# 2012 Mountain West Conference football season

The 2012 Mountain West Conference football season was the 14th season of college football for the Mountain West Conference (MW). In the 2012 NCAA Division I FBS football season, the MW had 10 football members: Air Force, Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Hawaiʻi, Nevada, New Mexico, San Diego State, UNLV, and Wyoming.
This was the second consecutive year in which the Mountain West saw changes in membership. After losing two of its charter members in 2011—BYU (WCC and football independent) and Utah (Pac-12)—the MW lost TCU, members since 2005, to the Big 12 in 2012. The conference reloaded with three new members—full conference members Fresno State and Nevada, and football-only Hawaiʻi.
This was originally intended to be the last season for Boise State and San Diego State in the MW. After the 2012–13 school year, both schools' football programs planned to join the Big East. Both schools also planned to join the Big West, a former conference home of both, for non-football sports. San Diego State, a charter member of the Big West, was set to return to that conference after a 35-year absence; Boise State was set to return after a 12-year absence. However, due to major instability in the Big East, culminating in the mass exodus of the conference's seven basketball-first schools in December 2012, Boise State chose to remain in the MW for 2013 and beyond. San Diego State has since sought to remain in the MW, and as a part of Boise State's agreement to remain in the MW, the conference must offer an invitation to San Diego State to remain in the MW before it can invite any other school.
In addition, San Jose State and Utah State will join the MW in 2013.

## Preseason
### 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:

### Mountain West media days
#### Media poll
## Coaches

NOTE: Stats shown are before the beginning of the season
| Team | Head coach | Years at school | Overall record | Record at school | MW record |
| Air Force | Troy Calhoun | 6 | 34–18 | 34–18 | 21–11 |
| Boise State | Chris Petersen | 7 | 61–5 | 61–5 | 0–0* |
| Colorado State | Jim McElwain | 1 | | | |
| Fresno State | Tim DeRuyter | 1 | | | |
| Hawaiʻi | Norm Chow | 1 | | | |
| Nevada | Chris Ault | 24 | 226–103–1 | 226–103–1 | |
| New Mexico | Bob Davie | 1 | | | |
| San Diego State | Rocky Long | 2 | 65–69 | 0–0 | 40–34^ |
| UNLV | Bobby Hauck | 3 | 82–28 | 2–11 | 2–6 |
| Wyoming | Dave Christensen | 4 | 10–15 | 10–15 | 5–11 |
*first year as conference member, ^achieved as head coach of New Mexico from 99–08

## Rankings

Legend :
| | Increase in ranking |
| | Decrease in ranking |
| | Unranked the previous week |
| RV | Received votes but were not ranked in Top 25 of poll |
| | | Pre | Wk 2 | Wk 3 | Wk 4 | Wk 5 | Wk 6 | Wk 7 | Wk 8 | Wk 9 | Wk 10 | Wk 11 | Wk 12 | Wk 13 | Wk 14 | Wk 15 | Final |
| Air Force | AP | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Air Force | C | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Air Force | Harris | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | | | | | | |
| Air Force | BCS | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | | | | | |
| Boise State | AP | 24 | RV | RV | 24 | 24 | RV | 24 | 24 | 21 | 19 | RV | RV | RV | 25 | 20 | 18 |
| Boise State | C | 22 | 25 | RV | RV | RV | 25 | 22 | 22 | 18 | 14 | 24 | 22 | 22 | 15 | 15 | 14 |
| Boise State | Harris | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | 22 | 23 | 19 | 17 | 23 | 23 | 21 | 17 | 15 | |
| Boise State | BCS | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | 22 | 21 | 19 | | | 22 | 20 | 19 | |
| Colorado State | AP | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Colorado State | C | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Colorado State | Harris | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | | | | | | |
| Colorado State | BCS | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | | | | | |
| Fresno State | AP | | | | RV | | | | | | | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | |
| Fresno State | C | | | | | | | | | | | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | |
| Fresno State | Harris | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | RV | | | | | RV | RV | RV | RV | |
| Fresno State | BCS | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | | | | | |
| Hawaiʻi | AP | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Hawaiʻi | C | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Hawaiʻi | Harris | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | | | | | | |
| Hawaiʻi | BCS | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | | | | | |
| Nevada | AP | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Nevada | C | | RV | RV | | | | RV | RV | | | | | | | | |
| Nevada | Harris | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | RV | RV | RV | | | | | | | |
| Nevada | BCS | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | | | | | |
| New Mexico | AP | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| New Mexico | C | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| New Mexico | Harris | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | | | | | | |
| New Mexico | BCS | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | | | | | |
| San Diego State | AP | | | | | | | | | | | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | |
| San Diego State | C | | | | | | | | | | | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | |
| San Diego State | Harris | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | RV | RV | RV | RV | RV | |
| San Diego State | BCS | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | | | | | |
| UNLV | AP | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| UNLV | C | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| UNLV | Harris | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | | | | | | |
| UNLV | BCS | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | | | | | |
| Wyoming | AP | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Wyoming | C | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Wyoming | Harris | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | | | | | | |
| Wyoming | BCS | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | | | | | |

## Bowl games

The Mountain West Conference will have agreements with the following bowls for 2012–13:
* The MW champion will receive an automatic berth in one of the five BCS bowl games if they are the highest ranked non-automatic qualifying conference champion and either of the following:
** Ranked in the top 12 of the BCS Rankings. (Utah qualified under this criterion in 2004-05 and 2008–09, and TCU in 2009-10 and 2010–11.)
** Ranked in the top 16 of the BCS Rankings and its ranking is higher than that of an automatic qualifying conference champion.
| Pick | Name | Location | Opposing Conference | Opposing Pick |
| 1 | Maaco Bowl Las Vegas | Las Vegas, Nevada | Pac-12 | 5 |
| 2 | Poinsettia Bowl | San Diego, California | BYU (2012), Army (2013) | – |
| 3 | Armed Forces Bowl | Fort Worth, Texas | C-USA (2012), Navy (2013) | 3, – |
| 4 | New Mexico Bowl | Albuquerque, New Mexico | Pac-12 | 7 |
| 5 | Hawai'i Bowl | Honolulu, Hawaii | C-USA | 2 |
If Hawai‘i is bowl eligible and not MW champions or selected for a BCS bowl, they will receive a berth in the Hawai‘i Bowl.

## Regular season

* Index to colors and formatting
* Mountain West member won
* Mountain West member lost
* Mountain West teams in bold
All dates, times, and TV are tentative and subject to change.
The Mountain West has teams in 3 different time zones. Times reflect start time in respective time zone of each team (Mountain—Air Force, Boise State, Colorado State, New Mexico, Wyoming; Pacific—Fresno State, Nevada, San Diego State, UNLV; Hawaii-Aleutian—Hawaiʻi). Conference games start times are that of the home team.

### Week One

| Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| August 30 | 8:00 pm | Minnesota | UNLV | Sam Boyd Stadium • Whitney, NV | CBSSN | L Minn 30-27 | 16,013 |
| August 31 | 6:00 pm | No. 24 Boise State | No. 13 Michigan State | Spartan Stadium • East Lansing, MI | ESPN | L MSU 17-13 | 78,709 |
| September 1 | 12:00 pm | Idaho State | Air Force | Falcon Stadium • Colorado Springs, CO | | W AF 49-21 | 35,282 |
| September 1 | 12:00 pm | Nevada | California | California Memorial Stadium • Berkeley, CA | P12N | W NV 31-24 | 63,186 |
| September 1 | 1:30 pm | Hawaii | No. 1 USC | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum • Los Angeles, CA | FOX | L USC | 93,607 |
| September 1 | 2:00 pm | Colorado State | Colorado | Sports Authority Field at Mile High • Denver, CO | FX | W CSU 22-17 | 58,607 |
| September 1 | 3:00 pm | Southern | New Mexico | University Stadium • Albuquerque, NM | | W NM 66-21 | 28,450 |
| September 1 | 6:00 pm | Wyoming | No. 15 Texas | Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium • Austin, TX | LHN | L UT 37-17 | 101,142 |
| September 1 | 7:00 pm | Weber State | Fresno State | Bulldog Stadium • Fresno, CA | | W FSU 37-10 | 27,663 |
| September 1 | 7:30 pm | San Diego | Washington | CenturyLink Field • Seattle, WA | P12N | L UW 21-12 | 53,742 |
| $^#$Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. |||||||||

### Week Two

| Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 8 | 5:00 pm | North Dakota State | Colorado State | Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium • Fort Collins, CO | KTVD 20 | L NDSU 22-7 | 23,567 |
| September 8 | 3:30 pm | Air Force | No. 19 Michigan | Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor. MI | | L MICH 31-25 | 112,522 |
| September 8 | 12:30 pm | South Florida | Nevada | Mackay Stadium • Reno, NV | CBSSN | L USF 32-31 | 22,804 |
| September 8 | 7:00 pm | Northern Arizona | UNLV | Sam Boyd Stadium • Whitney, NV | | L NAU 17-14 | 15,257 |
| September 8 | | Fresno State | No. 4 Oregon | Autzen Stadium • Eugene, OR | P12N | L ORE 42-25 | - |
| September 8 | 4:40 pm | Army | San Diego State | Qualcomm Stadium • San Diego, CA | | W SDSU 42-7 | 30,799 |
| September 8 | 7:00 pm | New Mexico | No. 17 Texas | Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium • Austin, TX | LHN | L UT 45-0 | 100,990 |
| September 8 | 2:00 pm | Toledo | Wyoming | War Memorial Stadium • Laramie, WY | | L TOL 34-31 | 21,688 |
| $^#$Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. |||||||||

### Week Three

| Date | Time | Visiting team | Home team | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 15 | 2:00 pm | Miami (OH) | Boise State | Bronco Stadium • Boise, ID | | W BSU 39-12 | 34,178 |
| September 15 | 5:00 pm | Colorado | Fresno State | Bulldog Stadium • Fresno, CA | | W FRES 69-14 | - |
| September 15 | 6:00 pm | Lamar | Hawaii | Aloha Stadium • Halawa, HI | PPV Oceanic | W HAW 54-2 | 31,442 |
| September 15 | 5:00 pm | Northwestern State | Nevada | Mackay Stadium • Reno, NV | | W NEV 45-34 | 19,399 |
| September 15 | 5:00 pm | North Dakota | San Diego State | Qualcomm Stadium • San Diego, CA | | W SDSU 49-41 | 24,826 |
| September 15 | 5:00 pm | Colorado State | San Jose State | Spartan Stadium • San Jose, CA | | L SJSU 40-20 | 7,189 |
| September 15 | 5:00 pm | New Mexico | Texas Tech | Jones AT&T Stadium • Lubbock, TX | | L TTU 49-14 | - |
| September 15 | 2:00 pm | Cal Poly | Wyoming | War Memorial Stadium • Laramie, WY | | L CAL 24-22 | 21,728 |
| $^#$Rankings from AP Poll released prior to game. |||||||||

## Home attendance

| Team | Stadium | Capacity | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Game 4 | Game 5 | Game 6 | Game 7 | Total | Average | % of Capacity |
| Air Force | Falcon Stadium | 52,480 | 35,282 | 38,562 | 38,927 | 29,726 | 24,277 | 25,213 | — | 191,987 | 31,998 | 60.97% |
| Boise State | Bronco Stadium | 37,000 | 34,178 | 36,864 | 35,742 | 36,012 | 36,084 | 33,545 | — | 212,425 | 35,404 | 95.69% |
| Colorado State | Hughes Stadium | 34,400 | 23,567 | 23,374 | 25,814 | 16,573 | 13,887 | 12,286 | — | 115,501 | 19,250 | 55.96% |
| Fresno State | Bulldog Stadium | 41,031 | 27,663 | 27,513 | 33,894 | 29,423 | 30,755 | 36,240 | — | 185,488 | 30,915 | 75.35% |
| Hawaiʻi | Aloha Stadium | 50,000 | 31,442 | 31,417 | 31,632 | 29,471 | 28,359 | 27,865 | — | 180,186 | 30,031 | 60.06% |
| Nevada | Mackay Stadium | 29,993 | 22,804 | 19,399 | 24,025 | 22,242 | 22,104 | 30,017 | — | 140,591 | 23,432 | 78.12% |
| New Mexico | University Stadium | 38,634 | 28,450 | 28,270 | 22,135 | 19,856 | 17,839 | 17,290 | — | 133,840 | 22,307 | 57.74% |
| San Diego State | Qualcomm Stadium | 71,294 | 30,799 | 24,826 | 24,103 | 50,586 | 27,133 | 23,874 | 30,266 | 211,587 | 30,227 | 42.40% |
| UNLV | Sam Boyd Stadium | 36,800 | 16,013 | 15,257 | 17,015 | 14,054 | 20,565 | 12,835 | 10,717 | 106,456 | 15,208 | 41.33% |
| Wyoming | War Memorial Stadium | 34,000 | 21,688 | 21,728 | 22,627 | 17,855 | 20,055 | 13,374 | — | 117,327 | 19,555 | 57.51% |

## Awards and honors
### All Conference teams

* Offensive Player of the Year: Derek Carr, JR., QB, Fresno State
* Defensive Player of the Year: Phillip Thomas, SR., DB, Fresno State
* Special Teams Player of the Year: Mike Edwards, JR., KR, Hawai'i
* Freshman of the Year: Davante Adams, WR, Fresno State
* Coach of the Year: Rocky Long, San Diego State
Offense:
| Pos. | Name | Yr. | School | Name | Yr. | School |
| First Team | First Team | First Team | First Team | Second Team | Second Team | Second Team | Second Team |
| QB | Derek Carr | JR. | Fresno State | Cody Fajardo | SO. | Nevada |
| WR | Davante Adams | FR. | Fresno State | Matt Miller | SO. | Boise State |
| WR | Brandon Wimberly | GR. | Nevada | Chris McNeil | SR. | Wyoming |
| RB | Robbie Rouse | SR. | Fresno State | Kasey Carrier | JR. | New Mexico |
| RB | Stefphon Jefferson | JR. | Nevada | Adam Muema | SO. | San Diego State |
| TE | Gavin Escobar | JR. | San Diego State | Zach Sudfeld | GR. | Nevada |
| OL | Matt Paradis | JR. | Boise State | Jordan Eason | SR. | Air Force |
| OL | Austin Wentworth | JR. | Fresno State | Charles Leno | JR. | Boise State |
| OL | Nik Embernate | SR. | San Diego State | Brenel Myers | SR. | Boise State |
| OL | Jeff Nady | SR. | Nevada | Chris Barker | SR. | Nevada |
| OL | Nick Carlson | SR. | Wyoming | Alex Johnson | SR. | San Diego State |
| PK | Nolan Kohorst | JR. | UNLV | Jared Roberts | SO. | Colorado State |
| PR/KR | Mike Edwards | JR. | Hawai'i | Khalid Wooten | SR. | Nevada |
Defense:
| Pos. | Name | Yr. | School | Name | Yr. | School |
| First Team | First Team | First Team | First Team | Second Team | Second Team | Second Team | Second Team |
| DL | Mike Atkinson | SR. | Boise State | Lanston Tanyi | GR. | Colorado State |
| DL | DeMarcus Lawrence | SO. | Boise State | Andy Jennings | JR. | Fresno State |
| DL | Tyeler Davison | SO. | Fresno State | Paipai Falemalu | SR. | Hawai'i |
| DL | Mike Purcell | SR. | Wyoming | Brock Hekking | SO. | Nevada |
| LB | J. C. Percy | SR. | Boise State | Alex Means | SR. | Air Force |
| LB | Albert Rosette | GR. | Nevada | Travis Brown | SR. | Fresno State |
| LB | John Lotulelei | SR. | UNLV | Jake Fely | SO. | San Diego State |
| DB | Jamar Taylor | SR. | Boise State | Jerrell Gavins | SR. | Boise State |
| DB | Phillip Thomas | SR. | Fresno State | Mike Edwards | JR. | Hawai'i |
| DB | Derron Smith | SO. | Fresno State | Duke Williams | SR. | Nevada |
| DB | Leon McFadden | SR. | San Diego State | Nat Berhe | JR. | San Diego State |
| P | Pete Kontodiakos | SR. | Colorado State | Alex Dunnachie | SR. | Hawai'i |