The 2016 Mountain West Conference football season was the 18th season of college football for the Mountain West Conference (MW). In the 2016 NCAA Division I FBS football season, the MW had 12 football members: Air Force, Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, San Diego State, San Jose State, UNLV, Utah State, and Wyoming.
Preseason
Mountain West Media
2016 Mountain West Football Media Days were held on July 26 and 27 at the Cosmopolitan on the Las Vegas Strip.
Preseason polls
Reference:
- First place votes in parentheses
Preseason All-Mountain West Teams
Reference:
- Preseason Offensive Player of the Year:
Donnel Pumphrey, SR., RB, San Diego State
- Preseason Defensive Player of the Year:
Damontae Kazee, SR., DB, San Diego State
- Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year:
Rashaad Penny, JR., KR, San Diego State
(* - member of the 2015 All-Mountain West first team)
(** - member of the 2015 All-Mountain West second team)
Award watch lists
The following Mountain West players were named to preseason award watch lists.
Maxwell Award:
- Jacobi OwensâÂÂAir Force
- Jeremy McNicholsâÂÂBoise State
- Brett RypienâÂÂBoise State
- Donnel PumphreyâÂÂSan Diego State
- Brian HillâÂÂWyoming
Chuck Bednarik Award:
- Damontae KazeeâÂÂSan Diego State
- Calvin MunsonâÂÂSan Diego State
John Mackey Award:
- Jake RohâÂÂBoise State
- Jarred GipsonâÂÂNevada
- Billy FreemanâÂÂSan Jose State
- Wyatt HoustonâÂÂUtah State
Rimington Trophy:
- Jake BennettâÂÂColorado State
- Asotui EliâÂÂHawai'i
- Nathan GoltryâÂÂNevada
- Arthur FloresâÂÂSan Diego State
- Will KreitlerâÂÂUNLV
- Austin StephensâÂÂUtah State
Lou Groza Award:
- Tyler RausaâÂÂBoise State
- Brent ZuzoâÂÂNevada
Ray Guy Award:
- Hayden HuntâÂÂColorado State
- Alex BoyâÂÂNevada
- Michael CarrizosaâÂÂSan Jose State
- Ethan WoodâÂÂWyoming
Bronko Nagurski Trophy:
- Weston SteelhammerâÂÂAir Force
- Tanner VallejoâÂÂBoise State
- Calvin MunsonâÂÂSan Diego State
Outland Trophy:
- Fred ZerblisâÂÂColorado State
- Austin CorbettâÂÂNevada
- Nico SiragusaâÂÂSan Diego State
- Chase RoullierâÂÂWyoming
Jim Thorpe Award:
- Roland LadipoâÂÂAir Force
- Weston SteelhammerâÂÂAir Force
- Damontae KazeeâÂÂSan Diego State
- Andrew WingardâÂÂWyoming
Butkus Award:
- Tanner VallejoâÂÂBoise State
- Kevin DavisâÂÂColorado State
- Calvin MunsonâÂÂSan Diego State
Fred Biletnikoff Award:
- Thomas SperbeckâÂÂBoise State
- Hasaan HendersonâÂÂNevada
- Jerico RichardsonâÂÂNevada
- Devonte BoydâÂÂUNLV
Wuerffel Trophy:
- Zack GolditchâÂÂColorado State
- Jeremy MaculeyâÂÂNevada
- Daniel BrunskillâÂÂSan Diego State
- Tim CrawleyâÂÂSan Jose State
- Travis SeefeldtâÂÂUtah State
Davey O'Brien Award:
- Brett RypienâÂÂBoise State
Doak Walker Award:
- Jacobi OwensâÂÂAir Force
- Paul HarrisâÂÂHawai'i
- James ButlerâÂÂNevada
- Donnel PumphreyâÂÂSan Diego State
- Devante MaysâÂÂUtah State
- Brian HillâÂÂWyoming
Walter Camp Award:
- Brett RypienâÂÂBoise State
- Donnel PumphreyâÂÂSan Diego State
Paul Hornung Award:
- Rashaad PennyâÂÂSan Diego State
- Tim CrawleyâÂÂSan Jose State
Coaches
NOTE: Stats shown are before the beginning of the season
Rankings
Championship game
The Championship Game was played between the San Diego State Aztecs, champions of the West Division, and the Wyoming Cowboys, champions of the Mountain Division, on December 3, 2016, at War Memorial Stadium in Laramie, Wyoming. The Aztecs won 27âÂÂ24, repeating as champions. Running back Rashaad Penny of San Diego State was the offensive MVP, and defensive back Damontae Kazee of San Diego State was the defensive MVP.
Bowl games
Mountain West vs Power Conference matchups
Records against other conferences
2016 records against non-conference foes:
Regular season
Post Season
Awards and honors
All Conference teams
- Offensive Player of the Year: Donnel Pumphrey, SR., RB, San Diego State
- Defensive Player of the Year: Damontae Kazee, SR., DB, San Diego State
- Special Teams Player of the Year: Rashaad Penny, JR., KR, San Diego State
- Freshman of the Year: Logan Wilson, LB, Wyoming
- Coach of the Year: Craig Bohl, Wyoming
Offense:
Defense:
(* â Two-Time First-Team Selection)<br/>(** â Three-Time First-Team Selection)<br/>(*** â Two-Time Second-Team Selection)
Honorable Mentions:
- Air Force: Haji Dunn, Sr., LB; Tim McVey, Jr., KR; Colin Sandor, Sr., OL; Dylan Vail, Sr., OL.
- Boise State: Steven Baggett, Sr., OL; Mason Hampton, Jr., OL; Tanner Vallejo, Sr., LB; Cedrick Wilson, Jr., WR.
- Colorado State: Nick Callender, Sr., OL; Nick Stevens, Jr., QB; Paul Thurston, Sr., OL.
- Fresno State: Stratton Brown, Sr., DB; KeeSean Johnson, So., WR; Kody Kroening, Jr., P.
- Hawai'i: Trayvon Henderson, Jr., DB; Marcus Kemp, Sr., WR; Leo Koloamatangi, Sr., OL; Meffy Koloamatangi, Jr., DL; Jalen Rogers, Sr., DB; Rigoberto Sanchez, Sr., PK/P.
- Nevada: James Butler, Jr., RB; Wyatt Demps, Jr., WR; Asauni Rufus, So., DB.
- New Mexico: Dakota Cox, Sr., LB; Daniel Henry, Sr., DB; Aaron Jenkins, So., OL; Jason Sanders, Jr., PK.
- San Diego State: Kyle Kelley, Sr., DL; Quest Truxton, Jr., PR.
- San Jose State: Michael Carrizosa, Jr., P; Isaiah Irving, Sr., DL; Jeremiah Kolone, Jr., OL; Maurice McKnight, Jr., DB; Christian Tago, Sr., LB.
- UNLV: Troy Hawthorne, Sr., DB; Mike Hughes, Jr., DL; Nathan Jacobson, So., OL; Will Kreitler, Sr., OL; Torry McTyer, Sr., DB.
- Utah State: Austin Albrecht, Sr., OL; Ricky Ali'ifua, Sr., DL; Wyatt Houston, Sr., TE; Jake Simonich, Sr., OL; Austin Stephens, Sr., OL.
- Wyoming: Lucas Wacha, Sr., LB
Home game attendance
Bold â Exceed capacity<br/> â Season High
References