San Diego State, the defending Mountain West champion, was picked to win the West Division and Boise State was chosen to win the Mountain Division in voting by the media, the conference announced Tuesday morning at its annual Media Days at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
The Aztecs, who garnered all 29 first-place votes, are only the second unanimous preseason pick in MW history and first since 2010 (Texas Christian). San Diego State went 8-0 in the league last season and beat Mountain Division champion Air Force 27-24 in the MW championship game. The Aztecs return 14 starters, including preseason Offensive Player of the Year Donnel Pumphrey, a Canyon Springs High product, preseason Defensive Player of the Year Damontae Kazee and preseason Special Teams Player of the Year Rashaad Penny.