The opening salvos of our tournament to determine the best football team in Mountain West history are about to go off. Here are the ground rules for the simulation, done via WhatIfSports:
- Winners are determined through a best-of-nine series.
- Starting lineups are left at their default. This may realistically affect only one or two matchups in which one team or the other had position turnover. The offensive playbook is also left at its default setting.
- The higher seeds are given permanent home-field advantage, and the weather is left at its default: no precipitation, no wind, 70 degrees.
Without further ado, the results:
2006 BYU Cougars vs. 2012 Boise State Broncos
WINNER: 2006 BYU, 5-0
In a nutshell: The controversial top seed acquitted themselves well in the first round.
Average score: 34.6 to 18.4, BYU
Most Outstanding Player - John Beck, QB, '06 BYU
2004 Utah Utes vs. 2014 Utah State Aggies
WINNER: 2004 UTAH, 5-0
In a nutshell: The original BCS buster had no trouble busting up USU's tough defense.
Average score: 41.0 to 20.8, Utah
Most Outstanding Player - Paris Warren, WR, '04 Utah
2008 Utah Utes vs. 2007 BYU Cougars
WINNER: 2007 BYU, 5-3
In a nutshell: The first round's biggest upset.
Average score: 27.4 to 18.0, BYU
Most Outstanding Player - Harvey Unga, RB, '07 BYU
2010 TCU Horned Frogs vs. 2014 Colorado State Rams
WINNER: 2010 TCU, 5-0
In a nutshell: Rashard Higgins played up, but CSU's defense couldn't contain the Frogs.
Average score: 39.6 to 22.6, TCU
Most Outstanding Player - Rashard Higgins, WR, '14 CSU
2011 Boise State Broncos vs. 2013 Utah State Aggies
WINNER: 2011 BOISE STATE, 5-1
In a nutshell: Kellen Moore was unstoppable as the Broncos coasted to a series win.
Average score: 38.0 to 20.2, Boise State
Most Outstanding Player - Kellen Moore, QB, '11 Boise State
2001 BYU Cougars vs. 2000 Colorado State Rams
WINNER: 2001 BYU, 5-3
In a nutshell: Scrappy CSU came up short against BYU's powerful offense in the "Throwback Bowl".
Average score: 38.0 to 22.0, BYU
Most Outstanding Player - Luke Staley, RB, '01 BYU
2009 TCU Horned Frogs vs. 2013 Fresno State Bulldogs
WINNER: 2009 TCU, 5-1
In a nutshell: Defense bested offense as Fresno's lack of balance betrayed them.
Average score: 35.7 to 20.5, TCU
Most Outstanding Player - Matthew Tucker, RB, '09 TCU
2014 Boise State Broncos vs. 2011 TCU Horned Frogs
WINNER: 2011 TCU, 5-4
In a nutshell: The only matchup to go the distance featured five one-score games.
Average score: 37.7 to 35.6, Boise State
Most Outstanding Player - Jay Ajayi, RB, '14 Boise State
You can expect the debate to intensify now that our top sixteen has been whittled down to a top eight, so be sure to be a part of the conversation in the comments!
Seed | Team | vs. | Seed | Team |
1 | 2006 BYU | 9 | 2011 TCU | |
4 | 2010 TCU | 5 | 2011 Boise State | |
6 | 2001 BYU | 14 | 2007 BYU | |
2 | 2004 Utah | 7 | 2009 TCU |