2017 Mountain West football schedule

The Mountain West released the 2017 football schedule and now we are one step closer to the next football season. There are no TV announcements, barring two for Boise State, and dates could change for games controlled by the Mountain West or games by other leagues.

The opponents were known in league play but the dates were not, so now you can plan your 2017 travel schedule accordingly.

As for non-conference games there are 27 games that are against teams that made a bowl game and another 15 that are from a power league, six from BYU (put them whatever category you wish) and another nine finished the season ranked in the final top 25.

That out of league slate offers up some potential for big wins and elevate the Mountain West as the top non-power league if wins do come their way.

The only TV games to be set now both involve Boise State’s non-conference schedule. Their game vs. Virginia will air on ESPN or ESPN2 on Friday Sept. 22 and their other is a road game at BYU on ESPN with an 8:15 p.m. MT kick on Friday 8:15 p.m.MT.

One big beef that is had in the Mountain West is that there is no rivalry week any more to end the season. Not every team has a conference rival, but the only game that pits two rivals on the final weekend is Nevada vs. UNLV. The Border War between Colorado State and Wyoming is nowhere on the schedule for that final week.

If there were big games on the final week then not having rivals might be excused but that is not the case either. Maybe New Mexico vs. San Diego State could determine either division but that might be a stretch since the Aztecs are going to be the odds on favorite to win the West and the Lobos could be in contention but they lost key players on offense.

If Utah State is back and Air Force’s defense is comparable to last year then there could be a division title, or bowl eligibility, on the line. Yet, that final week is disappointing, at least when analyzing in March.

One key conference game that is back on the schedule is San Diego State and Boise State. This game took a two-year hiatus due to the rotation schedule and this game will be played at Qualcomm on Oct. 14.

On other TV games, per the release from the conference.

Today’s release represents the first phase in the 2017 football schedule process. Mountain West national television partners CBS Sports Network and ESPN will continue a selection procedure which will include the shifting of additional games to Thursdays and Fridays. That will be followed by the identification of national network outlets and kick times, along with the picks for regional partner ROOT SPORTS, Mountain West Network on Campus Insiders and OC Sports (Hawai‘i).

We will breakdown individual schedules over the next week or two, but here is the complete schedule.

Saturday, August 26

Hawai‘i at UMass

South Florida at San José State

Friday, September 1

Colorado vs. Colorado State^

Utah State at Wisconsin

Saturday, September 2

VMI at Air Force

Troy at Boise State

Abilene Christian at New Mexico

Wyoming at Iowa

Incarnate Word at Fresno State

Western Carolina at Hawai‘i

Nevada at Northwestern

UC Davis at San Diego State

Cal Poly at San José State

Howard at UNLV

Thursday, September 7

Idaho State at Utah State

Saturday, September 9

Boise State at Washington State

Abilene Christian at Colorado State

New Mexico State at New Mexico

Gardner-Webb at Wyoming

Fresno State at Alabama

Hawai‘i at UCLA

Toledo at Nevada

San Diego State at Arizona State

San José State at Texas

UNLV at Idaho

Saturday, September 16

Air Force at Michigan

New Mexico at Boise State*

Colorado State at Alabama

Utah State at Wake Forest

Oregon at Wyoming

Fresno State at Washington

Idaho State at Nevada

Stanford at San Diego State

San José State at Utah

Friday, September 22

Virginia at Boise State, 6 p.m. MT ESPN/ESPN2

Saturday, September 23

San Diego State at Air Force*

Oregon State at Colorado State

New Mexico at Tulsa

Utah State at San José State*

Hawai‘i at Wyoming*

Nevada at Washington State

UNLV at Ohio State

Friday, September 29

BYU at Utah State

Saturday, September 30

Air Force at New Mexico*

Colorado State at Hawai‘i*

Texas State at Wyoming

Nevada at Fresno State*

Northern Illinois at San Diego State

San José State at UNLV*

Friday, October 6

Boise State at BYU, 8:15 p.m. MT ESPN

Saturday, October 7

Air Force at Navy

Colorado State at Utah State*

Fresno State at San José State*

Hawai‘i at Nevada*

San Diego State at UNLV*

Saturday, October 14

UNLV at Air Force*

Boise State at San Diego State*

Nevada at Colorado State*

New Mexico at Fresno State*

Wyoming at Utah State*

San José State at Hawai‘i*

Saturday, October 21

Air Force at Nevada*

Wyoming at Boise State*

Colorado State at New Mexico*

Utah State at UNLV*

Fresno State at San Diego State*

Saturday, October 28

Air Force at Colorado State*

Boise State at Utah State*

New Mexico at Wyoming*

UNLV at Fresno State*

San Diego State at Hawai‘i*

San José State at BYU

Saturday, November 4

Army at Air Force

Nevada at Boise State*

Colorado State at Wyoming*

Utah State at New Mexico*

BYU at Fresno State

Hawai‘i at UNLV*

San Diego State at San José State*

Saturday, November 11

Wyoming at Air Force*

Boise State at Colorado State*

New Mexico at Texas A&M

Fresno State at Hawai‘i*

San José State at Nevada*

BYU at UNLV

Saturday, November 18

Air Force at Boise State*

San José State at Colorado State*

UNLV at New Mexico*

Hawai‘i at Utah State*

Fresno State at Wyoming*

Nevada at San Diego State*

Saturday, November 25

Utah State at Air Force*

Boise State at Fresno State*

New Mexico at San Diego State*

Wyoming at San José State*

BYU at Hawai‘i

UNLV at Nevada*

^Sports Authority Field (Denver, Colorado)

*MW Game