* Mountain West Conference press release

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., -- Here is this week's Around the Mountain West as Wyoming and Air Force meet in the only intra-conference game in Week 3:

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  • Dating back to the 2019 season, the Mountain West has won 19 games against autonomous-5 opponents, including 16 against the Pac-12. This is the most wins in that time span amongst all non-autonomous-5 conferences.

 

  • In the past 18 years, the Mountain West has been the top non-autonomous-5 conference 10 times and second five times.

 

  • The Mountain West produced the first non-automatic-qualifying FBS team into a BCS bowl game (Utah - 2005 Fiesta Bowl) and into the College Football Playoff (Boise State - 2014 Fiesta Bowl).

 

  • The Mountain West has had at least two teams nationally ranked in each of the last six seasons.

 

  • After Wyoming’s double-overtime victory over Tulsa on Sept. 3, the Mountain West now has a 16-11 record against opponents from the American Athletic Conference.

 

  • Air Force is riding a six-game win streak, which is tied as the third-longest active streak nationally, trailing only Louisiana (15) and Clemson (8).

 

  • Air Force and San Diego State both have five-game road win streaks, tied for third-longest in FBS. The Falcons travel to Wyoming on Friday, Sept. 16, while the Aztecs play at No. 15/14 Utah on Saturday, Sept. 17.

 

  • Fresno State senior QB Jake Haener, who was named 2022 MW Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 21 consecutive games, beginning on Oct. 24, 2019. This is tied as the third-longest stretch in Conference history. Carson Strong (Nevada) and Derek Carr (Fresno State) hold the league record with a touchdown pass in 26 straight games, while Haener is tied with Andy Dalton (TCU).

 

  • Over the last 18 seasons, the MW has captured the Bowl Challenge Cup five times and owns the third-best win percentage in bowl games among the 10 FBS conferences (.583), trailing only the SEC (.621) and Sun Belt (.593).

Air Force senior running back Brad Roberts has been tabbed the Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week, while Wyoming sophomore linebacker Shae Suiaunoa was named MW Defensive Player of the Week. Wyoming sophomore place-kicker John Hoyland earned MW Special Teams Player of the Week honors, while New Mexico running back Christian Washington was selected as MW Freshman of the Week.

It is the third career MW weekly honor for Hoyland, second for Roberts and first for Suiaunoa and Washington.

OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

BRAD ROBERTS, AIR FORCE

Senior, Running Back, Arvada, Colorado / Ralston Valley HS

  • Led Air Force to a 41-10 victory over Colorado, rushing 24 times for 174 yards and tying a career high with three touchdowns.
  • The 174 rushing yards are the second-most of his career.
  • Eight of 24 carries went for first downs or touchdowns.
  • Averaged 7.2 yards per carry.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK

SHAE SUIAUNOA, WYOMING

Sophomore, Linebacker, Houston, Texas / Clear Lake HS

  • In Wyoming’s 33-10 victory over Northern Colorado, recorded a career-best eight tackles, including one sack.
  • Also intercepted a fourth-quarter pass and returned it to UNC’s three-yard line, setting up a Wyoming touchdown.
  • Helped lead a Cowboy defense that held Northern Colorado to just 15 rushing yards and only 147 yards of total offense.

SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK

JOHN HOYLAND, WYOMING

Sophomore, Place-Kicker, Broomfield, Colorado / Legacy HS

  • Connected on all four field-goal attempts in Wyoming’s 33-10 victory over Northern Colorado.
  • Made field goals from 23, 41, 39 and 35 yards out.
  • Four made field goals tied a career high.
  • Also was a perfect three-for-three on PATs, scoring 15 of Wyoming’s 33 points.

FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK

CHRISTIAN WASHINGTON, NEW MEXICO

True Freshman, Running Back, San Diego, California / Helix HS

  • Averaged 65.5 yards per kickoff return against Boise State, including a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
  • It marked the 26th 100-yard kickoff return in Mountain West history and just the ninth in program history.
  • First kickoff return was a 31-yarder.

University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players

During the summer of 2021, 7220Sports.com counted down the Top 50 football players in University of Wyoming history, presented by Premier Bone & Joint Centers, Worthy of Wyoming.

The rules are simple: What was the player's impact while in Laramie? That means NFL stats, draft status or any other accolade earned outside of UW is irrelevant when it comes to this list.

This isn't a one-man job. This task called for a panel of experts. Joining 7220's Cody Tucker are Robert GagliardiJared NewlandRyan Thorburn, and Kevin McKinney.

We all compiled our own list of 50 and let computer averages do the work. Think BCS -- only we hope this catalog is fairer.

Don't agree with a selection? Feel free to sound off on our Twitter: @7220sports - #Top50UWFB

- University of Wyoming’s Top 50 Football Players

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