Once again, the Boise State Broncos football team has been selected as the favorite to win the Mountain Division title.
The pick was announced this morning at the Mountain West Conference Media Days in Las Vegas.
Boise State earned 21 out of 28 first place votes.
In his fourth year, Broncos Head Coach Bryan Harsin has nine starters back from a team that went 10-3 overall and 6-2 in Mountain West play.
In the West Division the San Diego State Aztecs are the unanimous preseason favorites for the second year in a row. It's the first time in Mountain West history a team has pulled that off in back-to-back seasons.
October 14th could prove to be a preview of the Mountain West Championship Game. That's when Boise State travels to San Diego to take on the Aztecs for the first time since 2014.
In addition to the poll, the Broncos also landed three players on the preseason All-Mountain West Team.
Senior offensive lineman Mason Hampton, junior defensive lineman David Moa and junior defensive back Tyler Horton all landed on the list. Moa says the honor is nice, but it's only the preseason.
"It's just a watchlist or something like that. I have to prove it when we start fall camp and right into the season, that's when I'll prove if I belong there," Moa said. "Like I said, it's just a a watchlist we have to stay humble and keep eating and keep grinding."
Not on the list? Junior quarterback Brett Rypien. Wyoming sensation Josh Allen, who is already being eyed as a possible top pick in next year's NFL draft, earned the nod as the top QB in the conference.
We asked Rypien about the snub and he says he's not worried about the preseason team and said Allen is a worthy pick.
"I didn't even hear about the preseason picks until we got down here. He definitely deserves that, he's a big-time player, big-time arm," Rypien said. "I don't really worry about that a whole lot or worry about what people pick especially in the preseason. Because I think once you get in the season and game 13 hits, whoever deserves to be first team will be first team."
Boise State plays Wyoming at Albertsons Stadium on October 21st.
San Diego State's Rashaad Penny earned two spots on the preseason all-conference team. He's listed as a top running back and kick return specialist.
