Boise State and Fresno State are the media's overwhelming preseason choices to win the Mountain West Conference's newly formed divisions, the league announced Monday at its annual media day in Las Vegas.
The Broncos were tabbed to win the Mountain Division, garnering 40 of 41 first-place votes and 245 points overall. The Bulldogs were the choice in the West Division, winning 39 of 41 first-place votes and 243 votes overall.
This season marks the first time the league will feature divisional play. Air Force, Boise State, Colorado State, New Mexico, Utah State and Wyoming make up the Mountain Division, with Fresno State, Hawaii, Nevada, San Diego State, San Jose State and UNLV comprising the West Division. The two divisional winners will meet in the inaugural MW Championship Game, which will be held Dec. 7 at the home stadium of the divisional champion with the highest BCS ranking.
Here's how the two division votes shaped up:
Mountain Division (first-place votes in parentheses)
| 1. | Boise State (40) | 245 |
| 2. | Utah State (1) | 204 |
| 3. | Air Force | 143 |
| 4. | Wyoming | 116 |
| 5. | Colorado State | 90 |
| 6. | New Mexico | 63 |
West Division
| 1. | Fresno State (39) | 243 |
| 2. | San Diego State (1) | 181 |
| 3. | San Jose State (1) | 172 |
| 4. | Nevada | 135 |
| 5. | UNLV | 71 |
| 6. | Hawaii | 59 |
The league also announced its preseason all-conference team. Fresno State players were picked to win both major awards, with quarterback Derek Carr tabbed as the preseason Offensive Player of the Year and safety Derron Smith garnering the preseason defensive honor.
The full team below:
OFFENSE |
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| QB | Derek Carr * | Sr. | Fresno State |
| WR | Davante Adams * | So. | Fresno State |
| WR | Noel Grigsby | Sr. | San Jose State |
| RB | Kasey Carrier ** | Sr. | New Mexico |
| RB | Adam Muema ** | Jr. | San Diego State |
| OL | Charles Leno ** | Sr. | Boise State |
| OL | Matt Paradis * | Sr. | Boise State |
| OL | Weston Richburg | Sr. | Colorado State |
| OL | Austin Wentworth * | Sr. | Fresno State |
| OL | Tyler Larsen | Sr. | Utah State |
| TE | Marcel Jensen | Sr. | Fresno State |
DEFENSE |
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| DL | Demarcus Lawrence * | Jr. | Boise State |
| DL | Tyeler Davison * | Jr. | Fresno State |
| DL | Brock Hekking ** | Jr. | Nevada |
| DL | Travis Raciti | Jr. | San Jose State |
| LB | Jake Fely ** | Jr. | San Diego State |
| LB | Keith Smith | Sr. | San Jose State |
| LB | Kyler Fackrell | So. | Utah State |
| DB | L.J. Jones | Sr. | Fresno State |
| DB | Derron Smith * | Jr. | Fresno State |
| DB | Nat Berhe ** | Sr. | San Diego State |
| DB | Bené Benwikere | Sr. | San Jose State |
SPECIALISTS |
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| P | Ben Skaer | Sr. | New Mexico |
| PK | Austin Lopez | So. | San Jose State |
| Ret. | Chase Clayton | Jr. | New Mexico |
PRESEASON OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: |
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| Derek Carr, Sr., QB, Fresno State | |||
PRESEASON DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: |
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| Derron Smith, Jr., DB, Fresno State | |||
PRESEASON SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE YEAR: |
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| Chase Clayton, Jr., KR, New Mexico | |||
| * - member of the 2012 All-Mountain West first team. ** - member of the 2012 All-Mountain West second team. |
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