Mountain West Conference

Mountain West Conference is an athletic conference that consists of 12 member schools, primarily located in the Western United States. The conference was formed in 1999 by eight schools that broke away from the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), including UNLV, University of Utah, and Brigham Young University (BYU). The conference is affiliated with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and competes at the Division I level, featuring schools such as University of Wyoming, University of New Mexico, and San Diego State University. The conference has undergone several changes since its inception, including the addition of new members like Fresno State University and University of Nevada, Reno.

● History

The Mountain West Conference was established on May 26, 1998, when eight schools announced their departure from the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) to form a new conference. The founding members included UNLV, University of Utah, Brigham Young University (BYU), University of Wyoming, University of New Mexico, San Diego State University, Colorado State University, and Air Force Academy. The conference began competing in the 1999-2000 academic year, with University of Utah winning the first conference championship in football. Over the years, the conference has undergone several changes, including the departure of Brigham Young University (BYU) to become an NCAA Division I FBS independent school and the addition of new members like Fresno State University, University of Nevada, Reno, and Boise State University. The conference has also had partnerships with other conferences, such as the Pac-12 Conference and the Big 12 Conference, for bowl games and other competitions.

● Member Schools

The Mountain West Conference consists of 12 member schools, including UNLV, University of Wyoming, University of New Mexico, San Diego State University, Colorado State University, Air Force Academy, Fresno State University, University of Nevada, Reno, Boise State University, Utah State University, San Jose State University, and Hawaii Rainbow Warriors. These schools are located in the Western United States, with the majority being public universities. The member schools compete in 17 sports, including football, basketball, baseball, and volleyball, with some schools also competing in sports like wrestling and gymnastics. The conference has a strong presence in the region, with schools like University of Wyoming and University of New Mexico having a significant following in their respective states.

● Conference Championships

The Mountain West Conference awards championships in 17 sports, with the conference champion being determined by a tournament or a regular-season title. The conference has a strong tradition of competition, with schools like UNLV and San Diego State University having won multiple conference championships in sports like basketball and football. The conference also has a partnership with the College Football Playoff (CFP) to determine the conference champion in football, with the winner earning a spot in one of the New Year's Six bowl games. The conference has also had success in other sports, such as baseball, with schools like Fresno State University and University of Nevada, Reno winning conference championships.

● Football

The Mountain West Conference is a NCAA Division I FBS conference, with its member schools competing in football. The conference is divided into two divisions, the Mountain Division and the West Division, with the winners of each division meeting in the conference championship game. The conference has a strong tradition of football, with schools like Boise State University and San Diego State University having won multiple conference championships. The conference also has a partnership with the Pac-12 Conference to play in the Las Vegas Bowl and the Hawaii Bowl, with the conference champion earning a spot in one of the New Year's Six bowl games. The conference has produced several notable football players, including Carson Strong from University of Nevada, Reno and Bryce Love from Stanford University.

● Basketball

The Mountain West Conference is also a strong conference in basketball, with its member schools competing in the sport. The conference is known for its competitive balance, with several schools having won conference championships in recent years. The conference tournament is held annually at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, with the winner earning an automatic bid to the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament. The conference has produced several notable basketball players, including Marvin Menzies from UNLV and Steve Alford from University of New Mexico. The conference has also had success in the NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament, with schools like San Diego State University and University of Nevada, Reno making deep runs in the tournament. Category:College athletic conferences