Mountain West Conference Football Championship Game

Mountain West Conference Football Championship Game
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Name	Mountain West Conference Football Championship Game
Conference	Mountain West Conference
Established	2013
Most champs	Boise State (4)
Current champ	Boise State
Current season	2023

Mountain West Conference Football Championship Game is the annual American football contest that determines the champion of the Mountain West Conference (MW). First held in 2013, the game was created following the conference's expansion to twelve members and the subsequent division of its football programs into the Mountain Division and West Division. The winner receives the conference's automatic berth to a prominent bowl game, often the Las Vegas Bowl or another affiliated College Football Playoff partner.

History

The championship game was established after the 2011 arrival of the Boise State Broncos, Nevada Wolf Pack, Fresno State Bulldogs, and Hawaii Rainbow Warriors from the Western Athletic Conference. This expansion, alongside existing members like the Air Force Falcons and Colorado State Rams, allowed the NCAA to permit a title game. The inaugural contest in 2013 featured Fresno State defeating Utah State. The game's history includes notable performances by coaches like Chris Petersen of Boise State and Jeff Tedford of Fresno State, and has been impacted by the broader realignment of NCAA Division I FBS conferences.

Format

From 2013 to 2020, the participants were the regular-season winners of the Mountain Division and the West Division. In 2021, the Mountain West Conference eliminated divisions, adopting a format where the two highest-ranked conference teams by win–loss record meet for the championship. Tie-breaking procedures, as outlined in the conference bylaws, are used if necessary. This change followed a national trend seen in other leagues like the Atlantic Coast Conference and was influenced by NCAA rule modifications. The game is typically held on the first Saturday in December at the home stadium of the higher-seeded team.

Results

The Boise State Broncos have been the most successful program, winning four titles (2014, 2017, 2019, 2023). The Fresno State Bulldogs have three victories (2013, 2018, 2022), while the San Diego State Aztecs have two (2015, 2016). Other winners include the Utah State Aggies (2021) and the Air Force Falcons (2023). The most frequent matchup has been between Boise State and Fresno State. Notable games include the 2014 contest where Boise State defeated Fresno State and the 2021 victory by Utah State over San Diego State.

Team records

Boise State holds the best record in the game at 4–2. Fresno State is 3–2, and San Diego State is 2–3. The Air Force Falcons and Utah State Aggies each have a 1–1 record. Programs with appearances but no wins include the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors (0–1) and the Wyoming Cowboys (0–1). The Nevada Wolf Pack and Colorado State Rams have yet to qualify for the championship game.

Venues

The game has been hosted at the home stadium of the higher-seeded team since its inception. Notable venues include Albertsons Stadium in Boise, home of the Boise State Broncos; Bulldog Stadium in Fresno, home of the Fresno State Bulldogs; and SDCCU Stadium in San Diego, home of the San Diego State Aztecs. Other host sites have included Falcon Stadium at the United States Air Force Academy and Mackay Stadium at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Media coverage

Television rights have been held by ESPN and CBS Sports Network throughout the game's history. The championship is typically broadcast on either ESPN or ESPN2, with ABC airing the 2023 edition. CBS Sports Network has also carried select broadcasts. Radio coverage is provided by the Mountain West Sports Network (MWSN) and local affiliate stations for the participating teams, such as KTIK (AM) for Boise State and KMJ (AM) for Fresno State.

Category:Mountain West Conference football