three points for a first-team honor, two points for second-team honor, and one point for third-team honor. Honorable mention and fourth team or lower recognitions are not accorded any points. Football consensus teams are compiled by position and the player accumulating the most points at each position is named first team consensus all-American. Currently, the NCAA recognizes All-Americans selected by the AP, AFCA, FWAA, TSN, and the WCFF to determine Consensus and Unanimous All-Americans. Any player named to the First Team by all five of the NCAA-recognized selectors is deemed a Unanimous All-American.
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National award winners

2019 College Football Award Winners

Home game attendance

TeamStadiumCapacityGame 1Game 2Game 3Game 4Game 5Game 6Game 7Game 8TotalAverage% of Capacity
Air ForceFalcon Stadium46,69233,10124,78622,54419,24841,401†21,425——162,50527,08458.0%
Boise StateAlbertsons Stadium36,38731,95131,06836,49836,902†33,01831,49223,561—224,49032,07088.1%
Colorado StateCanvas Stadium41,20024,45324,46429,767†24,10324,91412,324——140,02523,33756.6%
Fresno StateBulldog Stadium41,03134,790†31,03426,25632,89032,03732,303——189,31031,55176.9%
HawaiiAloha Stadium50,00022,39626,807†23,46523,75722,05819,85824,91126,256189,50823,68847.8%
NevadaMackay Stadium30,00020,144†14,17415,13715,31115,63116,683——97,08016,18053.9%
New MexicoDreamstyle Stadium39,22413,74927,269†15,39312,61713,84411,611——94,48315,74740.1%
San Diego StateSDCCU Stadium54,00040,222†27,36728,75827,97326,87628,180——179,37629,89655.4%
San Jose StateCEFCU Stadium30,45613,48012,47116,11918,28519,134†12,835——92,32415,38750.5%
Utah StateMaverik Stadium25,51322,24720,01715,24025,472†16,36418,315——117,65519,60976.9%
UNLVSam Boyd Stadium35,50017,42118,74224,681†19,65221,31717,373——119,18619,86456.0%
WyomingWar Memorial Stadium29,18126,03728,814†23,02922,88416,12621,152——138,04223,00778.8%

Bold – Exceed capacity

†Season High

NFL Draft

The following list includes all Mountain West players who were drafted in the 2020 NFL draft.
Round #Pick #NFL TeamPlayerPositionCollege
126Green Bay PackersJordan LoveQBUtah State
258Minnesota VikingsEzra ClevelandOTBoise State
365Cincinnati BengalsLogan WilsonILBWyoming
4119Atlanta FalconsMykal WalkerILBFresno State
5156Washington RedskinsKeith IsmaelCSan Diego State
5164Miami DolphinsCurtis WeaverDEBoise State
5168Philadelphia EaglesJohn HightowerWRBoise State
6181Denver BroncosNetane MutiGFresno State
6204New England PatriotsCassh MaluiaLBWyoming
7224Tennessee TitansCole McDonaldQBHawaii