The Air Force and Colorado State football teams were picked to finish third and fourth, respectively, in the Mountain Division, according to the Mountain West Conference’s preseason media poll released Wednesday.
Air Force (2-2) finished fifth in the conference last year, and CSU (2-3) was eighth. The Mountain West did not have divisions in 2020 due to the shortened season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Rams were voted in as the favorite to win the Mountain West three times, from 2001-03. The Falcons have never been projected to win the conference in the preseason poll.
Perennial favorite Boise State was picked to finish first in the Mountain Division, receiving 23 of the 25 first-place votes. The Broncos, who have opened the season as favorites for 11 straight years, are returning 19 starters from their 2020 squad. Wyoming earned the other two first-place votes and came in second.
In the West Division, Nevada was the favorite to finish on top, receiving 19 of the 25 votes. The other first-place votes went to San Jose State (five) and Fresno State (one).
CSU kicks off its season Sept. 3, hosting South Dakota State at Canvas Stadium. Air Force opens at home against Lafayette on Sept. 4.
Mountain Division
| Rank | Team (first-place votes) | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boise State (23) | 148 |
| 2 | Wyoming (2) | 115 |
| 3 | Air Force | 104 |
| 4 | Colorado State | 72 |
| 5 | Utah State | 47 |
| 6 | New Mexico | 39 |
West Division
| Rank | Team (first-place votes) | Pts |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada (19) | 141 |
| 2 | San José State (5) | 121 |
| 3 | San Diego State | 96 |
| 4 | Fresno State (1) | 85 |
| 5 | Hawai’i | 56 |
| 6 | UNLV | 26 |
Leave a Reply