2024 Mountain West Basketball Tournament, Bracket, Schedule

2024 Mountain West Basketball Tournament, Bracket, Schedule Epic conference tournament is starting. Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire Mountain West men’s basketball bracket, schedule The Moutnain West tournament tips off in Las Vegas this week and it …

2024 Mountain West Basketball Tournament, Bracket, Schedule


Epic conference tournament is starting. 


Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire

Mountain West men’s basketball bracket, schedule

The Moutnain West tournament tips off in Las Vegas this week and it should be amazing.

The conference is trying to earn six NCAA Tournament bids. If that is the case, there will be a team in the opening round games which by seeding is New Mexico.

This season the Mountain West has been possibly the best ever and this tournament, hopefully, follow suit this week.

The tournament start this Wednesday with the opening round games with late morning to early evening games.

These opening round games could have NCAA Tournament implications, but the quarterfinals and beyond definitely will.

FIRST ROUND, MARCH 13

All first round games streamed on Mountain West Network

  • (9) Fresno State vs. (8) Wyoming, 11 a.m. PT/noon MT
  • (10) San Jose State vs. (7) Colorado State, 1:30 p.m. PT/2:30 p.m. MT
  • (11) Air Force vs. (6) New Mexico, 4 p.m. PT/5 p.m. MT

QUARTERFINALS, MARCH 14

All quarterfinal games are all on CBS Sports Network or stream on FuboTV with a free trial.

  • (1) Utah State vs. Wyoming/Fresno State winner, noon PT/1 p.m. MT
  • (5) San Diego State vs. (4) UNLV, 2:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. MT
  • (2) Nevada vs. Colorado State/San Jose State winner, 6 p.m. PT/7 p.m. MT
  • (3) Boise State vs. New Mexico/Air Force winner, 8:30 p.m. PT/9:30 p.m. MT

SEMIFINALS, MARCH 15

All semifinal games are all on CBS Sports Network or stream on FuboTV with a free trial


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2024 Mountain West College Football Schedule

2024 Mountain West College Football Schedule The schedule is out! Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire Get ready for some football! The Mountain West released its football schedule for this fall, without TV schedules so there could be changes. The league …

2024 Mountain West College Football Schedule


The schedule is out!


Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire

Get ready for some football!

The Mountain West released its football schedule for this fall, without TV schedules so there could be changes.

The league includes Washington State and Oregon State which are quasi-members of the Mountain West.

Those two schools will play seven games against the Mountain West but they are not eligible to win the conference title.

Television assignments for Fox and CBS will be released at a later date.

Saturday, Aug. 24

Delaware State at Hawai‘i
SMU at Nevada
Montana State at New Mexico

Thursday, Aug. 29

Sacramento State at San José State

Saturday, Aug. 31

Merrimack at Air Force
Boise State at Georgia Southern
Colorado State at Texas
Fresno State at Michigan
UCLA at Hawai‘i
Nevada at Troy
New Mexico at Arizona
Texas A&M Commerce at San Diego State
UNLV at Houston
Robert Morris at Utah State
Wyoming at Arizona State
Idaho State at Oregon State
Portland State at Washington State

Saturday, September 7

San José State at Air Force
Boise State at Oregon
Northern Colorado at Colorado State
Sacramento State at Fresno State
Georgia Southern at Nevada
Oregon State at San Diego State
Utah Tech at UNLV
Utah State at USC
Idaho at Wyoming
Texas Tech at Washington State

Saturday, September 14

Air Force at Baylor
Colorado at Colorado State
New Mexico State at Fresno State
Hawai‘i at Sam Houston
Nevada at Minnesota
New Mexico at Auburn
San Diego State at California
Kennesaw State at San José State
UNLV vs. KansasUtah at Utah State
BYU at Wyoming
Oregon at Oregon State
Washington State vs. Washington

Saturday, September 21

Portland State at Boise State
UTEP at Colorado State
Fresno State at New Mexico
Northern Iowa at Hawai‘i
Eastern Washington at Nevada
San José State at Washington State
Utah State at Temple
Wyoming at North Texas
Purdue at Oregon State

Saturday, September 28

Air Force at Wyoming
Washington State at Boise State
Fresno State at UNLV
New Mexico at New Mexico State
San Diego State at Central Michigan

Saturday, October 5

Navy at Air Force
Utah State at Boise State
Colorado State at Oregon State
Hawai‘i at San Diego State
Nevada at San José State
Syracuse at UNLV

Saturday, October 12

Air Force at New Mexico
Boise State at Hawai‘i
San José State at Colorado State
Washington State at Fresno State
Oregon State at Nevada
San Diego State at Wyoming
UNLV at Utah State

Saturday, October 19

Colorado State at Air Force
Fresno State at Nevada
Hawai‘i at Washington State
New Mexico at Utah State
Wyoming at San José State
UNLV at Oregon State

Saturday, October 26

Boise State at UNLV
New Mexico at Colorado State
San José State at Fresno State
Nevada at Hawai‘i
Washington State at San Diego State
Utah State at Wyoming
Oregon State at California

Saturday, November 2

Air Force at Army
San Diego State at Boise State
Colorado State at Nevada
Hawai‘i at Fresno State
Wyoming at New Mexico

Saturday, November 9

Fresno State at Air Force
Nevada at Boise State
UNLV at Hawai‘i
New Mexico at San Diego State
San José State at Oregon State
Utah State at Washington State

Saturday, November 16

Oregon State at Air Force
Boise State at San José State
Wyoming at Colorado State
Hawai‘i at Utah State
Washington State at New Mexico
San Diego State at UNLV

Saturday, November 23

Air Force at Nevada
Boise State at Wyoming
Colorado State at Fresno State
San Diego State at Utah State
UNLV at San José State
Washington State at Oregon State

Saturday, November 30

Air Force at San Diego State
Oregon State at Boise State
Utah State at Colorado State
Fresno State at UCLA
New Mexico at Hawai‘i
Nevada at UNLV
Stanford at San José State
Wyoming at Washington State

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Air Force vs. Fresno State: Both squads looking for conference win two

The Bulldogs host Air Force at home WHO: Air Force ( 8-10, 1-5 in the MW) Vs Fresno State (8-11, 1-5 in the MW) WHEN: Saturday, January 27th, 4:30 PM PT WHERE: Save Mart Center, Fresno, CA TV: Mountain West Network STREAM: FuboTV – Get a free trial …

The Bulldogs host Air Force at home

WHO:  Air Force ( 8-10, 1-5 in the MW) Vs Fresno State (8-11, 1-5 in the MW)

WHEN: Saturday, January 27th, 4:30 PM PT

WHERE:  Save Mart Center, Fresno, CA

TV: Mountain West Network

STREAM: FuboTV — Get a free trial

Line: The Bulldogs are favored by – 4.5

Both teams enter this matchup with identical records, both situated at the bottom of the Mountain West standings. The Air Falcons recently broke an eight-game losing streak with a road victory over the UNLV Rebels. On the other side, the Fresno State Bulldogs are coming off a close loss to Boise State (72-68). The previous two games at the Save Mart Center were decided by four points, suggesting another closely contested battle tonight.

Keys to the Game:

Second Chance Opportunities:

In what is expected to be a slow-paced, physical, and scrappy game between two inconsistent teams, the battle for rebounds becomes crucial. The teams’ occasional struggles in rebounding make second-chance opportunities a key factor for victory. The performances of Junior Enoch Boakye and Senior Eduardo Andre will likely play a significant role for the Bulldogs. Keep an eye on Senior Leo Colimerio, a wing with great size, who could make an impact, especially against smaller lineups.

Guard Play:

The success of the Bulldogs heavily relies on the performance of their three Senior guards – Isaiah Hill, Isaiah Pope, and Donavan Yap Jr. The offense operates at a different level when these guards are aggressive and actively looking to score. The pivotal factor will be the version of Isaiah Hill that shows up today – whether he’s the guard capable of driving to the rim and creating his own shot, as seen against San Jose State, or the play-making guard looking to set up teammates. Donavan Yap Jr. has been a consistent scorer, especially in late-game situations, and if he gets going early, it could give the Bulldogs an early advantage. Additionally, Pope’s contributions in creating plays and crashing the glass have been crucial, scoring nine or more points in each of the last five games as well. 

Predictions:

Both teams, with eight wins, have had their struggles this season. Air Force comes off a notable win, while the Bulldogs are recovering from a hard-fought loss. The Bulldogs have played solid basketball at home recently, a trend expected to continue tonight. The Bulldogs’ guards, with their dynamic play, are predicted to be the difference-makers in this closely contested game.

 

Final Prediction:

Air Force 63 – 72 Fresno Stat

 

Fresno State vs. San Diego State: Can Bulldogs Pull Off An Upset At Viejas?

The Bulldogs open up conference play in San Diego WHO: Fresno State (7-6, 0-0 in MW) Vs San Diego State (11-2), 0-0 in MW) WHEN: Wednesday, January 3rd , 7:30 PM PT WHERE: Viejas Arena, San Diego, CA TV: FS1 STREAM: FuboTV – Get a free trial Line: …

The Bulldogs open up conference play in San Diego

WHO: Fresno State (7-6, 0-0 in MW) Vs San Diego State (11-2), 0-0 in MW)

WHEN: Wednesday, January 3rd , 7:30 PM PT

WHERE: Viejas Arena, San Diego, CA

TV: FS1

STREAM: FuboTV — Get a free trial

Line: The Aztecs are favored by 15.5

The Fresno State Bulldogs start conference play tonight against the defending Mountain West Championship and currently the 11-win San Diego State Aztecs.

The Bulldogs are coming off their first win over a team with a winning record, beating the San Diego Toreros 71-67. The Dogs got the win without their Senior Point Guard Isaiah Hill who leads the team in points at 13.3 ppg and assist at just 6.0 apg. Filling in for Hill was the Utah Tech Transfer Isaiah Pope who led the way with 13 points. The Arizona State Transfer Enoch Boakye had a very solid game with eight points and a game-high 14 rebounds. The Bulldogs never trailed in this game, which is a testament to their dominance on the court.

Now the Bulldogs will shift their focus to conference play and look to take down San Diego State something they haven’t done since 2019. Losing eight straight to the Aztecs. As for San Diego State, they are off to another strong start and are coming off their best win of the season so far beating No.13 the Gonzaga Bulldogs on the road. The Aztecs are coming into tonight’s game on a four-game win streak.

Keys to an upset:

It is no easy task when your first conference game is against a team that is coming off a final-four appearance and then coming off its best win of the season against No.13 Gonzaga. San Diego State has won eight straight against the Bulldogs and has won 12 straight home games. So how can the Bulldogs change that?

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Xaiver Dusell:

If the Bulldogs are going to have any chance tonight they have to make threes. You have to space the floor and make the Aztecs guard the perimeter. In the two losses that San Diego State has this year both opponents made eight threes or more. Xaiver Dusell, the Bulldog’s best three-point shooter will have to have a big shooting night. Fresno State is 6-2 when DuSell scores in double digits. Dusell did have a game this season when he made six threes which resulted in being the highest-scoring game so far this season for the Bulldogs

Can the Bulldogs crack 70 points:

Fresno State is 6-1 this season when they score 70 or more points. Their one loss came in OT when the Bulldogs lost at the Buzzer to Portland State. Also, the Bulldog’s last win against the Aztecs scored 70 points since then the Dogs have only scored more than 60 points once which they also needed overtime for. So how can the Dogs score 70 points?

It starts with the two-star players being aggressive with Hill and Eduardo Andre. If these two can work, the pick-and-roll game and create offense out of double teams help open up the floor that will allow guys like Dusell, Pope, and Yap Jr to get going. If the Bulldogs are going to have any chance tonight at least four to five players have to be in double figures.

The Bulldogs need some consistency on offense. I do believe bench play will play a big factor in that. Pope and Boakye have been really coming into a groove lately. The question will be can other Bulldogs like Jalen Weaver, Donavan Yap and Isaac Taveras consistently bring that extra scoring off the bench.

Predictions:

Isaiah Hill is expected to be back tonight for the Bulldogs. History shows that this isn’t a game the Bulldogs can win, but history also shows that these Dogs can make it a game against the Aztecs. I anticipate this game to be physical and slow, with the Bulldogs putting up a good fight, but ultimately, the Aztecs pulling away late in the second half.

Bulldogs 55-68 Aztecs.

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Fresno State Close Out Season With A New Mexico Bowl Win

The Bulldogs played their final game of the season Saturday afternoon against New Mexico State in the New Mexico Bowl game. Fresno State came into the game on a three game losing streak and without their head coach Jeff Tedford who is away from the …

The Bulldogs played their final game of the season Saturday afternoon against New Mexico State in the New Mexico Bowl game. Fresno State came into the game on a three game losing streak and without their head coach Jeff Tedford who is away from the team due to medical reasons.  Linebackers coach Tim Skipper was the interim Head Coach for the bowl game.

On the flip side, New Mexico State is having one of their best season in recent history and came into the game winning their last eight out of nine with their only loss coming in the Conference USA championship game. Now the Aggies looked for their second straight bowl victory and looked to make it 5-0 in their bowl game history.

Fresno State looking to give New Mexico State its first bowl loss in school history and they would in dominating fashion. The Bulldogs got off to a strong start and never looked back as they defeated the Aggies 37-10. This is the first time the Bulldogs scored more than 20 points since, November 4th when the Bulldogs beat Boise State at home which happens to be the last time the Dogs won a game.

 

Keys to The Victory:

Mikey Keene

Have yourself a game Mikey Keene!!! The sophomore QB threw for a career-high 380 yards, 3 total touchdowns, two in the air and one on the ground, and completed 79% of his passes which is a Fresno State bowl game  record. Keene looked like reenergized and healthy quarterback. Made a lot of accurate  throws and was much smarter with his decision-making. Giving Bulldogs fans a glimpse of what version of Mikey Keene they will be seeing in 2024. But to cap off the 2023 Keene finished with a career day and was named offensive MVP.

Refocused Defense:

Where was this defense in the last three weeks of the season? This group seemed much more focused looking to prove a point and man they did. The Bulldogs defense recorded four sacks and one interception. Only gave up 58 yards through the air and didn’t let the Aggies convert a single fourth down. In his last game as a Bulldog Senior Linebacker, Levelle Bailey led the way with eight tackles, four solo tackles, and one sack. Bailey was also named the New Mexico Bowl defensive MVP.

Malik Sherrod:

What a game Sherrod had! Doing it both on the ground and in the receiving game. Sherrod finished with 90 rushing yards on 20 carries and 81 receiving  yards a career high with eight receptions, Malik was doing it all for the Bulldogs and was really big factor on third down helping keep drives alive. Sherrod finished the season 34 yards short of a thousand rushing yards but put together some great performance down the late stretch of the season, Malik is expected to return as the Bulldogs starting running back next season.

 

A much needed win for the Bulldogs after losing its last three game, losing its shot to play in the Mountain West championship and having Head Coach Jeff Tedford away from the team. The team looked much more energized and played with a lot more swag to them. Interim Head Coach Tim Skipper gets his first career win as a coach and the Bulldogs head back to the valley with the New Mexico Bowl trophy.

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Mountain West Football’s Updated 2024 Matchups Released

Mountain West Football’s Updated 2024 Matchups Released The Mountain West revised its college football schedule to include games against wayward Oregon State and Washington State. Contact/Follow @MattK_FS & @MWCwire What’s new? The vagaries of …

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Mountain West Football’s Updated 2024 Matchups Released


The Mountain West revised its college football schedule to include games against wayward Oregon State and Washington State.


Contact/Follow @MattK_FS & @MWCwire

What’s new?

The vagaries of college football realignment didn’t directly impact the Mountain West Conference over the last calendar year, but the shockwaves of moves across the country resulted today in a revised slate of matchups that includes the Oregon State Beavers and Washington State Cougars, the two Pac-12 programs left behind by their conference mates’ exodus.

When it was announced that the conference would do away with the Mountain and West divisions in 2022, the conference announced a rotation that would protect two games for each team and extend through the 2025 season. A multitude of Power 5 programs had other plans, however, and when the Big 12, Big Ten, and ACC raided the Pac-12 for ten of its teams throughout 2023, it left Oregon State and Washington State standing alone.

Here are the home and away games that the Mountain West had previously unveiled for 2024:

Air Force, Nevada, and San Diego State will host the Beavers while Boise State, Fresno State, and New Mexico will do the same for the Cougars. Conversely, Colorado State, San Jose State, and UNLV will travel to Corvallis; Hawaii, Utah State, and Wyoming will head to Pullman. None of the games will count as part of the conference standings, however, meaning that each Mountain West team will have seven conference games rather than the usual eight.

The changes, as you might expect, have differing impacts on every Mountain West team’s pre-existing schedule. Air Force, for instance, will get to face Oregon State at home instead of Hawaii, but Colorado State now travels to Oregon State and Nevada rather than Boise and San Diego. As DNVR Sports’s Justin Michael noted, it will be the first time since 2010 that the Rams and Broncos do not face each other. Similarly, Wyoming will now host San Diego State and Utah State rather than Nevada and UNLV.

One interesting twist is that the two teams who played in the Mountain West championship game this month, Boise State and UNLV, are now set to square off at Allegiant Stadium rather than Albertsons Stadium next year. Exact dates for the Mountain West schedule will be released at a later time, but next year’s title game is slated for Saturday, December 7, 2024.

Air Force

Home – Colorado State, Fresno State, San Jose State, Oregon State
Away – Nevada, New Mexico, San Diego State, Wyoming

Boise State

Home – Nevada, San Diego State, Utah State, Washington State
Away – Hawaii, San Jose State, UNLV, Wyoming

Colorado State

Home – New Mexico, San Jose State, Utah State, Wyoming
Away – Air Force, Fresno State, Nevada, Oregon State

Fresno State

Home – Colorado State, Hawaii, San Jose State, Washington State
Away – Air Force, Nevada, New Mexico, UNLV

Hawaii

Home – Boise State, Nevada, New Mexico, UNLV
Away – Fresno State, San Diego State, Utah State, Washington State

Nevada

Home – Air Force, Colorado State, Fresno State, Oregon State
Away – Boise State, Hawaii, San Jose State, UNLV

New Mexico

Home – Air Force, Fresno State, Wyoming, Washington State
Away – Colorado State, Hawai‘i, San Diego State, Utah State

San Diego State

Home – Air Force, Hawaii, New Mexico, Oregon State
Away – Boise State, UNLV, Utah State, Wyoming

San Jose State

Home – Boise State, Nevada, UNLV, Wyoming
Away – Air Force, Colorado State, Fresno State, Oregon State

UNLV

Home – Boise State, Fresno State, Nevada, San Diego State
Away – Hawaii, San Jose State, Utah State, Oregon State

Utah State

Home – Hawaii, New Mexico, San Diego State, UNLV
Away – Boise State, Colorado State, Wyoming, Washington State

Wyoming

Home – Air Force, Boise State, San Diego State, Utah State
Away – Colorado State, New Mexico, San Jose State, Washington State

Oregon State

Home – Colorado State, San Jose State, UNLV
Away – Air Force, Nevada, San Diego State

Washington State

Home – Hawaii, Utah State, Wyoming
Away – Boise State, Fresno State, New Mexico

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Isleta New Mexico Bowl: Game Preview, How To Watch, Odds, Prediction

Fresno State looks to spoil New Mexico State’s breakthrough season in the New Mexico Bowl. Here’s how to watch and what to watch for.

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Isleta New Mexico Bowl: Game Preview, How To Watch, Odds, Prediction


Fresno State will look to end 2023 with a victory over New Mexico State. Here’s how to watch and what to watch for.


Contact/Follow @MWCwire

Can the ‘Dogs recapture a little magic in the Land of Enchantment?

ISLETA NEW MEXICO BOWL: New Mexico State Aggies (10-4, 7-1 Conference USA) vs. Fresno State Bulldogs (8-4, 4-4 Mountain West)

WHEN: Saturday, December 16 — 2:45 PM PT/3:45 PM MT

WHERE: University Stadium; Albuquerque, NM

WEATHER: Mostly sunny, high of 48 degrees

TV: ESPN

STREAMING: Fans can sign up to receive a free one-week trial of Fubo, which includes ESPN, by following this link.

RADIO: The New Mexico State broadcast can be found on the affiliates of the Aggie Radio Network, including flagship 99.5 FM (KXPZ) in Las Cruces. The Fresno State broadcast can be found in and around the Central Valley on the affiliates of the Bulldog Sports network, including flagship 1340 AM (KCBL) in Fresno.

SERIES RECORD: Fresno State leads the all-time series, 18-1. In the last meeting on September 28, 2019, the Bulldogs defeated the Aggies, 30-17, in Las Cruces.

LAST GAME: New Mexico State lost to Liberty in the Conference USA football championship game, 49-35, while Fresno State lost to San Diego State on the road, 33-18.

WEBSITES: NMStateSports.com, the official New Mexico State athletics website | GoBulldogs.com, the official Fresno State athletics website

GAME NOTES (PDF): New Mexico State | Fresno State

ODDS: New Mexico State -3.5

SP+ PROJECTION: New Mexico State by 0.6

FEI PROJECTION: Fresno State by 1.0

PARKER FLEMING PROJECTION: New Mexico State 51.27% win probability (28.80-27.39)

Mountain West football’s seven-game bowl slate kicks off in Albuquerque on Saturday afternoon, when the Fresno State Bulldogs will take on the New Mexico State Aggies.

The Aggies will be plenty motivated to send one of the program’s best teams ever into the off-season with one last win, and the chances are they’ll get to benefit from a friendly crowd in the stands since the game will take place just three-plus hours from Las Cruces. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, enter the game with far more uncertainty than they had a month ago, in the midst of a three-game losing streak that they’ll look to break without head coach Jeff Tedford, who is currently sidelined with health concerns.

Here’s how the Aggies and Bulldogs can find a path to victory to finish 2023.

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Three Keys to a New Mexico State Victory

1. Don’t lose the turnover battle.

Generally speaking, New Mexico State has done a pretty good job of taking care of the football when playing on offense. The Aggies have just 14 giveaways in 14 games, the fewest in Conference USA, but there’s little doubt that when they’ve been off their game, turnovers have played a big role since eight of those 14 giveaways came in NMSU’s four losses.

By contrast, Fresno State’s defense was one of the most active in the Mountain West at generating takeaways, collecting 22 in 12 games. However, the Bulldogs faltered on that front in their recent losing streak, coming up empty in two of their last three games, so the Aggies might have an advantage simply by avoiding killer mistakes one last time.

2. Get a big performance from the ground game.

NMSU has tended toward balance in their run-pass ratio throughout the season, but they may find it useful to resist Fresno State’s resistance to the run. While the Bulldogs are sixth in the Mountain West by allowing 4.35 yards per carry, they’ve struggled mightily since the calendar turned to November, coughing up 5.86 YPC and eight rushing touchdowns in the last four games.

This could be good news for the Aggies, who don’t have a heavy-lifting RB1 but do have three different players — quarterback Diego Pavia and running backs Star Thomas and Monte Watkins — who have recorded at least 50 rushing attempts and averaged at least 5.39 YPC. That trio has also accounted for a gain of at least ten yards on 20.9% of their combined carries, which is something they’ll almost certainly look to exploit.

3. Win on as many third downs as possible.

One area of the game where New Mexico State and Fresno State have been similarly productive is in moving the chains and keeping opponents from doing the same. The Bulldogs own a slight advantage on offense (46.55% for Fresno State, 43.95% for NMSU), but the Aggies could have an upper hand on defense (35.43% for NMSU, 39.88% for Fresno State).

This might be especially true if the Aggies can force Fresno State into passing downs more often than not. According to CollegeFootballData.com, NMSU allowed a 28% success rate when opponents faced a second down with seven-plus yards to go or a third or fourth down with five-plus yards to go, as well as a 54.8% completion rate to opposing quarterbacks.

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Three Keys to a Fresno State Victory

1. Get better pass protection from the offensive line.

One way or another, the Bulldogs are likely to lead with the pass when they attack the Aggies defense. Parker Fleming’s advanced statistics preview notes that Fresno State comes into the bowl game with a rush rate over expected percentage of -11.6%, which means that Pat McCann’s offense run the ball less frequently than all but five other FBS teams.

It isn’t a bad idea when you consider that New Mexico State’s pass rush is more the sum of its parts than one built on individual standouts: Five different Aggies have between three and 4.5 sacks this season. However, Fresno State’s offensive line has struggled badly down the stretch. According to Pro Football Focus, guard Osmar Velez and tackles Toreon Penright and Braylen Nelson each gave up multiple sacks between Weeks 10 and 13; the only other Mountain West offensive line to do that was Nevada.

2. Keep Jonathan Brady’s contributions to a minimum.

Four different Fresno State pass catchers have seen more than the 58 targets that Brady has received in 2023, but you could make a decent case that none of them have done as much as the sophomore from Las Vegas with their share. Brady hasn’t dropped a single pass, for starters, but his team-high 37 receptions and 613 receiving yards will be even more important in the bowl game with his primary running mate, Trent Hudson, gone through the transfer portal.

Whether he lines up opposite Carlton Johnson or Al’zillion Hamilton
more frequently remains to be seen, but it will be a big opportunity for both. Between Weeks 10 and 13, they combined to allow 15 catches and 12.3 yards per reception on 28 targets, so while Brady has averaged 16.6 YPC on the year, his more recent performances have been modest. If the secondary can keep him from stretching the field, it could make for a significant advantage.

3. Ride or die (one more time) with Mikey Keene.

Because it’s no secret the Bulldogs are pass-first, Keene’s presence as the presumably healthy QB1 will be a major factor in whether the offense can overcome its recent sputtering. There’s no doubt his health concerns played a role in the team’s ongoing losing streak, as his 60% completion rate in November was the lowest of any calendar month this year, as were the 5.9 yards he averaged per attempt and the 110.03 passer rating he mustered.

One potential obstacle is NMSU cornerback Andre Seldon, who is arguably the team’s top overall defender. The redshirt sophomore has allowed a catch rate of 42.6% on 61 targets, though he also spends the vast majority of his playing time outside of the numbers. It could mean that Erik Brooks and Jaelen Gill, both of whom have had at least 79% of their snaps out of the slot (per PFF), might be key to softening up the Aggies underneath.

Prediction

They say that time heals all wounds, which is something that Fresno State must hope is true since quarterback health is going to be crucial to their bounce-back efforts in this contest. However, that was less of an excuse for the defense’s recent woes, and that might be an even bigger X-factor. New Mexico State has as many weapons as the Bulldogs do, and there are just enough uncertainties to expect that this will be a close game no matter what, but home cooking and a balanced offensive attack will make a difference in the end for the Aggies to gut out a win.

New Mexico State 31, Fresno State 27

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Mountain West Football: 2023 Bowl Season Opt-Out And Transfer Tracker

The transfer portal is open. NFL Draft prep looms. Business decisions are made. Which players will sit out the Mountain West’s bowl games?

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Mountain West Football: 2023 Bowl Season Opt-Out and Transfer Tracker


The transfer portal is open. NFL Draft prep looms. Business decisions are made. Which players will sit out the Mountain West’s bowl games?


Contact/Follow @MWCwire

Not all the stars will be out in December.

December marks perhaps the busiest time of college football season. Between the upcoming slate of bowl games, the official opening of the transfer portal, and buzz surrounding the game’s brightest stars and their standing in next year’s NFL Draft, players have plenty on their minds when deciding how to finish their season.

Not everyone will choose to stay on the field, though. Check back here throughout the month as we watch which athletes opt out of bowl season, both among the Mountain West’s seven bowl teams and their opponents.

Note: Significant contributors among opponents will be noted in italics.

Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl

Air Force

  • Aidan Behymer, TE
  • Caden Blum, DL
  • Mason Carlan, OL
  • John Lee Eldridge III, RB
  • Jonah Jensen, QB
  • Brady Phillips, DL
  • Caleb Rillos, TE
  • Jarius Stewart, QB
  • Anthony Wenson, WR

James Madison

  • Brent Austin, DB
  • Kaelon Black, RB — team-high 594 rushing yards, 23 catches, 220 receiving yards in 2023
  • James Carpenter, DL — FCS Freshman All-American in 2021; two-time all-Sun Belt
  • Aiden Fisher, LB — third-team all-Sun Belt, 91 tackles, seven passes defended, six tackles for loss in 2023
  • Desmond Green, WR
  • Zach Horton, TE — first-team all-Sun Belt, 26 catches, 266 yards, six touchdowns in 2023
  • Taurus Jones, LB — first-team all-Sun Belt, 82 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss in 2022
  • Mikail Kamara, DL — second-team all-Sun Belt, 18.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks in 2023
  • Wayne Knight, RB
  • Ty Son Lawton, RB — 742 all-purpose yards, six total touchdowns in 2023
  • Chauncey Logan, DB — 42 tackles, four tackles for loss, six passes defended in 2023
  • Carter Miller, OL — redshirt freshman, nine starts, 639 snaps at left guard in 2023
  • Abi Nwabuoku-Okonji, DL
  • Tyler Stephens, OL — 30 career starts; four starts each at left guard, right tackle, left tackle in 2023
  • Jailin Walker, LB — 30 career starts; 55 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, four passes defended in 2023
  • Tyshawn Wyatt, OL

Starco Brands LA Bowl, Hosted By Gronk

Boise State 

  • Taylen Green, QB
  • Eric McAlister, WR
  • Keenan McCaddy, DB
  • Kivon Wright, DL

UCLA

  • Kam Brown, WR
  • Keegan Jones, WR
  • Laiatu Latu, DL — Ted Hendricks Award winner, Lombardi Award winner, Pac-12 defensive player of the year in 2023
  • Dante Moore, QB — five-star true freshman, five starts in 2023
  • William Nimmo Jr., DB
  • Kamari Ramsey, DB — redshirt freshman safety, 11 starts in 2023
  • Carsen Ryan, TE
  • Jake Wiley, OL

Isleta New Mexico Bowl

Fresno State

  • Tanner Blount, LB
  • Logan Fife, QB
  • Chrishawn Gordon, DB
  • Abraham Montaño, K
  • Hayden Pulis, OL
  • Raymond Scott, LB

New Mexico State

  • Reggie Akles, WR
  • Ta’ir Brooks, WR
  • Jamari Buddin, LB
  • Tyler Devera, TE
  • Trent Hudson, WR — 36 catches, 571 yards, team-high ten touchdowns in 2023
  • PJ Johnson, WR
  • Malachi McLean, DB
  • Jordin Parker, WR
  • Tyriece Thomas, DL

EasyPost Hawaii Bowl

San Jose State

  • Branden Alvarez, WR
  • Fernando Carmona Jr., OL
  • Blake Davis, DB
  • Charlie Leota, DL
  • Anthony Madrigal, OL
  • Dominick Mazotti, TE
  • Elijah Wood, LB

Coastal Carolina

  • CJ Beasley, RB — team-high 717 rushing yards in 2022; 262 rushing yards, two touchdowns in 2023
  • Mason Bowers, OL
  • Jahmar Brown, DB
  • Jared Brown, WR — 2022 Sun Belt Freshman of the Year; 108 career receptions, 1,534 career receiving yards, 11 career touchdowns
  • Bailey Carraway, LB
  • Evan Crenshaw, P — sophomore; 83 career punts, 39.7 career yards per punt
  • Aaron Diggs, DB
  • Jarrett Guest, QB — two starts in 2023 following injury to Grayson McCall
  • Eli Hillman, DB
  • Kaleb Hutchinson, DB
  • Tavyn Jackson, DB
  • JT Killen, LB — 25 career starts; 65 tackles, three tackles for loss in 2023
  • Derrick Maxey, DB
  • Grayson McCall, QB — three-time Sun Belt Player of the Year
  • Tyson Mobley, WR
  • Tre Pinkney, LB
  • Jacob Proche, DB
  • Chris Rhone, WR
  • Braylon Ryan, DL — 38 career games, 21 career starts; 24 tackles, two tackles for loss in 2023
  • Laurence Sullivan, DB
  • Bryson Summers, OL
  • Dami’on Thompson, WR
  • Donnell Wilson, OL

Guaranteed Rate Bowl

UNLV

  • Jordan Jakes, WR
  • Jordyn Morgan, DB

Kansas

  • Will Huggins, TE
  • Reece Thomas, WR

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

Utah State

  • William Testa, K
  • Josh Williams, LB

Georgia State

  • KZ Adams, RB
  • Rico Arnold, WR
  • Bryquice Brown, DB — 42 career games; 35 tackles, six passes defended in nine games
  • Marcus Carroll, RB — first-team all-Sun Belt, 1,350 rushing yards, 13 touchdowns
  • Montavious Cunningham, OL — redshirt sophomore, 15 career starts, 737 snaps at right tackle in 2023
  • Jaquon Dixon, RB
  • Cameron Dye, OL
  • Evan Graham, LB
  • JayT Jackson, DB
  • Jordan Jones, LB
  • Robert Lewis, WR — led team with 70 catches, 877 yards, five receiving touchdowns
  • Tony McCray, DB
  • Jalen Tate, DB

Barstool Sports Arizona Bowl

Wyoming

  • DQ James, RB
  • Kolbey Taylor, DB

Toledo

  • Dequan Finn, QB — three-time all-MAC, 2023 MAC Vern Smith Leadership Award winner (conference MVP)
  • Jaret Frantz, WR
  • Micah Kelly, RB
  • Brad Ling, K
  • Vinny Sciury, OL — first-team all-MAC in 2023, 836 snaps at left guard
  • Ty Thomas, DL

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New Mexico Bowl: First Look At The New Mexico State Aggies

This year’s New Mexico Bowl features two teams from the old WAC, but Fresno State won’t want to take these revitalized Aggies lightly.

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New Mexico Bowl: First Look At The New Mexico State Aggies


This year’s New Mexico Bowl features two teams from the old WAC, but Fresno State won’t want to take these revitalized Aggies lightly.


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Las Cruces has been magic all year.

New Mexico State has often been one of the toughest places to win anywhere in the country, so winning as many games as they did this fall, the same number that the Aggies won between 2020 and 2022, makes you sit up and take notice.

Everyone loves an underdog, though, and those same Aggies could have a significant home-field advantage when they face off with the Fresno State Bulldogs in this year’s Isleta New Mexico Bowl, three hours from Las Cruces. After 50 or 60 years in the wilderness, you can’t say they haven’t earned it, but how did NMSU get here?

Here’s what Bulldogs fans need to know about their bowl game opponent.

2023 New Mexico State Aggies — Team Profile

Conference: Conference USA

2023 Record: 10-4 (7-2 Conference USA)

SP+ ranking: 62nd

FEI ranking: 73rd

Sagarin rating: 82nd

Head coach: Jerry Kill (second year at New Mexico State, 25th year overall; 17-10 with Aggies, 175-114 overall)

2023 in a nutshell: After clinching the program’s third winning season and second bowl victory since 2000 last year, the Aggies set about proving this fall that was no fluke. They stumbled out of the gate with a 2-3 record, beating rival New Mexico but dropping road games at Liberty and Hawaii, but righted the ship in time to win eight consecutive contests and earn a rematch against Liberty in the Conference USA championship.

Though they again fell short against the Flames, the Aggies will be comfortable playing up the 25 from Las Cruces since their winning streak included four road wins, including at Western Kentucky and Auburn. In all, the 10-4 record marked the program’s first season with double-digit wins since going 11-0 as part of the Border Intercollegiate Athletic Association in 1960.

Best wins: vs. Jacksonville State (8-4), at Auburn (6-6), at Western Kentucky (7-5)

Key Players

Diego Pavia, QB

It took a while for Pavia to settle into the starting job last season, but he picked up right where he left off and accounted for an average of 269 yards of total offense per game and 7.55 yards per play in 2023. Both figures rank in the top 35 among all FBS players, but it also obscures that he’s more than capable of doing damage with his arm (61.6% completion rate, 8.5 yards per attempt, 24 touchdowns, 2.3% interception rate) and his legs (851 rushing yards, fourth among quarterbacks; six TDs).

While it remains to be seen if Pavia suit up for the bowl game after playing through various aches and pains, he could be a headache for the Bulldogs if he does.

Keyshaun Elliott, LB

After getting his feet wet with the Aggies in 2022, the sophomore Elliott stepped into the starting lineup after one game and never looked back. He led the Aggies with 101 total tackles and 8.5 tackles for loss, finishing fifth among all Conference USA defenders with 45 stops (per PFF), cementing himself as a young star worth watching in the Group of 5.

Andre Seldon, CB

The former Michigan transfer emerged as the anchor in New Mexico State’s secondary this year, his second full season as a starter. Despite facing 61 targets, tied for third-most in Conference USA, he allowed a 42.6% completion rate, picking up 50 tackles, six passes defended, and an interception.

Star Thomas, RB

While the Aggies often deployed a committee in the running game, Thomas had previously led the team in all-purpose yardage and continued to shine as the lead back and Pavia’s primary complement. Though he only has 111 total carries and managed no more than 12 in any one game, the junior has averaged 5.79 yards per carry and scored six total touchdowns.

Canaan Yarro, C

Yarro brought much-needed stability to the offensive line as one of two players to start every game this season, playing a team-high 882 snaps according to Pro Football Focus. Despite the large workload, he is one of only six FBS centers to have played at least 800 snaps while allowing six or fewer quarterback pressures and zero sacks.

Overview:

Offense

With veterans back at just about every key position, the Aggies had one of their most prolific offensive seasons in recent memory. According to Brian Fremeau, New Mexico State earned 2.63 points per drive (37th in FBS) and 56.5% of available yards per drive (17th), both of which were far and away the team’s best figures dating back to 2007. They also had just 14 giveaways in 14 games, the fewest in Conference USA, so they’re an offense not usually inclined to beat themselves.

In the offensive backfield, Pavia and Thomas typically lead the way with periodic contributions from running backs Monte Watkins and Jamoni Jones (6.46 combined yards per carry, five touchdowns). Yarro and left tackle Shiyazh Pete provide seasoned leadership on the offensive line, supplemented by youngsters like sophomore AJ Vaipulu and redshirt freshman Louie Canepa.

NMSU’s passing game is a fairly balanced one that saw six different players receive at least 20 targets, but the lead pass-catcher is sophomore Jonathan Brady, who led the team with 37 catches for 613 yards, scoring four touchdowns. Junior Trent Hudson paced the Aggies with ten touchdown receptions, averaging 15.9 yards per catch, while Eli Stowers made a transition from quarterback to pitch in with 32 receptions and two scores.

Defense

Compared to the offense, the Aggies defense seems very much a bend-but-don’t-break unit, ranking 101st by available yards percentage allowed (52.0%) per drive but 56th in points per drive allowed (2.12). That they managed to force only 11 takeaways would seem to reinforce this, but NMSU also had a knack for making timely plays when it counts most, finishing second in Conference USA by collecting 31 sacks and holding opponents to a 35.4% third-down conversion rate. They also allowed a 50% touchdown rate on 56 trips into the red zone, one of just 21 FBS defenses to reach that mark.

Up front, sophomores Gabe Peterson and Sterling Webb, the latter of whom was recently named a first-team all-conference performer, lead the charge after combining for 13.5 tackles for loss and eight sacks. Collectively, the front seven knows how to get after the ball, though, as PFF notes six different Aggies had at least a dozen quarterback hurries (for comparison, Fresno State had one).

Peterson, Webb, Elliott, and Seldon make up a formidable nucleus, but they’re far from the only young athletes on this side of the ball. Defensive linemen Buddha Peleti and Gabriel Iniguez, safety Myles Rowser, and linebacker Sone Aupiu are all sophomores who played at least 400 snaps.

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Mountain West Wire’s 2023 Postseason All-Conference Football Team

Who did our staff pick as the best of the best in Mountain West football this season?

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Mountain West Wire Presents Its 2023 Postseason All-Mountain West Football Teams


Our staff has made its selections for the best of Mountain West football as we close out the 2023 season.


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Only the best of the best make the cut.

Mountain West Wire’s 2023 postseason honors:

All-Conference Teams | Offensive Player of the Year | Defensive Player of the Year | Special Teams Player of the YearFreshman of the Year | Newcomer of the Year | Coach of the Year | Coordinator of the Year

With the Mountain West’s regular season in the books and the conference championship game just one day away, our staff here at Mountain West Wire has once again put its collective heads together to create our fifth annual postseason all-Mountain West football team.

If you’re interested in seeing how these selections stack up against our preseason picks, click here. Alternatively, you can click the following links to find our postseason honorees from 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, and 2018.

As always, our all-conference roster goes four deep and attempts to best reflect the variety of offenses and defenses we see week in and week out throughout the conference:

  • We vote for a Defensive Flex player to better reflect that some units — like Boise State, San Diego State, and Wyoming — often operate with five defensive backs or a nickelback/linebacker hybrid in their 3-3-5 or 4-2-5.
  • We split our linebacker selections into two, inside and outside, as we’d previously differentiated between centers, guards, and tackles on the offensive lines and between interior linemen and edge rushers on defense.
  • We vote for three wide receivers instead of two.

If you disagree with our choices, feel free to let us know what you’d have done differently on Twitter or Facebook.

First Team

Offense

QB – Chevan Cordeiro, San Jose State
RB – Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
RB – Jacory Croskey-Merritt, New Mexico
RB – Kairee Robinson, San Jose State
WR – Tory Horton, Colorado State
WR – Ricky White, UNLV
WR – Jalen Royals, Utah State
TE – Dallin Holker, Colorado State
C – Thor Paglialong, Air Force
G – Mark Hiestand, Air Force
G – Wesley Ndago, Air Force
T – Adam Karas, Air Force
T – Cade Beresford, Boise State

Defense

DT – Jordan Bertagnole, Wyoming
DT – Payton Zdroik, Air Force
DE – Mohamed Kamara, Colorado State
DE – Ahmed Hassanein, Boise State
OLB – Jackson Woodard, UNLV
OLB – Bo Richter, Air Force
ILB – Easton Gibbs, Wyoming
ILB – MJ Tafisi, Utah State
CB – Cameron Oliver, UNLV
CB – Jay’Vion Cole, San Jose State
CB – Carlton Johnson, Fresno State
S – Ike Larsen, Utah State
S – Wyatt Ekeler, Wyoming
FLEX – Morice Norris Jr., Fresno State

Special Teams

K – Jose Pizano, UNLV
P – James Ferguson-Reynolds, Boise State
KR – Jacob De Jesus, UNLV
PR – Jacob De Jesus, UNLV

Second Team

Offense

QB – Jayden Maiava, UNLV
RB – Malik Sherrod, Fresno State
RB – Emmanuel Michel, Air Force
WR – Steven McBride, Hawaii
WR – Terrell Vaughn, Utah State
WR – Pofele Ashlock, Hawaii
TE – Mark Redman, San Diego State
C – Jacob Gardner, Colorado State
G – Mose Vavao, Fresno State
G – Wes King, Wyoming
T – Frank Crum, Wyoming
T – Kage Casey, Boise State

Defense

DT – Soane Toia, San Jose State
DT – Cole Godbout, Wyoming
DE – P.J. Ramsey, Air Force
DE – Tre Smith, San Jose State
OLB – Levelle Bailey, Fresno State
OLB – Andrew Simpson, Boise State
ILB – Alec Mock, Air Force
ILB – Bryun Parham, San Jose State
CB – Noah Tumblin, San Diego State
CB – Donte Martin, New Mexico
S – Trey Taylor, Air Force
S – Jack Howell, Colorado State
FLEX – Seyi Oladipo, Boise State

Special Teams

K – Jonah Dalmas, Boise State
P – Marshall Nichols, UNLV
KR – Jaelen Gill, Fresno State
PR – Tory Horton, Colorado State