2014 Mountain West Preview

The Mountain West has fallen from it's former self mostly due to attrition from conference realignment but it still has probably the best and most consistent performers of the mid majors. The conference is still anchored by Boise State, Fresno State and Utah State but some good hires in recent seasons and the normal rotation of depth and experience mean that each season brings a new challenger to the top of the conference.

Subtractions/Additions

Once again the Mountain West doesn't have any additions or subtractions, after the exodus and combination with members of the WAC the only realy realignment rumor is a reintrouction of BYU and that really isn't all that strong.

Recent History

Fresno State won the conference title last season and won the inagural MWC championship game. 2012 saw a three way tie between Fresno, Boise and San Diego State team that was hyped to be good but a surprise to actually win the conference. Prior to 2012 the previous eight conference championships were a combination of TCU, Utah and BYU. Those losses more than anything are what kept the Mountain West from reaching even greater heights.

Coaching Changes

There were only two coaching changes in the conference this season and both were extremely good. The first opening was caused by the leaving of long time Boise State coach Chris Peterson who left to take the vacated Washington job, who left with a 92-12 record at Boise. To replace Peterson the Broncos went back to the coaching tree and hired Bryan Harsin who spent two years as the Texas OC/QB coach and went 7-5 in year one at Arkansas State. Harsin is s a good fit culturally and was on many of the most succesful Peterson coaching staffs. The other opening came in Wyoming where Dave Christensen was fired after going 27-35. Christensen hit a high point in 2011 but was never able to get back above .500. Christensen was replaced by Craig Bohl, the winning coach of the past three FCS championships with the North Dakota State Bisons. The Bohl hire brings in one of the best coaches in the country and a man who understands both the challenges ahead and has the history to have a strategy to overcome the challenges of the position.

Team Write-ups (Division, 2013 W-L, Total Returning Starters, Returning Off (Starters (QB), % yards), Returning Def (Starters, % yards) *coach records are career numbers

Boise State Broncos: (Mountain, 8-5, 6 (Y), 75.1%, 8, 82.8%) Boise enters year 1 under Bryan Harsin with a bunch of question marks about what the post the Peterson era will be like and how it will shape up. The Boise State burst on the scene blueprint is there. High three star senior QB. Check. Returning highly productive running back. Check. Top two receivers. Yep. A bunch of returning experienced defensive talent. You know it. This team is set up to run through their division and based on the returners for the teams on the otherside of the league. Even with a new coach 2014 sets up very well for the Broncos, let's hope the kicking game is average or better. Current Head Coach: Bryan Harsin (7-5) New Hire

Utah State Aggies: (Mountain, 9-5, 3(Y), 38.7%, 4, 49.1%) Chuckie Keeton!!!! Chuckie is back and this program took a step under former coach Gary Anderson and I think Wells can pick that back up with some better injury luck and Chuckie back at the helm. They lose a lot from last years team but so does just about everyone in this conference. 9-5 last season and half that season was without their starting QB and RB. Current Head Coach: Matt Wells (9-5) Since: 2013

Colorado State Rams: (Mountain, 8-6, 6 (Y), 43.7%, 7, 74.9%) Colorado State loses their top three running backs but returna senior QB, and five of the top six receivers from last season. I expect the Rams to throw more this year even though McElwain came from a run first heavy backround at Alabama. On defense they return a good amount of talent from last season, but take a huge hit in the front seven but it could be possible that the large amount of returning talent in the back 7 of the defense. Current Head Coach: Jim McElwain (12-14) Since: 2012

Fresno State Bulldogs: (West, 11-2, 5 (N), 52%, 8, 72.8%) Fresno State is coming off one of the most successful seasons in quite a few years. The Bulldogs won the conference but caught an over talented for the level USC team in the bowl game. The offense loses quite a bit, not the least of which are QB Derek Carr and star wide receiver Davante Adams. They do bring back the top three running backs from last season and will need to lean on the running game and potentially breakout receiver Josh Harper. The defense brings back more with the linebacker and defensive back corps mostly intact. Fresno State will need to lean on the defense and running game early in the season but there are some returning weapons for the new starter under center. Current Head Coach: Tim DeRutyer (21-6) Since: 2012

San Diego State Aztecs: (West, 8-5, 6 (Y), 50.4%, 9, 68.2%) San Diego State has enough coming back to be an interesting and dangerous team in the West division of the MWC, but that all hinges on the play of Quinn Kaehler. Kaehler was better than any of the alternatives last season but he only completed 60% of his passes and took 26 sacks which is unexceptable. Around Kaehler he lost bruising tailback Adam Muema, and three of his top four targets from last season. but retains his two most effective receivers. The defense brings back most of the playmakers on the line but has a couple holes to fill in the secondary to make the transition into 2014 smooth. With some help and luck this could certainly be your West representative in the championship game. Current Head Coach: Rocky Long (90-83) Since: 2011

UNLV Rebels: (West, 7-6, 9 (N), 55.9%, 6, 62.3%) Coach Hauck had a breakthrough in 2013 getting the Rebels to their first bowl game in since 2000. Now low grades have cost the Rebels a shot at a second straight bowl game. This team had some promise but questions abound about how they will replace their QB and top RB. All five starters are back on the offensive line and that should add a stability to an offense that needs to incorporate key skill pieces. On defense the top thee DTs are gone, two starting LBs gone, but the secondary brings back three starters and plenty of experience. Current Head Coach: Bobby Hauck (93-55) Since: 2010

Wyoming Cowboys: (Mountain, 5-7, 8 (N), 57.7%, 8, 78.8%) Wyoming disappointed last season with and it got their coach fired but 2014 has some promissing signs but a new coach and a new QB temper expectations. Brett Smith unexpectedly left this offseason for the NFL eskewing his senior season, he would have been a great fit for Bohl in year one. Along with Smith the offense lost Robert Herron the explosive wide receiver. The front seven brings back a lot of experience and returing starters, but the secondary needs to replace the best performer and by far the most impactful player it had last season. Year one under Bohl has promise but key players need to be replaced with haste early on but I can definitely see this team making a bowl year one and the future is bright. Current Head Coach: Craig Bohl (104-32) New Hire
New Mexico Lobos: (Mountain, 3-9, 8 (Y), 73.7%, 6, 67.1%) In the words of SBNation's Spencer Hall (@edsbs) "Bob Davie got himself into a little trouble down there in New Mexico. He was only gonna be there for one year..." Davie is in year three and has managed to create a pretty impressive run game for the Lobos but the defense has been atrocious and holding back any significant amount of progress. The D-line needs some help, but the linebacking corps brings back a lot of experience and the secondary is almost completely intact and should improve. If so old Bob can make improvements on D then New Mexico has a shot at it's first .500 season in quite some time. Current Head Coach: Bob Davie (42-43) Since: 2012

San Jose State Spartans: (West, 6-6, 5 (N), 62%, 9, 68.2%) The first things to touch on for the Spartans is that they lose David Fales at QB and 4200 yards with a 64% completion percentage isn't easily replaced for most teams let alone San Jose State. Apart from that they return both starting running backs, although neither was overly explosive. Two of the top three receivers but for the rest it is unknown how much they will fall off without fales. The front seven remains almost completely intact but the secondary is going to need to replace a great corner and a heavy contributor at nickle back. Current Head Coach: Ron Caragher (50-28) Since: 2007

Nevada Wolfpack: (West, 4-8, 8 (Y), 69.3%, 10, 84.4%) Nevada brings back senior QB Cody Fajardo who has been starting for the Wolfpack since Colin Kapernick left to tear shit up in the NFL. Fajardo has had some injury concerns but he threw for 2600 yards at a 68% clip and ran for another 750 yards. The running backs neeed to get more explosive and he lost his best receiver but the next three are all back. The overarching theme is that the offense needs mroe explosiveness. On defense this team wasn't very good but it brings back 10 players and that portends some improvement, but how much improvement can there be without an increase in the talent on the squad. Current Head Coach: Brian Polian (4-8) Since: 2013

Air Force Falcons: (Mountain, 2-10, 6 (Y), 71.9%, 9, 78.5%) Air Force has been getting incrimentaly worse each of the last four seasons. This year's team brings back a ton of talent but it lacks explosiveness in the back field and doesn't pass enough to make it much of a threat. And the defense should be better much like Nevada but to what extent? I have my doubts. Current Head Coach: Troy Calhoun (29-27) Since: 2007

Hawaii Rainbow Warriors: (West, 1-11, 7 (N), 61.9%, 6, 54.7%) A moderate amount of last years starters return but the talent on this roster has bottomed out and that is saying something when you play in a mid major conference. Current Head Coach: Norm Chow (4-20) Since: 2012

2014 Predicted Standings

Mountain: 1) Boise State, 2) Utah State, 3) Colorado State, 4) Wyoming, 5) New Mexico, 6) Air Force

West: 1) Fresno State, 2) San Diego State, 3) UNLV, 4) Nevada, 5) San Jose State, 6) Hawaii