CSJ Conference Preview: Mountain West Conference

College Sports Journal announces their 2018 Fearless Prediction for the Order of finish of the Mountain West Conference, the fourth of our Group of Five Conference previews.

The Mountain West Conference heads into 2018 with familiar faces projected to be at the top of the league. Boise State won the league last year and won its bowl game–the Las Vegas Bowl last year over Oregon. The Broncos should challenge for a New Year’s Six bowl bid.

In the West Division, San Diego State and Fresno State are the teams to beat once again. The Bulldogs seem to be a bit stronger than the Aztecs, but it’s a tossup for the top spot in the West.

Utah State, Colorado State and Wyoming seem to be the biggest challengers to Boise State in the Mountain Division.

For information and details on each school’s prospects for 2018, click on the links below.

Mountain Division

  1. Boise State
  2. Wyoming
  3. Colorado State
  4. Utah State
  5. Air Force
  6. New Mexico

West Division

  1. Fresno State
  2. San Diego State
  3. Nevada
  4. UNLV
  5. Hawai’i
  6. San Jose State

2018 MOUNTAIN WEST FOOTBALL PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM

Preseason MW Offensive Player of the Year
QB Brett Rypien, senior, Boise State

Preseason MW Defensive Player of the Year
DB Andrew Wingard, senior, Wyoming

Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year
KR Avery Williams, sophomore, Boise State

2018 Mountain West Football Preseason All-Conference Team
OFFENSE
QB Brett Rypien** Sr. Boise State
WR KeeSean Johnson* Sr. Fresno State
WR McLane Mannix So. Nevada
RB Alexander Mattison Jr. Boise State
RB Lexington Thomas* Sr. UNLV
OL Ezra Cleveland So. Boise State
OL John Molchon Jr. Boise State
OL Aaron Jenkins Sr. New Mexico
OL Keith Ismael** So. San Diego State
OL Tyler Roemer** So. San Diego State
TE Dax Raymond Jr. Utah State
DEFENSE
DL David Moa** Sr. Boise State
DL Curtis Weaver* So. Boise State
DL Youhanna Ghaifan* Jr. Wyoming
DL Carl Granderson* Sr. Wyoming
LB Jeffrey Allison* Jr. Fresno State
LB Jahlani Tavai** Sr. Hawai‘i
LB Malik Reed Sr. Nevada
DB Tyler Horton* Sr. Boise State
DB Dameon Baber* Sr. Nevada
DB Tariq Thompson** So. San Diego State
DB Andrew Wingard Sr. Wyoming
SPECIALISTS
P Ryan Stonehouse So. Colorado State
PK Dominik Eberle* Jr. Utah State
KR/PR Avery Williams** So. Boise State
* – MEMBER OF THE 2017 ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST FIRST TEAM.
** – MEMBER OF THE 2017 ALL-MOUNTAIN WEST SECOND TEAM.