2015 Mountain West Conference football season


The 2015 Mountain West Conference football season was the 17th season of college football for the Mountain West Conference. In the 2015 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.

Pre-season

Mountain West Media

2015 Mountain West Media Day will be held at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, NV on July 28, 2015.

Preseason polls

PositionPlayerClassTeam
QBChuckie KeetonSRUtah State
RBDonnel Pumphrey*JRSan Diego State
RBMarteze Waller**SRFresno State
WRRashard Higgins*JRColorado State
WRDevonte Boyd**SOUNLV
TESteven Walker*SRColorado State
OLMarcus Henry*SRBoise State
OLRees Odhiambo**SRBoise State
OLAlex FifitaSRFresno State
OLBen ClarkeSRHawai'i
OLPearce SlaterSRSan Diego State

PositionPlayerClassTeam
DLAlex Hansen**SRAir Force
DLKamalei Correa*JRBoise State
DLIan Seau**SRNevada
DLEddie Yarbrough*SRWyoming
LBTanner Vallejo**JRBoise State
LBKyler FackrellSRUtah State
LBNick Vigil*JRUtah State
DBWeston Steelhammer*JRAir Force
DBDonte Deayon**SRBoise State
DBDarian Thompson*SRBoise State
DBDamontae Kazee**JRSan Diego State

PositionPlayerClassTeam
PAlex Boy**SRNevada
PKDonny HagemanSRSan Diego State
Ret.Carlos WigginsSRNew Mexico

;Rashard Higgins, Jr., WR, Colorado State
;Kyler Fackrell, Sr., LB, Utah State
;Donny Hageman, Sr., PK, San Diego State

Recruiting classes

Award watch lists

The following Mountain West players were named to preseason award watch lists.
Maxwell Award:
Chuck Bednarik Award:
John Mackey Award:
Fred Biletnikoff Award:
Bronko Nagurski Trophy:
Outland Trophy:
Jim Thorpe Award:
Lombardi Award:
Rimington Trophy:
Davey O'Brien Award:
Doak Walker Award:
Walter Camp Award:
Lott Trophy:
Lou Groza Award:
NOTE: Stats shown are before the beginning of the season
TeamHead CoachYears at SchoolOverall RecordRecord at SchoolMW Record
Air ForceTroy Calhoun959–4459–4434–30
Boise StateBryan Harsin219–712–27–1
Colorado StateMike Bobo11–01–00-0
Fresno StateTim DeRuyter427–1426–1419–5
HawaiiNorm Chow48-298-294-20
NevadaBrian Polian311-1411-147-9
New MexicoBob Davie446-5111-264-20
San Diego StateRocky Long497–8932-2022–9
San José StateRon Caragher353-379-157-9
UNLVTony Sanchez10–10–10–0
Utah StateMatt Wells319-919-913-3
WyomingCraig Bohl2108–404–82–6

*first year as conference member, ^achieved as head coach of New Mexico from 99–08

Rankings

Schedule

Championship game

The championship game was played on December 5, 2015. It featured the Air Force Falcons, champions of the Mountain Division, and the San Diego State Aztecs, champions of the West Division. The game was played at Qualcomm Stadium in front of 20,959. San Diego State won the game 27-24 to claim their first outright conference championship since 1986, and their first ever outright Mountain West Conference championship.

Bowl games

Bowl GameDateStadiumCityTelevisionTeam MatchupsWinning TeamScoreLosing TeamScore
New Mexico BowlDecember 19University StadiumAlbuquerqueESPNArizona vs. New MexicoArizona45New Mexico37
Cure BowlDecember 19Orlando Citrus BowlOrlandoCBSSNSan Jose State vs. Georgia StateSan Jose State27Georgia State16
Famous Idaho Potato BowlDecember 22Albertsons StadiumBoiseESPNAkron vs. Utah StateAkron23Utah State21
Poinsettia BowlDecember 23Qualcomm StadiumSan DiegoESPNBoise State vs. Northern IllinoisBoise State55Northern Illinois7
Hawai'i BowlDecember 24Aloha StadiumHonoluluESPNSan Diego State vs. CincinnatiSan Diego State42Cincinnati7
Armed Forces BowlDecember 29Amon G. Carter StadiumFort WorthESPNCalifornia vs. Air ForceCalifornia55Air Force36
Arizona BowlDecember 29Arizona StadiumTucsonASNNevada vs. Colorado StateNevada28Colorado State23

Mountain West vs Power Conference matchups

Records against other conferences

2015 records against non-conference foes:
Regular Season
Power 5 ConferencesRecord
ACC1–0
Big Ten0–6
Big 120–0
Pac-122–10
SEC0–3
Notre Dame0–0
Power 5 Total3–19
-
Other FBS ConferencesRecord
American0–2
C-USA1–0
MAC1–2
Sun Belt1–2
Independents 1–2
Other FBS Total5–10
-
FCS OpponentsRecord
Football Championship Subdivision11–1
-
Total Non-Conference Record19–30

Post Season
Power ConferencesRecord
Pac-120–2
Power 5 Total0–2
-
Other FBS ConferencesRecord
American1–0
MAC1–1
Sun Belt1–0
-
Total Bowl Record4–4

Awards and honors

All Conference teams

  • Offensive Player of the Year: Donnel Pumphrey, JR., RB, San Diego State
  • Defensive Player of the Year: Damontae Kazee, JR., DB, San Diego State
  • Special Teams Player of the Year: Rashaad Penny, SO., RS, San Diego State
  • Freshman of the Year: Brett Rypien, QB, Boise State
  • Coach of the Year: Rocky Long, San Diego State
Offense:
Defense:


All-Academic

NameSchoolYr.GPAMajor
Claude AlexanderAir ForceJunior3.24Operations Research
Cody ApfelAir ForceSenior3.20Geospatial Science
Samuel ByersAir ForceJunior3.00Business
Allen CaunitzAir ForceJunior3.20Civil Engineering
Andrew GikasAir ForceJunior3.19Operations Research
Alexander HansenAir ForceSenior3.21Operations Research
Jacob OnyechiAir ForceJunior3.01Mechanical Engineering
Sevrin RemmoAir ForceSenior3.13Business
Karson RobertsAir ForceSenior3.42Mechanical Engineering
A.J. RuechelAir ForceSenior3.51Mechanical Engineering
Luke StrebelAir ForceSophomore3.34Systems Engineering
Robert AshBoise StateSenior3.38Organization Performance
Steven BaggettBoise StateJunior3.80Construction Business
Kellen BuhrBoise StateJunior3.54Supply Chain Business
Alec DhaenensBoise StateSophomore3.25Entrepreneurial Business
Jerhen ErtelBoise StateSenior3.16Applied Mathematics
Jack FieldsBoise StateSenior3.41Criminal Justice
Mason HamptonBoise StateSophomore3.96Accounting
Jake HardeeBoise StateSenior3.62Criminal Justice
Marcus HenryBoise StateSenior3.11Business
Tyler HornBoise StateSenior3.00Communication
Tyler HortonBoise StateFreshman3.26Undeclared
Kevin KeaneBoise StateSenior3.00Business
Darren LeeBoise StateJunior3.50Criminal Justice
Tutulupeatau MataeleBoise StateSenior3.40Communication
Sam McCaskillBoise StateJunior3.25Supply Chain Business
Durrant MilesBoise StateFreshman3.12Undeclared
Rees OdhiamboBoise StateSenior3.18Kinesiology
A.J. RichardsonBoise StateSophomore3.08Communication
Jake RohBoise StateSophomore3.31Business
Brett RypienBoise StateFreshman3.68Undeclared
Thomas SperbeckBoise StateJunior3.37Business
Thomas StuartBoise StateJunior3.12Communication
Leighton Vander EschBoise StateSophomore3.31Business
Sean WaleBoise StateJunior3.83Health Science
Ben WeaverBoise StateJunior3.35Business
Shane Williams-RhodesBoise StateSenior3.08Business
Ryan WolpinBoise StateSophomore3.23Communication
Mario YakooBoise StateJunior3.34Communication
Cory YoungBoise StateSophomore3.18Business
Kelsey YoungBoise StateSenior4.00Business Administration
Cole AndersonColorado StateSenior3.02Business
Wyatt BryanColorado StateFreshman3.68Mechanical Engineering
Patrick ElsenbastColorado StateSophomore3.40History
Hayden HuntColorado StateJunior3.16Political Science
Izzy MatthewsColorado StateFreshman3.11Undeclared
Colby MeeksColorado StateFreshman3.01Business
SteveO MichelColorado StateSenior3.20Social Work
Kevin Nutt, Jr.Colorado StateSophomore3.02Communication Studies
Nolan PeraltaColorado StateJunior3.62Biological Science
Trent SiegColorado StateSophomore3.01Mechanical Engineering
Nick StevensColorado StateSophomore3.08Business
Kilton AndersonFresno StateFreshman3.76Pre–Business
Bo BonnheimFresno StateSenior3.20Animal Sciences
Dylan DetwilerFresno StateSenior3.45Criminology
George HelmuthFresno StateFreshman3.12Agricultural Business
Kyle HendricksonFresno StateFreshman3.79Communications
Brandon HughesFresno StateJunior3.49Business
Kody KroeningFresno StateSophomore3.34Pre–Business
Michael MartensFresno StateJunior3.49Bus Ad–Business
Malique MicenheimerFresno StateSenior4.00Kinesiology
Justin NorthernFresno StateSenior3.79Mechanical Engineering
Kyrian ObidiegwuFresno StateSenior3.67Health Sciences
Chad OlsenFresno StateSophomore3.00Pre–Athletic Training
David PattersonFresno StateSophomore3.25Business
Tyler PuccioFresno StateFreshman3.41Pre–Business
Kyle RidderingFresno StateFreshman3.02Construction Business
Garrett SwansonFresno StateSenior3.51Kinesiology
David TangipaFresno StateFreshman3.29Political Science
Jacob VazquezFresno StateJunior4.00Agricultural Business
Charles WashingtonFresno StateSenior3.11Criminology
Isaiah BernardHawai'iJunior3.07Sociology
Noah BordenHawai'iFreshman3.67Undeclared
Duke BukoskiHawai'iSenior3.01Family Resources
Makoa Camanse–StevensHawai'iJunior3.86Political Science
Ben ClarkeHawai'iSenior3.62Biology
Keelan EwalikoHawai'iJunior3.08Family Resources
Penitito FaalologoHawai'iSenior3.08Family Resources
Davasyia HaggerHawai'iJunior3.14Economics
Marrell JacksonHawai'iSenior3.17Family Resources
Pereese JoasHawai'iSenior3.01Business
Meffy KoloamatangiHawai'iJunior3.05Communication
Leo KoloamatangiHawai'iSenior3.19Business
Eperone MoananuHawai'iFreshman3.00Undeclared
Harold MoleniHawai'iSenior3.76Business
Jason MuraokaHawai'iSenior3.29Sociology
Bordie NakamaHawai'iSenior3.28Kinesiology
Damien PackerHawai'iSenior3.00Family Resources
Ryan PasoquenHawai'iSenior3.08Communication
Kory RasmussenHawai'iSenior3.25Communication and Sociology
Ikaika WoolseyHawai'iSenior3.25Family Resources
Dameon BaberNevadaFreshman3.24Business
Alex BertrandoNevadaJunior3.20Criminal Justice
James ButlerNevadaSophomore3.07Communications
Shane CannonNevadaSophomore3.05Business
Colton ConcellosNevadaSophomore3.07Public Health
Austin CorbettNevadaSophomore3.39Kinesiology
Jordan DobrichNevadaSenior3.85Mechanical Engineering
Don JacksonNevadaSenior3.25Education
Lenny JonesNevadaSenior3.10Education
Adam KhouriNevadaSophomore3.46Political Science
Jake LacadenNevadaFreshman3.41Public Health
Bryan LaneNevadaSenior3.20Education
Jeremy MacauleyNevadaJunior3.31Business
Kalei MeyerNevadaFreshman3.58Mechanical Engineering
Ahki MuhammadNevadaFreshman3.23Public Health
Malik ReedNevadaFreshman3.26Biology
Korey RushNevadaFreshman3.17Communications
Tyler StewartNevadaSenior3.15Communications
Trevor TaftNevadaSenior3.50Education
Lucas WeberNevadaFreshman3.38Public Health
Brent ZuzoNevadaJunior3.30Business
Garrett AdcockNew MexicoSenior3.25Law
Austin ApodacaNew MexicoSenior3.50Liberal Arts
Ricky BennettNew MexicoSenior3.05Business
Dakota CoxNew MexicoSenior3.29Business
Chris Davis, Jr.New MexicoSophomore3.00Secondary Educations
Travis GreenNew MexicoSenior3.00Physical Education
Alex HartNew MexicoFreshman3.81Business
Delane Hart–JohnsonNew MexicoSophomore3.00Liberal Arts
Daniel HenryNew MexicoSenior3.19Business
Aaron JenkinsNew MexicoSophomore3.13Liberal Arts
Nick LehmanNew MexicoJunior3.09Liberal Arts
Eden MahinaNew MexicoSenior3.22Communication
Kene OkonkwoNew MexicoSophomore3.39Business
Zack RogersNew MexicoSenior3.19Liberal Arts
Steven RomeroNew MexicoSenior3.20Psychology
Killon RomineNew MexicoSenior3.33Business
Jake RothschillerNew MexicoJunior3.13Liberal Arts
Jason SandersNew MexicoSophomore3.11Liberal Arts
Reece WhiteNew MexicoSenior3.45Business
Daniel BrunskillSan Diego StateJunior3.06Civil Engineering
Luke BusseySan Diego StateFreshman3.72Business
Christian CumberlanderSan Diego StateSophomore3.00Communication
Arthur FloresSan Diego StateJunior3.31Computer Science
Lloyd MillsSan Diego StateJunior3.35Homeland Security
Jeff OverbaughSan Diego StateSenior3.66Liberal Arts
Paul Pitts IIISan Diego StateSenior3.80Liberal Arts
Pierre RomainSan Diego StateSenior3.49Criminal Justice
Maxwell SmithSan Diego StateSenior3.47Homeland Security
David WellsSan Diego StateSophomore3.08Communication
J.J. WhittakerSan Diego StateSenior3.51Homeland Security
Mark AmannSan Jose StateJunior3.13Business
Tim CrawleySan Jose StateJunior3.81Business
Loni FaSan Jose StateJunior3.60Recreation Business
Frank GindaSan Jose StateFreshman3.54Business
Chris GonzalezSan Jose StateSophomore3.21Business
Chandler HawkinsSan Jose StateFreshman3.14Kinesiology
Jeremy KellySan Jose StateFreshman3.14Communication Studies
Jarrod LawsonSan Jose StateJunior3.18Communication Studies
Alex ManigoSan Jose StateJunior3.38Business
Josh OliverSan Jose StateFreshman3.54Business
Malik RobersonSan Jose StateFreshman3.82Undeclared
Evan SarverSan Jose StateJunior3.15Mechanical Engineering
Wes SchweitzerSan Jose StateSenior3.38Biochemistry
Shane SmithSan Jose StateJunior3.26Business
Nate VelichkoSan Jose StateSophomore3.65Kinesiology
Nicolai BornandUNLVJunior3.08Public Administration
Blake DeckerUNLVSenior3.37Business
Mike Hughes, Jr.UNLVSophomore3.20Criminal Justice
Will KreitlerUNLVJunior3.15Business
Kurt PalandechUNLVJunior3.55Business
Andrew PriceUNLVJunior3.36Kinesiology
J'Ondray SandersUNLVSophomore3.33Criminal Justice
Kyle SaxelidUNLVSophomore3.01Business
Anthony WilliamsUNLVSenior3.04Criminal Justice
Jarom BaldomeroUtah StateSenior3.36Accounting
Chris CopierUtah StateSenior3.03Business
Aaron DaltonUtah StateSophomore3.07Exercise Science
Edmund Fa'imaloUtah StateSenior3.31Interdisciplinary Studies
Salanoa Galea'iUtah StateSenior3.19Exercise Science
Daniel GrayUtah StateSenior3.08Sociology
DeShane HinesUtah StateSenior3.44Sociology
Landon HorneUtah StateSenior3.48Business
Wyatt HoustonUtah StateSenior3.43Sociology
Derek LarsenUtah StateSophomore3.07Business
DJ NelsonUtah StateSophomore3.42Business
Jordan NielsenUtah StateSenior3.24Biology
Michael OkonkwoUtah StateSenior3.55Business
Jentz PainterUtah StateSenior3.05Exercise Science
Jontrell RocquemoreUtah StateSophomore3.22Exploratory
Siua TaufaUtah StateSenior3.20Sociology
Zach Van LeeuwenUtah StateSophomore3.30Family, Consumer & Human Development
Brock WarrenUtah StateSenior3.08Sociology
Ben WysockiUtah StateSenior3.50Physical Education
Luis BachWyomingFreshman3.56Kinesiology
Cameron CoffmanWyomingSenior3.27Social Science
Jacob EnglishWyomingJunior3.21Kinesiology
Nico EvansWyomingFreshman3.10Communication
Dalton FieldsWyomingSophomore3.10Kinesiology
Carl GrandersonWyomingFreshman3.20Psychology
Josh HarshmanWyomingFreshman3.09Undeclared
Tim KamanaWyomingSophomore3.01Business
Rafe KielyWyomingSenior3.43Business
Anthony MakranskyWyomingFreshman3.61Business
Tayton MontgomeryWyomingFreshman3.22Business
Eric NzeochaWyomingJunior3.09Business
Kellen OverstreetWyomingFreshman3.39Kinesiology
Adam PilapilWyomingFreshman3.41Communication
Chase RoullierWyomingJunior3.18Mechanical Engineering
Nick SmithWyomingFreshman3.90Business
Drew VanMaanenWyomingSophomore3.41Education
Zach WallaceWyomingFreshman3.32Mechanical Engineering
Aaron YoungWyomingSophomore3.00Psychology

Home game attendance

TeamStadiumCapacityGame 1Game 2Game 3Game 4Game 5Game 6Game 7TotalAverage% of Capacity
Air ForceFalcon Stadium46,69233,73422,38922,02320,21337,71620,083156,15826,02655.7%
Boise StateBronco Stadium36,38736,83633,86835,90731,94632,78030,332201,66933,61192.4%
Colorado StateSonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium32,50024,57132,50026,11732,54618,12515,641149,50024,91676.7%
Fresno StateBulldog Stadium41,03132,54733,67530,54025,60425,47626,375174,21729,03670.8%
HawaiiAloha Stadium50,00024,25525,71428,54322,43021,48520,32021,284164,03123,43346.9%
NevadaMackay Stadium30,00021,48324,35529,55120,42619,99217,215133,02222,17073.9%
New MexicoUniversity Stadium39,22421,93024,16730,90020,54119,88621,64318,868157,93522,56257.5%
San José StateSpartan Stadium30,45615,19817,26416,33911,64615,65215,77091,86915,31150.3%
San Diego StateQualcomm Stadium54,00048,785†18,19429,99625,89836,68822,93920,959203,45929,06553.8%
Utah StateMaverik Stadium25,51321,20922,05922,50920,96418,92222,509128,17221,36283.7%
UNLVSam Boyd Stadium35,50031,26216,71719,19014,31520,00614,738116,22819,37154.6%
WyomingWar Memorial Stadium29,18123,66919,11218,72317,02618,68211,149108,36118,06061.9%

Bold – Exceed capacity

†Season High