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The Mountain West Conference Football Championship Game is an annual postseason college football game played to determine the champion of the Mountain West Conference (MW).
| Mountain West Conference Football Championship Game | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Sport | College football |
| Conference | Mountain West Conference |
| Current stadium | Hosted by top regular-season team (see below) |
| Current location | Varies by year |
| Played | 2013–present |
| Last contest | 2024 |
| Current champion | Boise State Broncos |
| Most championships | Boise State (5) |
| TV partner(s) | Fox/FS1 |
| Official website | League Site |
| Sponsors | |
| Hampton by Hilton | |
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From 1999 to 2012, the champion of the Mountain West was determined by regular season record. Beginning in 2013, following the expansion to twelve members and the division of the conference into Mountain and West Divisions, the conference championship game was held between the two division winners. The Mountain West is one of four conferences to have its championship game at a campus site, along with the American Athletic Conference, Conference USA, and the Sun Belt Conference.
The most recent 2022 championship game was the last to feature division winners. On May 20, 2022, the MW announced that it would eliminate its football divisions effective with the 2023 season, instead sending the top two teams in the conference standings to the title game.[1] Two days earlier, the NCAA Division I Council had approved a rule change that gave all FBS conferences full freedom to determine the participants in their football championship games.[2]
The inaugural MW Championship Game was played on December 7, 2013, at Fresno State's Bulldog Stadium and televised by CBS.[3]
The Mountain West Conference champion customarily receives a berth to play in the Las Vegas Bowl. However, if the MW champion finishes ranked ahead of the champions from the other "Group of Five" mid-major conferences (American Athletic Conference, Conference USA, MAC, and Sun Belt) by the selection committee of the College Football Playoff, it is guaranteed a berth in one of the non-semifinal "New Year's Six" bowls. If the conference champion is the highest ranked among group of 5 conference champions, the conference champion will play in the national championship playoff.
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Membership reflects changes that took effect with the 2013 season.
| Air Force | Fresno State |
| Boise State | Hawaii |
| Colorado State | Nevada |
| New Mexico | San Diego State |
| Utah State | San Jose State |
| Wyoming | UNLV |
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Pre-championship game era (1999–2012)
| Season | Champion(s) | Conf. record |
Overall record |
Bowl result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Utah | 5–2 | 9–3 | Won Las Vegas Bowl |
| BYU | 5–2 | 8–4 | Lost Motor City Bowl | |
| Colorado State | 5–2 | 8–4 | Lost Liberty Bowl | |
| 2000 | No. 14 Colorado State | 6–1 | 10–2 | Won Liberty Bowl |
| 2001 | No. 25 BYU | 7–0 | 12–2 | Lost Liberty Bowl |
| 2002 | Colorado State | 6–1 | 10–4 | Lost Liberty Bowl |
| 2003 | No. 21 Utah | 6–1 | 10–2 | Won Liberty Bowl |
| 2004 | No. 4 Utah | 7–0 | 12–0 | Won Fiesta Bowl |
| 2005 | No. 11 TCU | 8–0 | 11–1 | Won Houston Bowl |
| 2006 | No. 16 BYU | 8–0 | 11–2 | Won Las Vegas Bowl |
| 2007 | No. 14 BYU | 8–0 | 11–2 | Won Las Vegas Bowl |
| 2008 | No. 2 Utah | 8–0 | 13–0 | Won Sugar Bowl |
| 2009 | No. 6 TCU | 8–0 | 12–1 | Lost Fiesta Bowl |
| 2010 | No. 2 TCU | 8–0 | 13–0 | Won Rose Bowl |
| 2011 | No. 14 TCU | 7–0 | 11–2 | Won Poinsettia Bowl |
| 2012 | No. 18 Boise State | 7–1 | 11–2 | Won Maaco Bowl Las Vegas |
| Fresno State | 7–1 | 9–4 | Lost Hawaii Bowl | |
| San Diego State | 7–1 | 9–4 | Lost Poinsettia Bowl | |
| Total | 18 bowl games | 11 wins, 7 losses | ||
Final AP Poll rankings shown.
Mountain West Conference Championship Game (2013–present)
Below are the results from all Mountain West Conference Football Championship Games played. The winning team appears in bold font, on a background of their primary team color. Rankings are from the AP Poll released prior to the game.
| Year | West | Mountain | Site | Attendance | MVP | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 24 Fresno State Bulldogs | 24 | Utah State Aggies | 17 | Bulldog Stadium • Fresno, CA | 31,362 | QB Derek Carr, Fresno State |
| 2014 | Fresno State Bulldogs | 14 | 22 Boise State Broncos | 28 | Albertsons Stadium • Boise, ID | 26,101 | Offensive: QB Grant Hedrick, Boise State Defensive: MLB Tanner Vallejo, Boise State |
| 2015 | San Diego State Aztecs | 27 | Air Force Falcons | 24 | Qualcomm Stadium • San Diego, CA | 20,959 | Offensive: QB Christian Chapman, San Diego State Defensive: S Na'im McGee, San Diego State |
| 2016 | San Diego State Aztecs | 27 | Wyoming Cowboys | 24 | War Memorial Stadium • Laramie, WY | 24,001 | Offensive: RB Rashaad Penny, San Diego State Defensive: S Damontae Kazee, San Diego State |
| 2017 | 25 Fresno State Bulldogs | 14 | Boise State Broncos | 17 | Albertsons Stadium • Boise, ID | 24,515 | Offensive: QB Brett Rypien, Boise State Defensive: LB Leighton Vander Esch, Boise State |
| 2018 | 25 Fresno State Bulldogs | 19 | 19 Boise State Broncos | 16OT | 23,662 | Offensive: RB Alexander Mattison, Boise State Defensive: DE Mykal Walker, Fresno State | |
| 2019 | Hawaii Rainbow Warriors | 10 | 19 Boise State Broncos | 31 | 23,561 | Offensive: QB Jaylon Henderson, Boise State Defensive: DT Sonatane Lui, Boise State | |
| Year | No. 1 seed | No. 2 seed | Site | Attendance | MVP | ||
| 2020 | 25 San Jose State Spartans | 34 | Boise State Broncos | 20 | Sam Boyd Stadium • Whitney, NV | 0† | Offensive: QB Nick Starkel, San Jose State[4] Defensive: DE Cade Hall, San Jose State |
| Year | West | Mountain | Site | Attendance | MVP | ||
| 2021 | 19 San Diego State Aztecs | 13 | Utah State Aggies | 46 | Dignity Health Sports Park • Carson, CA | 13,445 | Offensive: QB Logan Bonner, Utah State Defensive: DE Byron Vaughns, Utah State |
| 2022 | Fresno State Bulldogs | 28 | Boise State Broncos | 16 | Albertsons Stadium • Boise, ID | 24,037 | Offensive: QB Jake Haener, Fresno State Defensive: DB Cam Lockridge, Fresno State |
| Year | No. 1 seed | No. 2 seed | Site | Attendance | MVP | ||
| 2023 | UNLV Rebels | 20 | Boise State Broncos | 44 | Allegiant Stadium • Paradise, NV | 31,473 | Offensive: Taylen Green, Boise State Defensive: Alexander Teubner, Boise State |
| 2024 | 10 Boise State Broncos | 21 | 20 UNLV Rebels | 7 | Albertsons Stadium • Boise, ID | 36,663 | Offensive: Ashton Jeanty, Boise State Defensive: Seyi Oladipo, Boise State |
† Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 game was played behind closed doors without fans.[5]
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| Games | School | W | L | Pct | Titles | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Boise State Broncos | 5 | 3 | .625 | 2014, 2017, 2019, 2023, 2024 | 2018, 2020, 2022 |
| 5 | Fresno State Bulldogs | 3 | 2 | .600 | 2013, 2018, 2022 | 2014, 2017 |
| 3 | San Diego State Aztecs | 2 | 1 | .667 | 2015, 2016 | 2021 |
| 2 | Utah State Aggies | 1 | 1 | .500 | 2021 | 2013 |
| 2 | UNLV Rebels | 0 | 2 | .000 | 2023, 2024 | |
| 1 | San Jose State Spartans | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 2020 | |
| 1 | Air Force Falcons | 0 | 1 | .000 | 2015 | |
| 1 | Wyoming Cowboys | 0 | 1 | .000 | 2016 | |
| 1 | Hawaii Rainbow Warriors | 0 | 1 | .000 | 2019 |
- Colorado State, Nevada, and New Mexico have yet to appear in a Mountain West Championship Game.
- UTEP will be joining the Mountain West starting with the 2026 season and will be eligible for the Mountain West Championship.
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The Tiebreaking procedures for both selection for the Championship game and determination of the host for the 2023 Season are as follows.[6]
Two-team tiebreaker procedure
- Head-to-head record between the tied teams
- Highest College Football Playoff (CFP) Selection Committee Ranking (or composite of selected computer rankings). If one or both teams are ranked in the Nov 21, 2023 CFP Rankings and win in the final weekend of regular season play, the CFP Rankings will serve at the tiebreaker. If no team is both ranked in the Nov 21 CFP rankings and wins in the final weekend then, "a composite average of selected computer rankings" will serve as the tiebreaker.
- Overall winning percentage against all opponents. (max one FCS win will be counted)
- Record against the next highest-placed team in the Conference Standings
- Winning percentage against common conference opponents.
- Coin toss
Three or more-team tiebreaker procedure
This procedure is used until two teams remain tied, then the two-team tiebreaker procedures will be used.
- Head-to-head winning percentage among the tied teams. If within the mini round-robin of tied teams, any of the tied teams did not play each other, the group of teams shall remain tied, unless one team defeated all other tied teams.
- Highest College Football Playoff (CFP) Selection Committee Ranking (or composite of selected computer rankings). If one or both teams are ranked in the Nov 21, 2023 CFP Rankings and win in the final weekend of regular season play, the CFP Rankings will serve at the tiebreaker. If no team is both ranked in the Nov 21 CFP rankings and wins in the final weekend then, "a composite average of selected computer rankings" will serve as the tiebreaker.
- Overall winning percentage against all opponents. (max one FCS win will be counted)
- Record against the next highest-placed team in the Conference Standings
- Winning percentage against common conference opponents.
- Drawing to be conducted virtually by the commissioner to determine the two teams.
Once the tie is reduced to two teams, then the two-team tiebreaker is used.
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Current procedure
The team with the best conference record hosts the championship game. The tiebreaker procedure for determining which teams are selected for the championship game also serves as the tiebreaking procedure for determining who is the host.
2018–2022 procedure
The team with the best conference record hosts the championship game. Before 2023, the division champion with the better conference record hosted the game. If the teams have the same record, the following tie-breaking procedure is used:[7]
- Head-to-head record
- Higher College Football Playoff ranking going into the final week of regular season, excluding teams who are not ranked and/or that lost their final regular season game
- Composite of selected computer rankings
- Record versus common conference opponents
- Highest overall winning percentage (conference and non-conference excluding exempt games)
- Coin toss
2013–2017 procedure
From 2013 to 2017, the division champion with the higher College Football Playoff ranking going into the final week of regular season was designated as the host school unless it lost its final regular season game. If the latter occurred, or neither team was ranked in the latest available College Football Playoff rankings, then the following procedure was used:[8]
- Team with better composite ranking among selected computer rankings
- Head-to-head record
- Record versus common conference opponents
- Winning percentage against the next-highest placed common conference opponent and proceeding through the conference, with placing based on:
- Placement within the division
- Overall conference record
- Composite of selected computer rankings
- Coin toss
This procedure was discontinued after the 2017 Mountain West Conference Football Championship Game after Boise State was selected to host the game despite having the same conference record as their opponent Fresno State and losing to Fresno State during the regular season.
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| Team | Record, Team vs. Opponent | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Most points scored (one team) | 46, Utah State vs. San Diego State | 2021 |
| Most points scored (losing team) | 24, Air Force vs. San Diego State Wyoming vs. San Diego State |
2015 2016 |
| Fewest points scored (winning team) | 17, Boise State vs. Fresno State | 2017 |
| Fewest points scored | 7, UNLV vs. Boise State | 2024 |
| Most points scored (both teams) | 64, Boise State (44) vs. UNLV (20) | 2023 |
| Fewest points scored (both teams) | 28, Boise State (21) vs. UNLV (7) | 2024 |
| Most points scored in a half | 32, Utah State (2nd half) vs. San Diego State | 2021 |
| Most points scored in a half (both teams) | 48, Boise State vs. UNLV (1st half) | 2023 |
| Largest margin of victory | 33, Utah State (46) vs. San Diego State (13) | 2021 |
| Smallest margin of victory | 3, San Diego State (27) vs. Air Force (24) San Diego State (27) vs. Wyoming (24) Boise State (17) vs. Fresno State (14) Fresno State (19) vs. Boise State (16) |
2015 2016 2017 2018 |
| Total yards | 527, Boise State (226 passing, 301 rushing) vs. UNLV | 2023 |
| Rushing yards | 305, Air Force vs. San Diego State | 2015 |
| Passing yards | 453, San Jose State vs. Boise State | 2020 |
| First downs | 26, San Jose State vs. Boise State | 2020 |
| Fewest yards allowed | 258, San Jose State vs. Boise State (221 passing, 37 rushing) | 2020 |
| Fewest rushing yards allowed | 37, San Jose State vs. Boise State | 2020 |
| Fewest passing yards allowed | 35, San Diego State vs. Air Force | 2015 |
| Individual | Record, Player, Team vs. Opponent | Year |
| Total Offense | 437, Nick Starkel, San Jose State vs. Boise State | 2020 |
| Touchdowns (all-purpose) | 4, shared by: Logan Bonner, Utah State vs. San Diego State Taylen Green, Boise State vs. UNLV | 2021, 2023 |
| Rushing yards | 209, Ashton Jeanty, Boise State vs. UNLV | 2024 |
| Rushing touchdowns | 3, Timothy McVey, Air Force vs. San Diego State | 2015 |
| Passing yards | 453, Nick Starkel, San Jose State vs. Boise State | 2020 |
| Passing touchdowns | 4, Logan Bonner, Utah State vs. San Diego State | 2021 |
| Receiving yards | 168, Davante Adams, Fresno State vs. Utah State | 2013 |
| Receiving touchdowns | 2, Brandon Bowling, Utah State vs. San Diego State | 2021 |
| Tackles | 16, Leighton Vander Esch, Boise State vs. Fresno State | 2017 |
| Sacks | 2, shared by eight players, most recent: Marco Notarainni, Boise State vs. UNLV | 2024 |
| Interceptions | 2, shared by: Brian Suite, Utah State vs. Fresno State Damontae Kazee, San Diego State vs. Wyoming | 2013 2016 |
| Long Plays | Record, Player, Team vs. Opponent | Year |
| Touchdown run | 75, Ashton Jeanty, Boise State vs. UNLV | 2024 |
| Touchdown pass | 58, Brandon Bowling from Logan Bonner, Utah State vs. San Diego State | 2021 |
| Kickoff return | 75, Rashaad Penny, San Diego State vs. Wyoming | 2016 |
| Punt return | 69, Avery Williams, Boise State vs. San Jose State | 2020 |
| Interception return | 63, Tanner Vallejo, Boise State vs. Fresno State | 2014 |
| Fumble return | 86, Jake Doughty, Utah State vs. Fresno State | 2013 |
| Punt | 75, Tanner Blain, San Diego State vs. Wyoming | 2016 |
| Field goal | 51, shared by: Jonah Dalmas, Boise State vs. San Jose State Jose Pizano, UNLV vs. Boise State | 2020, 2023 |
| Miscellaneous | Record, Team vs. Team | Year |
| Game attendance | 36,663, UNLV vs. Boise State | 2024 |
Source:[9]
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