2023 College Football Review: Mountain West
Photo by B.J. Rains from Bronco News Nation
Mountain West?
More like MOUNTAIN ah. I’m not going to do it again.
The Mountain West ended in a 3 way tie! The title game had to be determined by a computer system.
What a conference.
But here’s how it all worked out.
1. UNLV Rebels (My Prediction: 8)
Former Missouri coach Barry Odom took over UNLV this year, and instantly turned them around from a mid tier Mountain West team to the regular season conference champion and host of the Mountain West Championship Game.
It can’t be understated how good of a job Barry Odom did here.
He deserves the coach of the year votes he will get.
2. Boise State Broncos [Conference Champion] (My Prediction: 1 & Conference Champion)
There was no question who the top team in this conference should be, and that was Boise State.
But head coach Andy Avalos did not have the Broncos living up to that level, as they were on the verge of missing the title game entirely.
Avalos was fired, interim coach Spencer Danielson took over, and the Broncos won out the rest of the way and won a conference championship.
The team is so talented that all they need is a coach to not mismanage games and screw things up.
It paid off in the end, even if it was topsy turvy for a bit there.
3. San Jose State Spartans (My Prediction: 3)
San Jose State last year was the victim of one score losses.
This year those turned around, and the Spartans tied for top spot in the conference.
Those pesky computers though put them third.
Tragic.
4. Air Force Falcons (My Prediction: 2)
Talk about the wheels falling off.
Air Force started the year 8-0 before dropping their last 4 games, including losses to Army and Hawaii.
It went from a dream season to a complete disaster in a matter of weeks.
It even lost them the Commander-In-Chiefs trophy.
5. Wyoming Cowboys (My Prediction: 5)
Wyoming was fun this year.
And that’s all we’re really looking for, right?
Something fun?
At least I am.
6. Fresno State Bulldogs (My Prediction: 4)
It was clear Fresno was going to struggle after Jake Haener left for the NFL.
But still, the Bulldogs went 8-4 on the year and got a nice road win over Purdue.
Nothing shabby at all.
7. Utah State Aggies (My Prediction: 7)
Let’s look at my prediction before the season.
Blake Anderson’s first year at Utah State was actually pretty good!
They finished below .500, but it takes time to turn things around.
And I think they’re going to hang around .500 once again this year.
And how did Utah State end up?
6-6.
I am a genius.
8. Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (My Prediction: 11)
Hawaii went 5-8!
Timmy Chang has done an absolutely tremendous job at a program who was in terrible turmoil before he got there.
There’s no reason they shouldn’t continue to improve under Chang.
9. Colorado State Rams (My Prediction: 10)
I did not have a lot of faith in Jay Norvell going into this season.
And hey, I was maybe wrong.
The Rams went 5-7, which isn’t tremendous, but it’s better than their 3 win season a year ago.
10. Nevada Wolfpack (My Prediction: 9)
Nevada was 2-10 last year.
Nevada was 2-10 this year.
Yikes.
11. New Mexico Lobos (My Prediction: 12)
Were they the second worst team in the conference? Yes.
Did they still go 4-8? Yes!
Did they fire their coach anyway? Also yes.
Former Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall will take over next year.
That could be a nice hire.
12. San Diego State Aztecs (My Prediction: 6)
Speaking of fun hires, San Diego State has hired young offensive guru Sean Lewis will take over the Aztecs next year after Brady Hoke decided to “retire” or whatever they’re calling it.
And if there was ever a team that needed a fun offensive coach, it was SDSU.
My word this team was boring.
