Know the Opponent: MWC Part II
By Mike Vamosi
Tuesday we looked at the first four Mountain West schools that’ll appear on PAC-12 schedules in the fall. Today we conclude by looking at the rest of the teams that you’ll be seeing at a stadium near you (or traveling to).
Can Rocky Long and his San Diego State Aztecs take down a PAC-12 opponent this season? Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
New Mexico Lobos – 3-9/1-7 MWC, Bob Davie’s rebuilding project continues to year three in Albuquerque. While his record hasn’t been great in conference play Davie’s team has 14 losses with seven by a touchdown or less. He’ll have a squad that returns 13 players (seven offense/six defense) plus hosts Fresno, San Diego and Boise State this season at University Stadium. They’ll host Arizona State on Saturday, September 6 with a scheduled 4 pm kickoff on CBS Sports Network.
Full 2014 Schedule: UTEP (Aug. 30), Arizona State (Sept. 6), @New Mexico State (Sept. 20), Fresno State (Sept. 26), @UTSA (Oct. 4), San Diego State (Oct. 10), @Air Force (Oct. 18), @UNLV (Nov. 1), Boise State (Nov. 8), @Utah State (Nov. 15), @Colorado State (Nov. 22), Wyoming (Nov. 29)
San Diego State Aztecs – 8-5/6-2 MWC, Rocky Long is now in his fourth season leading the Aztecs and 15th overall. Coming off a 49-24 victory in the Idaho Potato Bowl against Buffalo they’ll field a team with just 10 retuning players with six on offense/four defense. Can they be better than Fresno State and win the West Division? On Saturday, September 20 they’ll travel to Oregon State for a TBD contest at Reser Stadium.
Full 2014 Schedule: Northern Arizona (Aug. 30), @North Carolina (Sept. 6), @Oregon State (Sept. 20), UNLV (Sept. 27), @Fresno State (Oct. 3), @New Mexico (Oct. 10), Hawaii (Oct. 18), @Nevada (Nov. 1), Idaho (Nov. 8), @Boise State (Nov. 15), Air Force (Nov. 21), San Jose State (Nov. 29)
UNLV Rebels – 7-6, 5-3MWC, Can you believe this will be Bobby Hauck’s fifth season in Las Vegas? He led the Rebels to their first bowl game in 13 seasons and first New Year’s Day bowl in a long time also, despite getting passed 36-14 against North Texas in the Heat of Dallas Bowl. UNLV brings back 13 starters with seven on offense and six defense. They’ll open at Arizona Stadium in Tucson against the Wildcats with kickoff at 7:30 pm on ESPN Friday, August 29.
Full 2014 Schedule: @Arizona (Aug. 29), Northern Colorado (Sept. 6), Northern Illinois (Sept. 13), @San Diego State (Sept. 27), @San Jose State (Oct. 4), Fresno State (Oct. 10), @Utah State (Oct. 25), New Mexico (Nov. 1), Air Force (Nov. 8), @BYU (Nov. 15), @Hawaii (Nov. 22), Nevada (Nov. 29)
Wyoming Cowboys – 5-7/3-5 MWC, After leading North Dakota State to back-to-back FCS National Championships Craig Bohl was hired to rebuild the Wyoming program. Bohl inherits a team that brings back nine starters on defense and seven offense for 16 total. They’ve got non-conference road contests in Eugene and East Lansing versus Michigan State which is counterbalanced by home games versus Montana and Florida Atlantic. As mentioned they’ll face Oregon at Autzen Stadium on Saturday, September 13 with an 11 am scheduled kickoff on the PAC-12 Network.
Full 2014 Schedule: Montana (Aug. 30), Air Force (Sept. 6), @Oregon (Sept. 13), Florida Atlantic (Sept. 20), @Michigan State (Sept. 27), @Hawaii (Oct. 11), San Jose State (Oct. 18), @Colorado State (Oct. 25), @Fresno State (Nov. 1), Utah State (Nov. 7), Boise State (Nov. 22), @New Mexico (Nov. 29)
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