LAS VEGAS, NEV. – The Colorado State Rams were selected to repeat as Mountain West Conference champions in a poll of MWC media members. The University of New Mexico, which finished in a tie for fifth-place last year (5-7, 3-4 MWC) was picked to finish seventh.
The Rams, coming off a 10-2 season, a No. 14 ranking in the final polls (the highest in school history) and an AXA LIberty Bowl championship, have either won outright or shared the first two Mountain West Conference titles. CSU claimed 11 of 17 first place votes.
UNLV, which finished last season at 7-5 and third in the MWC, was picked to finish second. The 2000 Las Vegas Bowl champion Rebels garnered four first place votes.
BYU and San Diego State received one first place vote each and were chosen to place third and fourth, respectively, in the conference standings.
Silicon Valley Football Classic champions Air Force, followed by Utah, New Mexico and Wyoming round out the preseason poll.
2001 Mountain West Conference Preseason Poll
Team(1st place votes) Points Colorado State (11) 130 UNLV (4) 118 BYU (1) 91 San Diego State (1) 74 Air Force 63 Utah 55 New Mexico 54 Wyoming 18