LAS VEGAS — For the first time since they joined the Mountain West in 2011, the Boise State football team is a unanimous favorite to win the Mountain Division, the conference revealed on Tuesday.
The Broncos received all 22 first-place votes in the media poll. They were followed by Wyoming, Colorado State, Utah State, Air Force and New Mexico.
Boise State returns 16 total starters - six on offense and 10 on defense - off last year's team that won the Mountain West Championship. Included in that group are eight players that made the 2018 Preseason All-Mountain West Team on Tuesday.
If the projections hold true, we would see a rematch of the 2017 Mountain West Football Championship Game in 2018. In the West Division, Fresno State hauled in 16 first-place votes compared to six for San Diego State.
This is the 11th straight year that Boise State has been picked to finish first in either their respective division or conference. The last time they weren't the preseason favorite was back in 2007, when the Broncos were still in the WAC. Hawai'i was given the nod by the media that year. The Rainbow Warriors eventually beat Boise State, claimed the regular season title, and went on to play Georgia in the Sugar Bowl.
Boise State has claimed at least a share of the Mountain West Championships in three of their seven years in the league, including outright titles in 2014 and 2017. The 2018 title game will be held on December 1.
MOUNTAIN DIVISION
1. Boise State (22) – 132 PTS
2. Wyoming - 95
3. Colorado State - 82
4. Utah State - 78
5. Air Force - 52
6. New Mexico - 23
WEST DIVISION
1. Fresno State (16) - 126
2. San Diego State (6) - 116
3. UNLV - 78
4. Nevada - 72
5. Hawai‘I - 45
6. San José State - 25
(First place votes)