Peak Perspective: Mid-season MWC Grades

We are right around the mid-point of the season, being the middle of October and all, so let’s hand out some mid-season grades.

The grades will be based off a system we started back in February with team recruiting grades. For each team, we list an objective grade, meaning a grade based on how each team is in relation to the rest of the division 1 teams (a more traditional grade), and an adjusted grade, which is based on how the team is performing in relation to itself and their own expectations. This hopefully will provide a more well-rounded depiction of each team, as some teams can be doing well for themselves but not well overall. Similarly, a team can have a good record but not be meeting their own expectations.

As far as grades go, A range is exceptional, Bs are very good, a C grade means average, D range is disappointing/not doing well, and Fs are awful.

Check it out below, and don’t forget to comment on what you agree or disagree with (just state what you would do differently).

Air Force

• Objective Grade: B
• Adjusted Grade: A-

The Falcons have had a pretty strong season, being one of the pleasant surprises to this early season. They look well on their way to a bowl game and are solid on both sides of the ball. They’ve dropped 2 of their last 3 and have some tougher games coming up against Hawaii, Wyoming, and Utah State, so it will be interesting to see whether or not they can keep this going.

Boise State

• Objective Grade: A
• Adjusted Grade: B+

The Broncos are the only undefeated team in the Mountain West at this point in the season. However, up until the Hawaii game, their flaws were on display despite the wins. Are they are a team improving from the start of the season or a team playing with fire week after week hoping they don’t get burned? Still they appear to be the best team in the conference and have passed every team thus far.

Colorado State

• Objective Grade: D+
• Adjusted Grade: C

Thus far the Rams season has more or less been a continuation of last season. And that it not a good thing. The offense has looked the part, but if anything the defense is worse. That usually doesn’t lead to many wins and that holds true for Colorado State. There isn’t much else to say about them, other than some of their younger players are already showing they are capable of big roles.

Fresno State

• Objective Grade: C
• Adjusted Grade: C-

The Bulldogs season in a word: disappointing. They had a tougher start to their season with two close losses to P5 teams but even since then they haven’t really been able to righten the ship. Of course there is still time to turn things around and the West looks open, but this year’s version doesn’t look like the 2017 or 2018 teams.

Hawaii

• Objective Grade: B+
• Adjusted Grade: B+

The Rainbow Warriors have been great. Taking two of three from the PAC-12 and a huge win over Nevada before the momentum killing loss against Boise State this weekend. How Hawaii responds will determine the fate of their season, but the first half went just about as well as Hawaii could have hoped for.

Nevada

• Objective Grade: C-
• Adjusted Grade: C

The first week of the season went amazing for the Wolf Pack, and they looked like they were picking up right where they left off last season. Then the wheels kind of fell off after that and they haven’t really looked right since. They went from looking like a bowl team to simply trying to stay out of the bottom of the league. Coaches have tried a few quarterback changes in attempts to find answers and may have found a better formula in their recent win over SJSU. Still, it looks like a step back from last year.

New Mexico

• Objective Grade: F
• Adjusted Grade: D

Does this one really need explaining? Yes the Lobos had a bad blow with losing their starting QB to injury. Yes they weren’t supposed to be good anyway. But they appear to be getting worse and like it was said in a post from Monday, they are now entering the tougher part of their schedule. Hard to see many positives for New Mexico.

San Diego State

• Objective Grade: B+
• Adjusted Grade: B+

Is there any MWC team more consistent year after year than San Diego State? The Aztecs seem to be right on track for another 9-10 win season and have a good chance to be in the MWC championship game. How are they doing it? The same way as always. A top defense, a strong running attack and just enough points to get the victory.

San Jose State

• Objective Grade: C-
• Adjusted Grade: B

Even if the Spartans don’t win any more games the rest of the season, it will officially be the most successful season for the Spartans in the Brennan era. They boast a win over an SEC team and are capable of winning one or two more games this year if things go the right way. They aren’t a good team but they are good pieces there and SJSU is no longer at the bottom of the conference.

UNLV

• Objective Grade: F
• Adjusted Grade: D-

The bottom just seems to be completely falling out of the Rebels season. People had quiet hopes for a pretty good year and a bowl birth, but that seems like a pipe-dream at this point. They rebounded this week with an out of nowhere win against Vandy of the SEC, but is it enough to salvage their season? That is that question going into the second half of the season.

Utah State

• Objective Grade: A-
• Adjusted Grade: A

Many people (myself included) on this site were predicting a bit of a drop-off for the Aggies after losing their coaching staff and so many offensive weapons. Thus far, us people have been mistaken. Utah State looks much like the 2018 version and though they haven’t been able to slay any P5 opponents, they’ve taken care of business against everyone else. They are once again looking like one of the top teams in the MWC.

Wyoming

• Objective Grade: B
• Adjusted Grade: B-

The Cowboys, similar to the Aztecs, keep pressing on with a stout defense and a heavy dose of rushing that keeps them competing. The passing attack isn’t what people expected it to be and that’s kept them from a win or two and more impressive showings in the wins they did get. Still, they are in every game and have been improved over the first half of last season.