In 2019, the Mountain West acquitted themselves pretty well against the Power 5 teams. In fact, the MWC had a winning record against the SEC, going 3-2 last season. The 3 wins included Wyoming beating Missouri, San Jose State beating Arkansas & UNLV beating Vanderbilt. The winning record for the conference against the SEC looks even better after the draft last month. The SEC set a 1st round record with 15 of their players picked. The 2nd round saw 10 more SEC players selected. The 2-round total of 25 was a conference record for the NFL draft.
Outside of the 3 wins against the SEC, the MWC had: 5 wins against the PAC 12 (Hawaii twice over Arizona/Oregon State, Air Force twice over Colorado/Washington State & SDSU over UCLA), 1 win against the ACC (Boise State over Florida State) & 1 win against the Big Ten (Nevada over Purdue).
Overall, the Mountain West went 10-11 against Power 5 teams in 2019. For a Group of 5 team, that is more than respectable. Further, other Group of 5 teams did not fare nearly as well. The American went 8-15. The Sun Bent went 4-8. Conference USA went 3-19. The MAC went 1-22.
After such a strong year in 2019, let’s look ahead to the 2020 Power 5 schedule:
- Air Force - @Purdue on 9/19
- Boise State - Florida State on 9/19
- Colorado State - Colorado on 9/5, @Oregon State on 9/12 & @Vanderbilt on 9/26
- New Mexico - @Mississippi State on 9/5 & @USC on 9/12
- Utah State - Washington State on 9/3 & @Washington on 9/19
- Wyoming - Utah on 9/19
- Fresno State - @Colorado on 9/12 & @Texas A&M on 10/10
- Hawaii - @Arizona on 8/29, UCLA on 9/5 & @Oregon on 9/19
- Nevada - @Arkansas on 9/5
- San Diego State - UCLA on 9/19
- San Jose State - @Penn State on 9/19
- UNLV - California on 8/29, Arizona State on 9/12 & @Iowa State on 9/19
That would be 21 games by my count. As I look at that schedule, I don’t feel overly bullish about the MWC repeating the 10-11 from last season. I’d say the MWC would be more realistically shooting for 7 wins to finish 7-14 against that Power 5 schedule this fall.
Breaking down the Power 5 games by conference opponent, the MWC will play: 13 games against the PAC 12, 4 games against the SEC, 2 games against the Big Ten, 1 game against the ACC & 1 game against the Big 12. Obviously, the conference plays the PAC 12 the most. The MWC held their own against the PAC 12 in 2019, going 5-5.
With that said, what do you think will happen this fall versus the Power 5?
Poll
Over/Under 7 Wins Against the Power 5 this Fall?
This poll is closed
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44%
Over
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36%
Under
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18%
Agree with 7 Wins
Poll
With 13 games against the PAC 12 & 4 games against the SEC, does the MWC finish with a winning record against either conference?
This poll is closed
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54%
Nope
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27%
Yes, the PAC 12
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4%
Yes, the SEC
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13%
Yes, both conferences
Also, please leave your thoughts in the comments below about what you think will happen between the MWC and the Power 5.