Category: Mountain West Football

Mountain West Football: Ranking The 2022 Non-Conference Games, #10 to #1

The Mountain West has 49 non-conference games to play in 2022. These ten contests are the best of the best and will be worth your time.

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Mountain West Football: Ranking The 2022 Non-Conference Games, #10 to #1

The Mountain West has 49 non-conference games to play in 2022. These ten contests are the best of the best and will be worth your time.

Contact/Follow @MWCwire

You won’t want to miss these games.

Finally, our countdown of Mountain West football’s top non-conference games reaches the cream of the crop. There are plenty of rivalries and opportunities for top teams in the conference to score some big resume wins, but did we get it right?

If not, let us know on Twitter or Facebook. And if you missed any previous part of our rankings, you can check out our picks for #49 to #40, #39 to #30, #29 to #20, and #19 to #11.

10. Navy Midshipmen vs. Air Force Falcons

Why the game might be a drag: The Middies weren’t particularly good last year at the one thing they do most often, run the ball, and now they also have to replace their top defender, as well. It could be a long day in Colorado Springs, then, much to the delight of Falcons fans everywhere.

Why the game might be more interesting than you think: Yes, Diego Fagot has moved on, but Navy’s defense could be improved with a number of younger contributors like Colin Ramos and Rayaun Lane stepping up into larger roles.

One player worth tuning in for: Navy QB Tai Lavatai

9. Boise State Broncos at Oregon State Beavers

Why the game might be a drag: Oregon State broke through with a powerful running game in 2021, but now they have to replace their top running back and a couple of offensive linemen from a unit that was a Joe Moore Award finalist. Against what looks to be a very good Broncos defense, that could be a tall order.

Why the game might be more interesting than you think: Boise State has struggled to find big plays consistently in recent years and now has to do so without Khalil Shakir. Add to that the reality that Oregon State was a very tough out at home last year, going 6-0 at Reser Stadium, and this could be a game where both sides are capable of landing a few haymakers.

One player worth tuning in for: Oregon State AP Jack Colletto

8. Colorado State Rams at Washington State Cougars

Why the game might be a drag: Wazzu may not have a great defense on paper, but they have a few more proven entities on that side of the ball than the Rams do and could comfortably hold serve at home as a result, even if Fort Air Raid finds the end zone a few times.

Why the game might be more interesting than you think: Then again, what if they don’t? Both teams poached personnel from some of last year’s most explosive passing offenses, so if you like points, this game could be right up your alley.

One player worth tuning in for: Washington State QB Cameron Ward

7. Wyoming Cowboys at BYU Cougars

Why the game might be a drag: BYU looks well-stocked on offense and could turn this game into a shootout that Wyoming simply can’t match.

Why the game might be more interesting than you think: The Cougars still have to figure out exactly how they’ll replace Tyler Allegier and the Cowboys could solve their pass-rush questions enough to give Jaren Hall a headache and turn the game into a slog.

One player worth tuning in for: BYU LB Ben Bywater

6. Oregon State Beavers vs. Fresno State Bulldogs

Why the game might be a drag: Oregon State was a lot like that Swole Doge/Cheems meme when it came to playing at home and on the road last year. At Bulldog Stadium, this game could just be a repeat of every other trip there.

Why the game might be more interesting than you think: The offenses could turn this one into a track meet, especially if the Beavers have identified a worthy successor to departed running back B.J. Baylor.

Another player worth tuning in for: Oregon State LB Omar Speights

5. Utah State Aggies at BYU Cougars

Why the game might be a drag: A restocked Utah State defense might not be able to create many breaks against what looks like a pretty good Cougars offense, so the home team might be able to keep “little brother” at arm’s length as a result.

Why the game might be more interesting than you think: There’s nothing quite like good old-fashioned rivalries and, after the Cougars decided to call the whole thing off until further notice, you can bet the Aggies are itching to hang on to the Old Wagon Wheel regardless of whether BYU changes its mind.

Another player worth tuning in for: BYU WR Puka Nacua

4. Air Force Falcons vs. Army Black Knights (in Arlington, Texas)

Why the game might be a drag: Army’s offense has a way of disappearing against the Falcons defense — the Black Knights haven’t managed their season yards-per-carry average in this rivalry game since 2017 — so a fully stocked Air Force rushing attack could have the upper hand.

Why the game might be more interesting than you think: This one’s simple: These two teams do not like each other and, at least over the past four years, they tend to play extremely close and hard-hitting games. Sometimes, there’s just no substitute for hate.

One player worth tuning in for: Army LB Andre Carter II

3. BYU Cougars vs. Boise State Broncos

Why the game might be a drag: Aside from the strangeness of their 2020 matchup, BYU hasn’t found much success on the blue. That game two years ago is the only one they’ve won in Boise, so why should 2022 be any different?

Why the game might be more interesting than you think: As they did with Utah State, BYU decided to put this rivalry on hold, too, with their imminent entrance to the Big 12 on the horizon. There’s no trophy to be won, but Boise State would certainly like to maintain its upper hand after clamping down on a top-25 Cougars team last year.

One last player worth tuning in for: BYU QB Jaren Hall

2. San Diego State Aztecs at Utah Utes

Why the game might be a drag: San Diego State beat Utah so badly last year that Charlie Brewer quit the team.

Why the game might be more interesting than you think: Yes, the Aztecs got one over on the Utes last year, but it’s easy to forget that Brewer’s replacement, Cameron Rising, brought Utah back from a two-touchdown deficit in the second half and nearly won the game in overtime. Neither team is a joke and both could deliver some highlights.

One player worth tuning in for: Utah QB Cameron Rising

1. Fresno State Bulldogs at USC Trojans

Why the game might be a drag: Boy, Lincoln Riley didn’t waste a lot of time pulling together a pretty strong offense, huh? Between Caleb Williams, Travis Dye, Jordan Addison, and others, even the Bulldogs might have a tough time matching the new-look Trojans touchdown for touchdown.

Why the game might be more interesting than you think: Williams, Dye, and Addison don’t play defense. Despite bringing in some familiar names like Solomon Byrd, USC still has to prove it can be better than the 6.37 yards it allowed per play last year.

One player worth tuning in for: USC QB Caleb Williams

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ESPN’s FPI Predicts San Jose State’s 2022 Football Record

ESPN’s FPI Predicts Nevada’s 2022 Football Record What does this computer rating have to say about the 2022 season? Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire How many wins for the Spartans? ESPN’s Football Power Index was recently released and that …

ESPN’s FPI Predicts Nevada’s 2022 Football Record

What does this computer rating have to say about the 2022 season?

Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire

How many wins for the Spartans?

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ESPN’s Football Power Index was recently released and that gives us a whole slew of numbers to pore over and try to figure things out for the upcoming season.

The FPI does give out a very precise win and loss totals and they put San Jose State at 5.8 wins for this season.

The FPI also goes deeper with percentages to win the division and conference. The Spartans are given a 6% percent chance to win the division and 1% to win the conference.

Below we will go through and see how many games the Spartans are favored to win.

SP+ Predicts San Jose State’s 2022 Football Schedule

2022 Full Mountain West Football Schedule

San Jose State’s FPI number is 109

Sept 3 Portland State (FPI: N/A | WIN)

Sept 10 at Auburn (FPI: 10 | LOSS)

Sept 17 OPEN DATE

Sept 24 Western Michigan (FPI: 104 | LOSS)

Oct 1 at Wyoming (FPI: 94 | LOSS)

Oct 8 UNLV (FPI: 117 | WIN)

Oct 15 at Fresno State (FPI: 69 | LOSS)

Oct 22 at New Mexico State (FPI: 131 | WIN)

Oct 29 Nevada (FPI: 101 | LOSS)

Nov 5 Colorado State (FPI: 112 | WIN)

Nov 12 at San Diego State (FPI: 67 | LOSS)

Nov 19 at Utah State (FPI: 80 | LOSS)

Nov 26 Hawaii (FPI: 108 | LOSS)

Based on these FPI rankings, San Jose State is projected to be favored in four of its 12 games.


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PODCAST: 2022 Hawaii Football Preview

PODCAST: 2022 Hawaii Football Preview New staff means new expectations for the Warriors Contact/Follow @MWCwire A lot of new faces in Laramie Jeremy and Matt are back to preview the 2022 Hawaii football season. They make way-too-early record …

PODCAST: 2022 Hawaii Football Preview

New staff means new expectations for the Warriors

Contact/Follow @MWCwire

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A lot of new faces in Laramie

Jeremy and Matt are back to preview the 2022 Hawaii football season. They make way-too-early record projections, go over the transfers, the new coaching staff, and what expectations should be. They break down the offense and defense to see who will be up next for Hawaii.

This team has a chance to be pesky and score some points with the expected pass-happy attack.

You can find the Mountain West Wire podcast below or subscribe to the show via Stitcher Radio, TuneIn, Spotify, iTunes, and more. Listen in, subscribe and rate it and let us know what you think!

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Mountain West Football: Ranking The 2022 Non-Conference Games, #19 to #11

The Mountain West has 49 non-conference games on the collective schedule this fall. These ten games are worthy of your attention.

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Mountain West Football: Ranking The 2022 Non-Conference Games, #19 to #11

The Mountain West has 49 non-conference games on the collective schedule this fall. These ten games are worthy of your attention.

Contact/Follow @MWCwire

Plenty of intrigue all the way around.

Our countdown of Mountain West football’s top non-conference games has reached its second half. These games aren’t quite the creme de la creme, but this part of the list does feature a number of high-profile opponents and a fair bit of sneaky fun.

If you missed any previous part of the list, click the following links to find #49 to 40, #39 to #30, and #29 to #20.

19. Vanderbilt Commodores vs. Hawaii Warriors

Why the game might be a drag: The Commodores were the worst team in the SEC last year and the Warriors might struggle to find traction on offense out the gate. That could make this a back-and-forth affair where Matthew Shipley gets a good game under his belt and not much else happens.

Why the game might be more interesting than you think: Both teams do have interesting offensive pieces and suspect defenses, meaning this could be a sneaky touchdown bonanza to usher in college football season.

One player worth tuning in for: Vanderbilt WR Will Sheppard

18. Nevada Wolf Pack at Iowa Hawkeyes

Why the game might be a drag: Iowa has never played a terribly exciting brand of football, so the Hawkeyes defense could put a rebuilding Wolf Pack offense into a hammer lock and sit on a lead for sixty minutes.

Why the game might be more interesting than you think: Because Iowa doesn’t play a terribly exciting brand of football, their often-pedestrian offense could allow Nevada to hang around in much the same way that Colorado State did last year.

One player worth tuning in for: Iowa TE Sam LaPorta

17. New Mexico Lobos at New Mexico State Aggies

Why the game might be a drag: The Aggies are starting over again under a new head coach and they have to replace their quarterback, top running back, and top two pass catchers from last year. Oh, and the NMSU defense gave up the second-most explosive plays in the country (84). Even a young Lobos attack should be able to exploit that and run away with a win, right?

Why the game might be more interesting than you think: Come on now, it’s the Rio Grande Rivalry! It’s not the most high-profile rivalry in the country, but it’s definitely been one of the most entertaining in recent years since six of the last seven games have been decided by nine or fewer points.

One player worth tuning in for: New Mexico State K Ethan Albertson

16. San Jose State Spartans at Auburn Tigers

Why the game might be a drag: The Tigers have what looks to be a potentially ferocious defense on paper, so even a reloaded Spartans offense might not find much success on the road.

Why the game might be more interesting than you think: Auburn has tons of talent, sure, but they were 11th in the SEC last year in yards per play and have just as much uncertainty at quarterback as they did last year. The Spartans defense could enable SJSU to pull an upset if everything breaks just right.

One player worth tuning in for: Auburn RB Tank Bigsby

15. Utah State Aggies at Alabama Crimson Tide

Why the game might be a drag: Alabama typically doesn’t show much mercy to its non-conference opponents and they’ve cleaned up against the Mountain West since losing the 2009 Sugar Bowl to Utah, winning three games by an average of 24 points. Roll Tide, sadly.

Why the game might be more interesting than you think: It’s still a battle of conference champions. If the Aggies can keep Logan Bonner upright and get help from the ground game, the offense could provide a fighting chance.

One player worth tuning in for: Alabama LB Will Anderson

14. Colorado Buffaloes vs. Air Force Falcons

Why the game might be a drag: The Buffs offense was the worst in the Pac-12 last year and may not be much better in 2022. On the road against a powerful Falcons running game, they could struggle to score again.

Why the game might be more interesting than you think: In-state rivalries have a way of forcing you to rethink narratives. After all, the most recent matchup in 2019 went to overtime before Air Force dispatched Colorado, so it may not be as much of a cake walk as it first appears.

One player worth tuning in for: Colorado QB Brendon Lewis

13. Colorado State Rams at Michigan Wolverines

Why the game might be a drag: Like it or not, Michigan still possesses one of the most talented teams in the country and they rarely lose at home to Group of 5 foes in non-conference play. Everyone remembers the Appalachian State loss, but that was all the way back in 2007 and the Wolverines haven’t had a home loss remotely like that since falling to both Utah and Toledo in 2008.

Why the game might be more interesting than you think: One big question that the Wolverines have to address is how they’ll restock their pass rush with David Ojabo and Aiden Hutchinson gone to the NFL. If the Rams can exploit that potential weakness and get the ball out quickly, they could surprise.

One player worth tuning in for: Michigan WR Ronnie Bell

12. Arizona Wildcats vs. San Diego State Aztecs

Why the game might be a drag: Sure, the Wildcats brought in a new crop of talent in recruiting and the transfer portal, but they were the worst team in the Pac-12 last year and didn’t seriously challenge against a hard-hitting Aztecs defense that figures to be more or less the same in 2022.

Why the game might be more interesting than you think: That influx of Arizona talent should make the Wildcats more potent on offense, at least, and it’ll be a revenge game for the road team after last year’s embarrassment. You only get one chance to spoil a program’s new stadium debut, after all.

One player worth tuning in for: Arizona QB Jayden de Laura

11. Wyoming Cowboys at Illinois Fighting Illini

Why the game might be a drag: Neither team is likely to light up the scoreboard on offense, so you might have to look elsewhere in Week 0 if you want a high-scoring affair.

Why the game might be more interesting than you think: Both teams could bring the hammer on defense, so while this might not be as high profile a matchup as others, enthusiasts of a certain brand of college football could find a lot to like in that battle of wits.

One player worth tuning in for: Illinois DL Keith Randolph Jr.

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Mountain West Football: Ranking The 2022 Non-Conference Games, #29 to #20

The Mountain West has 49 non-conference games on the docket in 2022. These ten games may pique your interest for a number of reasons.

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Mountain West Football: Ranking The 2022 Non-Conference Games, #29 to #20

The Mountain West has 49 non-conference games on the docket in 2022. These ten games may pique your interest for a number of reasons.

Contact/Follow @MWCwire

Not the best, but interesting in their own rights.

Our countdown of Mountain West football’s top non-conference games continues into the middle of the pack. There’s a lot of potential for blowouts in this bunch of games, but with college football you can never be totally certain of what will happen.

If you missed the first two parts of our rankings, you can find #49 to #40 here and #39 to #30 here.

29. Boise State Broncos at UTEP Miners

Why the game might be a drag: These two teams haven’t played very often, but it has never been particularly close. Given Boise State’s talent advantage on paper, why would that chance in 2022?

Why the game might be more interesting than you think: Though UTEP fell off a bit in the second half of last year, the Miners are still much improved overall and should be in a position to put up much more of a fight for a change.

Another player worth tuning in for: UTEP DE Praise Amaewhule

28. North Texas Mean Green vs. UNLV Rebels

Why the game might be a drag: If the Mean Green and Rebels from the first half of last year show up, there may not be much offense to root for.

Why the game might be more interesting than you think: If the Mean Green and Rebels from the second half of the year show up, when both teams were much more competitive, this could be one of the more underappreciated G5-vs.-G5 matchups on the schedule.

One player worth tuning in for: North Texas LB KD Davis

27. UNLV Rebels at Notre Dame Fighting Irish

Why the game might be a drag: The Irish haven’t lost to a Mountain West team since 2007 and the Rebels have too much uncertainty to seriously challenge a likely top-25 team on the road.

Why the game might be more interesting than you think: Notre Dame is turning over personnel at enough key positions that, if UNLV’s top young talents get after it, the road team could give these Irish an unexpected test.

One player worth tuning in for: Notre Dame TE Michael Mayer

26. Western Michigan Broncos vs. San Jose State Spartans

Why the game might be a drag: The Broncos had one of the more exciting offenses in the Group of 5 last year, but they’re replacing their star quarterback and top wide receiver.

Why the game might be more interesting than you think: Well, the Spartans flopped hard in this matchup a year ago, so revenge games are always worth keeping an eye on.

One player worth tuning in for: Western Michigan RB Sean Tyler

25. UNLV Rebels at California Golden Bears

Why the game might be a drag: In recent years, Cal has not possessed what you’d call a top-tier offense. The Bears might be able to put the young Rebels in a proverbial defensive chokehold, though, and win a low-scoring snoozefest.

Why the game might be more interesting than you think: Because Cal can struggle to score points, UNLV might have a better chance at an upset bid than you’d suspect if the offense can pull things together.

One player worth tuning in for: CB Lu-Magia Hearns III

24. Middle Tennessee State Blue Raiders vs. Colorado State Rams

Why the game might be a drag: Both teams are probably going to want to throw the ball a lot, but what happens if one or both offenses isn’t firing on all cylinders?

Why the game might be more interesting than you think: It could be a compelling contrast of styles when Fort Air Raid contends with a defense that has a couple players who can get after the quarterback.

One player worth tuning in for: Middle Tennessee State DE Jordan Ferguson

23. Hawaii Warriors at Michigan Wolverines

Why the game might be a drag: The Warriors are restocking after an arduous early off-season and Michigan is coming off of a College Football Playoff berth. Needless to say, there’s a huge talent disparity.

Why the game might be more interesting than you think: Now that the Wolverines are replacing some high-end defensive talents like Aiden Hutchinson, what happens if the Warriors come out swinging and are able to protect the quarterback?

One player worth tuning in for: Michigan QB Cade McNamara

22. Tulsa Golden Hurricane vs. Wyoming Cowboys

Why the game might be a drag: Concerns about the Cowboys offense may not be alleviated even against a Tulsa defense that saw its best player leave via the transfer portal and a remade defense could struggle against what looks like a solid ground game.

Why the game might be more interesting than you think: The closer you look, the more you realize these teams have a lot in common: Strong running backs, a knack for developing talent, and stingy defenses.

One player worth tuning in for: Tulsa CB Tyon Davis

21. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs. Hawaii Warriors

Why the game might be a drag: WKU burst back onto the national scene last year with a record-breaking offense, but the offensive coordinator, quarterback and top two receivers are all gone. How much of a falloff could there be?

Why the game might be more interesting than you think: If there isn’t much regression, and if Hawaii hits its offensive stride early, both teams could light up the scoreboard in a defense-optional tilt.

One player worth tuning in for: Western Kentucky WR Daewood Davis

20. Toledo Rockets vs. San Diego State Aztecs

Why the game might be a drag: Do you like offense? The Aztecs may be more than happy to fall back on its field position game while the Rockets are replacing their top running back and may not have enough elsewhere on offense to keep the home team from outlasting them in a rock fight.

Why the game might be more interesting than you think: Do you like defense? According to Bill Connelly’s recent SP+ projection update, both the Rockets and Aztecs project to have top-25 units on that side of the ball this season, meaning this could be a whole new kind of chess match between two excellent units.

One player worth tuning in for: Toledo LB Jamal Hines

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2022 Mountain West TV Schedule Announced For FOX, CBS Games

2022 Mountain West TV Schedule Announced For FOX, CBS Games TV times are (mostly set) Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire CBS and FOX came through The Mountain West announced its television slate for their controlled FOX and CBS Sports games for …

2022 Mountain West TV Schedule Announced For FOX, CBS Games

TV times are (mostly set)

Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire

CBS and FOX came through

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The Mountain West announced its television slate for their controlled FOX and CBS Sports games for the upcoming football season. They keep giving us the breadcrumbs are we are now 100 days until Week 1 and 93 from the Week 0 matchups.

CBS Sports announced games earlier this week and there will be four Mountain West games on broadcast TV. Now, the rest of the schedule is out for any FOX owned game, CBS Sports Network games, plus a few non-conference games since today was apparently the day to release schedules for the entire college football universe.

There will be a total of 49 games on CBS Sports Network and a FOX channel (FOX, FS1 or FS2). The FOX games have a 12-day window the exact network is not yet known for those broadcasts.

Hawaii has games on PPV with Spectrum sports and will be announced later, as will games that are streaming only.

The Mountain West title game will air on FOX, once again, and will kick off at the highest ranked team within the league and at 4 p.m. ET.

Below are the team announcement of the games. Also, clicking on each team name will take you to their full schedule with all TV and kick times noted.

Air Force

Boise State

Colorado State

Fresno State

Hawaii

Nevada

New Mexico

San Diego State

San Jose State

UNLV

Utah State

https://www.facebook.com/usufootball/posts/5352488858135445?__cft__[0]=AZUfKiGsTg4Df4sLVo9jt6FRPbaxwkYhdXGBDH1bQdkjz2El1VcidEnpjHx_5iDex2vDf0gUUsiDZR7keDrZ-M21cho4g9X2N2e71pdbxf5MfXiPALteE0io8pdfXtl87T9xv6jzTW9oVRv-m-Vjd0Fo&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R

Wyoming


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Mountain West Football: Ranking The 2022 Non-Conference Games, #49 to #40

The Mountain West has 49 non-conference games on the collective schedule this fall. We’re ranking every single one, starting at the bottom.

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Mountain West Football: Ranking The 2022 Non-Conference Games, #49 to #40

The Mountain West has 49 non-conference games on the collective schedule this fall. We’re ranking every single one, starting at the bottom.

Contact/Follow @MWCwire

Every game is still a treasure… right?

If you’re like us, you’re already obsessing about the 2022 college football season.

We’re within 100 days of Week 0 at this point, which means that non-conference action is just over the horizon. These games? They may not be the most interesting tilts on Mountain West football’s overall docket but there are still some glimmers of intrigue that make them worth watching.

49. Duquesne Dukes vs. Hawaii Warriors

Why the game might be a drag: Duquesne has to replace four first-team all-Northeast Conference players, including their top pass catcher and offensive lineman, which could make it difficult to match Hawaii on the scoreboard if Timmy Chang’s attack comes out swinging.

Why the game might be more interesting than you think: The Dukes were very quietly a pretty solid FCS team in 2021, going so far as to knock off the Ohio Bobcats en route to a 7-3 campaign. If the Warriors struggle to put their offense together, Duquesne could put together an unexpected upset bid.

One player worth tuning in for: Duquesne RB Billy Lucas

48. Maine Black Bears vs. New Mexico Lobos

Why the game might be a drag: The Black Bears were merely okay in 2021, finishing 6-5 and slightly below the FCS average in both total offense and total defense. If the Lobos haven’t yet resolved last season’s quarterback woes, it could end up being a low-scoring slog.

Why the game might be more interesting than you think: Maine has a stout running game and offensive line, including second-team all-CAA pick Michael Gerace, that should provide a decent test for Rocky Long’s 3-3-5 defense.

One player worth tuning in for: Maine QB Derek Robertson

47. Idaho State Bengals vs. UNLV Rebels

Why the game might be a drag: We don’t know how much better the Rebels will actually be after suffering some hard luck losses in 2021 and the Bengals are starting over with a new head coach after finishing 1-10 last year. At worst, it’s a struggle for both sides to run the ball; at best, UNLV runs away with a non-descript win as expected.

Why the game might be more interesting than you think: The Bengals offense might be young, but they’ll get every chance to grow together. Couple that with the reality that UNLV lost to FCS Eastern Washington last year, and Rebels fans will surely know better than to take any opponent for granted.

One player worth tuning in for: Idaho State C Terron Carey

46. Idaho State Bengals vs. San Diego State Aztecs

Why the game might be a drag: If UNLV still has a degree of uncertainty around here, San Diego State definitely does not. Aztecs fans might enjoy an easy romp, but that may not draw much outside interest.

Why the game might be more interesting than you think: If San Diego State is sluggish on offense, the Bengals might be able to hang around a little longer than expected, especially if they can find answers of their own on that side of the ball.

Another player worth tuning in for: Idaho State QB Sagan Gronauer

45. Incarnate Word Cardinals vs. Nevada Wolf Pack

Why the game might be a drag: Both teams are rebuilding to a pretty drastic extent. UIW lost its star quarterback and its head coach to Washington State, so it definitely won’t be the same team that won ten games and the Southland Conference crown last year.

Why the game might be more interesting than you think: Given his track record of success coaching at Hawaii and UCF, new Cardinals head coach G.J. Kinne might be able to keep the attack humming after all. They weren’t known for playing a ton of defense even when they won, too, so this could be a track meet if Nevada can pull its own offense together.

One player worth tuning in for: Incarnate Word WR Taylor Grimes

44. Sacramento State Hornets vs. Colorado State Rams

Why the game might be a drag: If the Rams’ revamped Air Raid comes out firing on all cylinders, it’s hard to imagine Sac State will have the firepower to keep up.

Why the game might be more interesting than you think: Well, we just saw the Rams get run over by another pretty good FCS team last season and, coincidentally enough, these Hornets played that South Dakota State squad a lot tougher in the playoffs.

One player worth tuning in for: Sacramento State TE Marshel Martin

43. Cal Poly Mustangs vs. Fresno State Bulldogs

Why the game might be a drag: Fresno State might be the best team in the Mountain West. Cal Poly might be the worst team in the Big Sky.

Why the game might be more interesting than you think: Mustangs head coach Beau Baldwin has a track record of building powerful offenses and he might finally have the pieces in place to take a big step forward this fall.

One player worth tuning in for: Cal Poly WR Chris Coleman

42. UT Martin Skyhawks vs. Boise State Broncos

Why the game might be a drag: The lone previous time these two teams played, it wasn’t close. Granted, next year’s Skyhawks should be markedly better than the 2013 edition, but the Broncos defense could stifle them early and often.

Why the game might be more interesting than you think: The defending Ohio Valley Conference probably won’t shy away from the challenge of playing on the blue and have a handful of intriguing young talents who could lead the charge.

One player worth tuning in for: UT Martin RB Zak Wallace

41. Northern Colorado Bears vs. Wyoming Cowboys

Why the game might be a drag: It’s not clear whether the Pokes will be reloading or rebuilding in 2022, but UNC has not had a very good off-season and may not put up much of a fight despite internal optimism.

Why the game might be more interesting than you think: Wyoming hasn’t exactly blown away FCS competition in recent years: The Cowboys haven’t beaten a team from that level by more than one score since 2017.

One player worth tuning in for: Northern Colorado LB David Hoage

40. San Jose Spartans vs. New Mexico State Aggies

Why the game might be a drag: The Aggies are starting over under a new head coach and the Spartans are motivated to prove that 2021 was an aberration. Despite turning over a few new leaves, NMSU may not offer much resistance.

Why the game might be more interesting than you think: These two teams battled in a back-and-forth affair that flew under the radar last year, so there’s always the possibility we could get another unexpected pointsplosion.

One player worth tuning in for: New Mexico State LB Chris Ojoh

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CBS To Feature Four Mountain West Games

CBS To Feature Four Mountain West Games Some big time spots for the conference Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire Mountain West gonna get some eyeballs. The Mountain West football broadcast schedule is slowly coming together as CBS announced its …

CBS To Feature Four Mountain West Games

Some big time spots for the conference

Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire

Mountain West gonna get some eyeballs.

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The Mountain West football broadcast schedule is slowly coming together as CBS announced its initial slate of their games of the week. Typically, the SEC is on over-the-air CBS for their games but the Mountain West has a deal with the Tiffany company for games as well.

CBS Sports Network was usually the one showing Mountain West games, but under the most recent television rights agreement, CBS has committed to putting a few more Mountain West teams on broadcast television.

This year there are four Mountain West games getting this treatment.

San Diego State will get to showcase SnapDragon Stadium on national television and they will host the Arizona Wildcats at 12:30 p.m. PT. Also, this is a chance for the Aztecs to keep on improving their record against the Pac-12.

The next team is an in-state matchup on Sept. 10 with Colorado going to Air Force, also at 3:30 p.m. ET. Despite the Buffaloes and Falcons both being from Colorado, this will be just the 18th meeting. The two faced off in 2019 with Air Force winning, 30-23. Before that matchup two years ago, the last time Air Force and Colorado meet up came in 1974.

Mountain West Football’s 2022 Schedule Released

On Oct. 1, Air Force hosts Navy for one of the legs of the Commander-In-Chief trophy, and the Cadetes and Middies will be in for a breakfast-style game as it will kick off at 10 a.m. local time in Colorado Springs.

The final CBS game is Boise State hosting Utah State and in a return game of last year’s 10 a.m. local kick that was one of the more unique games of the year which saw the Broncos crush the soon-to-be conference champion Aggies, 42-13.

Getting these four games on over-the-air TV is a great thing for the conference. They are facing two Power 5 teams — yeah, yeah, it’s two of the worst in the Pac- 12 — Navy and it includes the defending champion Aggies and one of the most popular Group of 5 teams in Boise State.

 


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ESPN’s FPI Predicts San Diego State’s 2022 Football Record

ESPN’s FPI Predicts San Diego State’s 2022 Football Record What does this computer rating have to say about the 2022 season? Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire How many wins for the Aztecs?? ESPN’s Football Power Index was recently released and …

ESPN’s FPI Predicts San Diego State’s 2022 Football Record

What does this computer rating have to say about the 2022 season?

Contact/Follow @JeremyMauss & @MWCwire

How many wins for the Aztecs??

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ESPN’s Football Power Index was recently released and that gives us a whole slew of numbers to pore over and try to figure things out for the upcoming season.

The FPI does give out a very precise win and loss totals and they put San Diego State at 3.1 wins for this season. Below we will go through and see how many games the Lobow are favored to win.

The FPI also goes deeper with percentages to win the division and conference. The Aztecs are given a 29.1% percent chance to win the division and for the conference, they are given 10.1%.

SP+ Predicts San Diego State’s 2022 Football Schedule

San Diego State’s initial FPI number is 80.

Sept 3 Arizona (SP+: 89 | WIN)

Sept 10 Idaho State (SP+: N\A | WIN)

Sept 17 at Utah (SP+: 15 | LOSS)

Sept 24 Toledo (SP+: 68 | LOSS)

Oct 1 at Boise State (SP+: 47 | LOSS)

Oct 8 Hawaii (SP+: 108 | WIN)

Oct 15 OPEN DATE

Oct 22 at Nevada (SP+: 101 | WIN)

Oct 29 at Fresno State (SP+: 69 | LOSS)

Nov 5 UNLV (SP+: 117 | WIN)

Nov 12 San Jose State (SP+: 109 | WIN)

Nov 19 at New Mexico (SP+: 127 | WIN)

Nov 26 Air Force (SP+: 71 | LOSS)

Based on these FPI rankings, San Diego State is projected to be favored in seven of its 12 games.


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PODCAST: 2022 Wyoming Football Preview

PODCAST: 2022 Wyoming Football Preview Get ready for the Cowboys this year Contact/Follow @MWCwire A lot of new faces in Laramie Jeremy and Matt are back to preview the 2022 Wyoming football season in our first of 12 weekly previews for the upcoming …

PODCAST: 2022 Wyoming Football Preview

Get ready for the Cowboys this year

Contact/Follow @MWCwire

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A lot of new faces in Laramie

Jeremy and Matt are back to preview the 2022 Wyoming football season in our first of 12 weekly previews for the upcoming college football season. The Cowboys will be an interesting team as they lost many players to the transfer portal and a handful to Power 5 programs, but they also received interest and commits through the portal to offset what they lost. The quarterback is a big issue as they lost their first- and second-signal caller to the portal.

The defense also took a hit by losing multiple players to graduation and the NFL Draft. The one big question always remains and that is can Wyoming have a passing game just a little bit better to go alongside a traditionally very good defense.

You can find the Mountain West Wire podcast below or subscribe to the show via Stitcher Radio, TuneIn, Spotify, iTunes, and more. Listen in, subscribe and rate it and let us know what you think!

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