# 1946 Rocky Mountain Conference football season

The 1946 Rocky Mountain Conference football season was the season of college football played by the five member schools of the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) as part of the 1946 college football season.
The Montana State Bobcats won the RMC championship with a 5–3–2 record (2–0–1 against conference opponents) and outscored opponents by a total of 198 to 156.

## Conference overview

| Conf. rank | Team | Head coach | Conf. record | Overall record | Points scored | Points against |
| 1 | Montana State | Clyde Carpenter | 2–0–1 | 5–3–2 | 198 | 156 |
| 2 | Colorado State–Greeley | John W. Hancock | 3–1 | 6–3 | 218 | 101 |
| 3 | Western State (CO) | Paul W. Wright | 1–1 | 5–4–1 | 142 | 96 |
| 4 | Colorado College | Harold A. White | 0-1–1 | 4–4–1 | 131 | 106 |
| 5 | Colorado Mines | John Mason | 0–3 | 1–4–1 | 62 | 132 |

## Teams
### Montana State

The 1946 Montana State Bobcats football team represented Montana State College (now known as Montana State University) of Bozeman, Montana. In their first season under head coach Clyde Carpenter, the Bobcats compiled a 5–3–2 record (2–0–1 against RMC opponents), won the RMC championship, and outscored opponents by a total of 198 to 156.
Players receiving all-conference honors were end Mike McCormick, tackle Len Larson, guard Dick Ball, and backs Bill Nelson and Neil Brooks. Tackle John McLellan was selected by the Chicago Bearsin the 19th round (175th pick) of the 1947 NFL draft.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 28 | BYU* | Gatton FieldBozeman, MT | W 13–12 | 3,000 |
| October 5 | at Colorado College | Washburn FieldColorado Springs, CO | T 7–7 | |
| October 12 | at Utah State* | Logan, UT | L 14–28 | 5,000 |
| October 19 | vs. Montana* | Naranche Memorial StadiumButte, MT (rivalry) | L 7–20 | 10,000 |
| October 26 | Colorado State–Greeley | Gatton FieldBozeman, MT | W 27–7 | |
| November 2 | at Nevada* | Mackay StadiumReno, NV | L 14–38 | |
| November 9 | vs. Portland* | Memorial StadiumGreat Falls, MT | W 19–6 | 6,000 |
| November 16 | North Dakota Agricultural* | Gatton FieldBozeman, MT | W 39–18 | |
| November 23 | at Colorado Mines | Golden, CO | W 45–7 | |
| January 1, 1947 | vs. New Mexico* | Balboa StadiumSan Diego, CA (Harbor Bowl) | T 13–13 | 7,000 |
| *Non-conference game ||||||

### Colorado State–Greeley

The 1946 Colorado State–Greeley Bears football team represented Colorado State College at Greeley, Colorado (now known as the University of Northern Colorado). In their 13th season under head coach John W. Hancock, the Bears compiled a 6–3 record (3–1 against RMC opponents), finished in second place in the RMC, and outscored opponents by a total of 218 to 101.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 21 | at Wyoming* | Corbett FieldLaramie, WY | L 0–7 | |
| September 28 | at Chadron State* | Elliott FieldChadron, NE | W 46–8 | |
| October 4 | Colorado Mines | Greeley, CO | W 21–0 | |
| October 12 | Western State (CO) | Greeley, CO | W 12–6 | |
| October 19 | Emporia State* | Greeley, CO | W 41–21 | |
| October 26 | Montana State | Gatton FieldBozeman, MT | L 7–27 | |
| November 2 | South Dakota Mines* | Greeley, CO | W 65–0 | |
| November 9 | Colorado College | Colorado Springs, CO | W 19–12 | 2,000 |
| November 16 | at New Mexico A&M* | Quesenberry FieldLas Cruces, NM | L 7–12 | 3,500 |
| *Non-conference game ||||||

### Western State

The 1946 Western State Mountaineers football team represented Western State College of Colorado at Gunnison, Colorado (now known as the Western Colorado University). Led by head coach Paul W. Wright, the Bears compiled a 5–4–1 record (1–1 against RMC opponents), finished in third place in the RMC, and outscored opponents by a total of 142 to 96.
The 1946 season was the first for the Western State football program since 1941. The sport was abandoned after the 1941 season due to World War II.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| September 22 | at BYU | Provo, UT | L 2–13 |
| September 27 | at Southwestern Tech* | Milam StadiumWeatherford, OK | L 0–19 |
| October 5 | Hastings* | Gunnison, CO | W 19–7 |
| October 12 | at Colorado State–Greeley | Greeley, CO | L 6–12 |
| October 19 | Colorado Mines | Gunnison, CO | W 19–7 |
| October 27 | Arizona State–Flagstaff* | Pueblo, CO | L 6–19 |
| November 2 | Chadron State* | Gunnison, CO | W 38–0 |
| November 9 | at Adams State* | Alamosa, CO | W 33–6 |
| November 16 | at Idaho Southern Branch* | Spud BowlPocatello, ID | T 6–6 |
| *Non-conference game |||||

### Colorado College

The 1946 Colorado College Tigers football team represented Colorado College of Colorado Springs, Colorado. Led by head coach Harold A. White, the Tigers compiled a 4–4–1 record (0–1–1 against RMC opponents), finished in fourth place in the RMC, and outscored opponents by a total of 131 to 106.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance |
| September 20 | Peru State* | Washburn FieldColorado Springs, CO | W 40–7 | |
| September 28 | Fort Hays State* | Washburn FieldColorado Springs, CO | W 15–0 | 4,000 |
| October 5 | Montana State | Washburn FieldColorado Springs, CO | T 7–7 | |
| October 12 | West Texas State* | Buffalo StadiumCanyon, TX | L 12–13 | |
| October 19 | Bradley* | Washburn FieldColorado Springs, CO | L 0–20 | |
| October 26 | Colorado A&M* | Colorado FieldFort Collins, CO | W 25–12 | 5,000 |
| November 9 | Colorado State–Greeley | Colorado Springs, CO | L 12–19 | 2,000 |
| November 16 | Grinnell* | Washburn FieldColorado Springs, CO | W 14–0 | |
| November 28 | at Denver* | DU StadiumDenver, CO | L 6–29 | 17,000 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecoming ||||||

### Colorado Mines

The 1946 Colorado Mines Orediggers football team represented the Colorado School of Mines of Golden, Colorado. In their eighth year under head coach John Mason, the Orediggers compiled a 1–4–1 record (0–3 against RMC opponents), finished in last place in the RMC, and were outscored by a total of 132 to 62.
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
| September 28 | at Wyoming* | Corbett FieldLaramie, WY | T 7–7 |
| October 4 | at Colorado State–Greeley | Greeley, CO | L 0–21 |
| October 12 | at Emporia State* | Emporia, KS | L 6–26 |
| October 19 | at Western State (CO) | Gunnison, CO | L 7–19 |
| November 16 | Fort Hays State* | Golden, CO | W 35–14 |
| November 23 | Montana State | Golden, CO | L 7–45 |
| *Non-conference game ||||||