MWC announces future football schedule structure

<strong>LOGAN–</strong> The Mountain West announced Tuesday its conference football rotational sequence and matchups for future seasons, beginning with the first four-year cycle (2013-16). The scheduling format for the new 12-member football lineup was computer-generated and consists of five intra-divisional games and three cross-divisional contests annually. Each institution will play four home and four road conference games each season, and will play every Mountain West opponent home and away during each four-year cycle.

Intra-divisional opponents will alternate sites annually (three home/two away or two home/three away). The three cross-divisional opponents will be the same in each two-year period, with the site alternating from the first year to the second. The three cross-divisional opponents who are missed initially will appear on the schedule in the second two years of the cycle, again alternating sites from the third year to the fourth year. The entire four-year sequence repeats beginning in 2017 and will continue thereafter.

The actual schedules for future seasons will continue to be constructed on an annual basis. The complete 2013 Mountain West football schedule, including specific dates, is expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

Last month, the Mountain West’s directors of athletics formed two football divisions based upon common geographic regions and traditional rivalries, while also creating the first Mountain West Football Championship Game. Beginning in the fall of 2013, Mountain West football membership will include Air Force, Boise State, Colorado State, New Mexico, Utah State and Wyoming in the Mountain Division and Fresno State, Hawai‘i, Nevada, San Diego State, San Jose State and UNLV in the West Division.

In 2013, Utah State’s first year in the Mountain West, it will play Mountain Division schools Boise State, Colorado State and Wyoming at home, along with hosting West Division school Hawai’i. Road games for USU in 2013 will be against Mountain Division opponents Air Force and New Mexico, as well as West Division opponents UNLV and San Jose State. In 2014, USU will play the same eight schools with alternating home and away sites. During its first two years in the MW, USU will not play Fresno State, Nevada and San Diego State.

In 2015, Utah State’s third year in the Mountain West, it will play Mountain Division schools Boise State, Colorado State and Wyoming at home, along with hosting West Division school Nevada. Road games for USU in 2015 will be against Mountain Division opponents Air Force and New Mexico, as well as West Division opponents Fresno State and San Diego State. In 2016, USU will play the same eight schools with alternating home and away sites. During its third and fourth years in the MW, USU will not play Hawai’i, San Jose State and UNLV.

“It’s an exciting time moving into the Mountain West,” said USU head coach Matt Wells. “The Mountain West has done a great job of reestablishing the regional rivalries that Utah State has had over the years and this schedule is a great indicator of that. The home schedule we have in 2013 is very challenging, yet exciting for our fan base. To play Boise State, Colorado State, Hawai’i and Wyoming at Romney Stadium is great not only for our program, but for Aggie Nation as well.”

The inaugural Mountain West Football Championship Game will be played December 7, 2013 at the home stadium of the divisional champion with the highest BCS ranking.

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