<\/p>\n
DENVER \u2013 Now this was a sweet idea: Candy hearts with Jordan Love\u2019s name and number stamped on them to hype the Heisman Trophy campaign of the Utah State quarterback.<\/p>\n
After posting big numbers a season ago, Love was voted the Mountain West\u2019s top offensive player in a preseason poll.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s no sugar-coating the league favorites in Boise State and Fresno State . It\u2019s no surprise given the two played in the title game a season ago and in three of the conference\u2019s six championship contests.<\/p>\n
The 21st edition of the league has a deep-rooted feeling of familiarity. Of course, there\u2019s the stalwart: San Diego State coach Rocky Long, who\u2019s been around for every Mountain West season (19 as a coach of New Mexico\/SDSU, one as a coordinator at SDSU).<\/p>\n
Even a new face has a familiar look: Aggies coach Gary Andersen .<\/p>\n
Although, the last time Andersen roamed the sidelines for Utah State (2009-12), the Aggies resided in the Western Athletic Conference. He\u2019s taking over for Matt Wells, who went to Texas Tech after leading Utah State to double-digit wins. Asked if there were any differences between training camp now with Utah State compared to back then, Andersen cracked: \u201cThat was a lot of rodeos ago.\u201d<\/p>\n
This version of the league might be a little more wide open.<\/p>\n
Boise State doesn\u2019t have reliable quarterback Brett Rypien under center anymore. He\u2019s now with the NFL Broncos after signing as an undrafted free agent with Denver. Coach Bryan Harsin will break in a new QB.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery year we go back to square one,\u201d Harsin said. \u201cIf we can find a way in 2019 to put ourselves in position to win every single game we play or put ourselves in a position to play in a championship game, that\u2019s the goal every year.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fresno State coach Jeff Tedford has built the Bulldogs into a powerful program, going from a 10-win team his first season in 2017 to 12 wins last season. The Bulldogs beat the Broncos 19-16 in OT last season to claim the league title.<\/p>\n
Love turned quite a few heads in 2018 when he threw for 3,567 yards and 32 touchdowns. He had seven 300-yard games and was named the conference\u2019s offensive player of the week five times.<\/p>\n
The Aggies are promoting his Heisman candidacy, complete with his own hashtag \u2013 #10VEForHeisman.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s such a tremendous young man,\u201d Andersen said. \u201cA great captain and great leader.\u201d<\/p>\n
Other things to know:<\/p>\n
Mountain Division preseason poll : 1. Boise State (15 first-place votes), 120 points; 2. Utah State (6), 108; 3. Air Force, 73; 4. Wyoming, 66. 5. Colorado State, 52; 6. New Mexico, 22.<\/p>\n
West Division: 1. Fresno State, (17), 122; 2. San Diego State (3), 106; 3. Nevada, 74; 4. Hawaii (1), 67; 5. UNLV, 51; 6. San Jose State, 21.<\/p>\n
The league will have seven games air exclusively on Facebook, beginning with Weber State at San Diego State on Aug. 31. It\u2019s a delicate balance between televised games and streaming games, Commissioner Craig Thompson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ve got 30- or 40-year-olds with a couple of children and need to go to a soccer match during a Saturday or run to Home Depot and do projects and want to keep up with the game,\u201d Thompson said. \u201cWe\u2019re trying to serve them all.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Mountain West has tie-ins with five bowls: Las Vegas Bowl, New Mexico Bowl, Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, Hawaii Bowl and Arizona Bowl. They also have backup spots with the Cheez-It Bowl, Frisco Bowl and Redbox Bowl.<\/p>\n
Beginning in 2020, the Arizona Bowl will feature eligible teams from the Mid-American Conference and the Mountain West, which has been tied to the bowl since its inaugural game in 2015.<\/p>\n
UNLV has a series of celebrations planned to bid farewell to Sam Boyd Stadium in its 49th and final season. The off-campus facility opened in 1971. The team moves to the state-of-the-art, $1.9 billion Las Vegas Stadium that\u2019s closer to campus. The final game is Nov. 23 against San Jose State.<\/p>\n
Fresno State\u2019s contest at San Diego State on Nov. 15 looms big on the West side. In the Mountain, Boise State travels to Utah State on Nov. 23 for what could be an important matchup.<\/p>\n
Other entertaining nonconference matchups include: Hawaii hosting Arizona (Aug. 24), Colorado-Colorado State in Denver (Aug. 30), Boise State at Florida State (Aug. 31), Fresno State at Southern California (Aug. 31), Missouri at Wyoming (Aug. 31), San Diego State at UCLA (Sept. 7), Nevada at Oregon (Sept. 7) and Hawaii at Washington (Sept. 14).<\/p>\n
Just an FYI: The conference has captured four in a row over Pac-12 teams (Nevada beat Oregon State, Fresno State beat UCLA, San Diego State over Arizona State and Fresno State over Arizona State).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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