2007 Mountain West Conference football season

The 2007 Mountain West Conference football season was the ninth since eight former members of the Western Athletic Conference banded together to form the Mountain West Conference. It began on August 30 when UNLV defeated. The same night, Utah fell to Oregon State in Corvallis, Oregon. Brigham Young University won its fourth conference title.

Coaching Changes

 * Troy Calhoun took over at Air Force, following the retirement of longtime Falcons' coach Fisher DeBerry.

Memorable Games
September 1, 2007 • Invesco Field at Mile High • Denver, Colorado • FSN • Attendance: 68,133
 * Colorado 31, Colorado State 28

A Kyle Bell touchdown run with 10:05 remaining in the 3rd gave Colorado State a 28-17 lead, but a Demetrius Sumler score later in the quarter brought Colorado within 3. Buffaloes' kicker Kevin Eberhart kicked a 22-yard field goal with 13 seconds left in regulation to force overtime. The Rams had the first possession in overtime, but quarterback Caleb Hanie's pass was intercepted in the endzone. Eberhart then kicked a 35-yard field goal to win the Rocky Mountain Showdown for Colorado.

September 1, 2007 • War Memorial Stadium • Laramie, Wyoming • Versus • Attendance: 31,620
 * Wyoming 23, Virginia 3

Cowboys' running back Devin Moore ran for 125 yards, and the Wyoming defense held Virginia to just 110 yards of total offense and only 7 rushing yards to begin their season by defeating a Cavaliers squad that would end the year 9-4 and one of the best teams in the ACC.

September 1, 2007 • LaVell Edwards Stadium • Provo, Utah • Versus • Attendance: 64,525
 * BYU 20, Arizona 7

Max Hall threw for 288 yards and two touchdowns in his first game as full-time starter at BYU, and the Cougars' defense held Arizona to just 32 yards rushing to avenge a season-opening loss to the Wildcats a year prior.

September 8, 2007 • Rose Bowl Stadium • Pasadena, California • Versus • Attendance: 72,986
 * #13 UCLA 27, BYU 17

Despite being outgained by the Cougars 435-236, UCLA was able to capitalize on three BYU turnovers- including a 56-yard interception return for a touchdown by Trey Brown- and held on to win the first meeting of the two teams.

September 8, 2007 • Royal-Memorial Stadium • Austin, Texas • FSN • Attendance: 84,621
 * #7 Texas 34, #19 TCU 13

The Horned Frogs led 10-0 at halftime on the strength of a 45-yard interception return for a touchdown by senior cornerback Torrey Stewart, but Texas began the second half with 27 unanswered points to pull away for good.

September 13, 2007 • Falcon Stadium • Colorado Springs, Colorado • CSTV • Attendance: 31,556
 * Air Force 20, TCU 13 (OT)

Playing another road game just four days after the Texas game, TCU quarterback Andy Dalton's touchdown pass to Walter Bryant with 13:10 left in the 4th quarter put TCU ahead 17-3, but a touchdown pass from Shaun Carney to Keith Madsen and a 71-yard touchdown run by Jim Ollis tied the score at 17 all with just over five minutes to play. In the final minute of regulation, TCU found themselves well within field goal range, but Dalton's intended pass to Jimmy Young was intercepted by Carson Bird in the endzone to force overtime. The Horned Frogs had the first possession in overtime, but kicker Chris Manfredini's 36-yard field goal attempt hit the upright. Air Force kicker Ryan Harrison then nailed a 33-yard field goal to win it for the Falcons, and the cadets rushed the field.

September 15, 2007 • Rice-Eccles Stadium • Salt Lake City, Utah • Versus • Attendance: 43,056
 * Utah 44, #11 UCLA 6

After starting the season 0-2, Utes' quarterback Tommy Grady threw for 246 yards and 3 touchdowns and running back Darrell Mack ran for 107 and a score as Utah overwhelmed the Bruins to avoid an 0-3 start and turn their season around.

September 15, 2007 • Arizona Stadium • Tucson, Arizona • FSN • Attendance: 51,996
 * New Mexico 29, Arizona 27

Donovan Porterie threw for 327 yards and three touchdowns, and the New Mexico defense held Arizona to just 38 yards rushing to give the Lobos their second victory over a Pac-10 team in school history.

September 22, 2007 • Amon G. Carter Stadium • Fort Worth, Texas • CSTV • Attendance: 31,511
 * TCU 21, SMU 7

A blocked punt return for a touchdown by redshirt freshman Bart Johnson and a 58-yard interception return for a touchdown were enough to overcome a lackluster offensive game for the Frogs, who avenged their only loss of the 2005 season and took back the Iron Skillet from their crosstown rivals.

September 29, 2007 • University Stadium • Albuquerque, New Mexico • CSTV • Attendance: 34,204
 * BYU 31, New Mexico 24

Max Hall's 251 yards passing provided enough offense for the Cougars, who benefitted from five Lobo turnovers, to win a crucial conference road game in Albuquerque.

October 6, 2007 • War Memorial Stadium • Laramie, Wyoming • the mtn. • Attendance: 23,007
 * Wyoming 24, TCU 21

Wyoming kicker Billy Vinnedge's 23-yard field goal gave the Cowboys a 24-6 lead with 8:25 remaining in the 4th quarter, but TCU quarterback Andy Dalton threw two touchdown passes to bring the Frogs to within 3. Another furious drive got TCU in position to send the game to overtime, but kicker Chris Manfredini's 48-yard field goal attempt missed as time expired.

October 13, 2007 • Stanford Stadium • Palo Alto, California • Attendance: 37,777
 * TCU 38, Stanford 36

One week after a near-comeback against Wyoming, TCU found themselves behind 31-17 to Stanford, who had upset #1 USC the week before. This time, however, the Frogs comeback was successful, fuled by touchdown passes from Dalton to Jimmy Young and Aaron Brown, as well as a touchdown run by Brown.

October 25, 2007 • University Stadium • Albuquerque, New Mexico • Versus • Attendance: 26,087
 * New Mexico 34, Air Force 31

Rodney Ferguson ran for 146 yards and two touchdowns, and kicker John Sullivan hit two fourth quarter field goals as the Lobos overcame a 31-28 deficit late in the third quarter to defeat the Falcons.

November 8, 2007 • LaVell Edwards Stadium • Provo, Utah • Versus • Attendance: 64,241
 * BYU 27, TCU 22

Max Hall passed for 305 yards and a touchdown and BYU's defense came up with two sacks in an 11-second span late in the 4th quarter to seal a 27-22 victory. Andy Dalton's touchdown pass to Bart Johnson with 3:49 remaining cut the Cougars' lead to 5, but then David Nixon sacked Andy Dalton on second down on the Frogs' last possession, then on fourth-and-8, Bryan Kehl pounced on Dalton as he lost his footing with 1:58 left. The Cougars ran out the clock and won for the 10th straight time at home.

November 10, 2007 • Notre Dame Stadium • South Bend, Indiana • NBC • Attendance: 80,795
 * Air Force 41, Notre Dame 24

Air Force's Chad Hall ran for 142 yards, and the Falcons' defense held the Irish to just 58 yards on the ground to hand Notre Dame their most lopsided loss to a service academy since 1963.

November 23, 2007 • Hughes Stadium • Fort Collins, Colorado • the mtn. • Attendance: 18,827
 * Colorado State 36, Wyoming 28

Caleb Hanie threw for 245 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Rams' to their 3rd Border War win in 4 years and regain the Bronze Boot from the Cowboys. The loss ended all hope Wyoming had for making a bowl game.

November 24, 2007 • LaVell Edwards Stadium • Provo, Utah • Versus • Attendance: 64,749
 * #23 BYU 17, Utah 10

Freshman running back Harvey Unga rushed for 141 yards and scored the winning touchdown for BYU on an 11-yard run with 38 seconds remaining as the Cougars defeated the Utes in thrilling fashion in the Holy War and also wrapped up their second straight conference title.

Poinsettia Bowl
December 20, 2007 • Qualcomm Stadium • San Diego, California • ESPN
 * Utah 35, Navy 32

In the first bowl game of the 2007 season, the Utes' quarterback Brian Johnson threw for 226 yards as the Utah was able to outlast the 316 yards of rushing offense built up by the Midshipmen. It was Utah's seventh consecutive bowl victory, a streak that dates back to 1999.

New Mexico Bowl
December 22, 2007 • University Stadium • Albuquerque, New Mexico • ESPN
 * New Mexico 23, Nevada 0

For the second year in a row, the Lobos were invited to play in their hometown bowl game. This time, however, they emerged victorious. It was their first bowl victory since 1961, snapping a five-game losing streak. Quarterback Donovan Porterie threw for 354 yards to earn MVP honors.

Las Vegas Bowl
December 22, 2007 • Sam Boyd Stadium • Las Vegas, Nevada • ESPN
 * #19 BYU 17, UCLA 16

The Cougars and the Bruins had met in the regular season on September 8, with UCLA claiming victory, 27-17. In front of the Las Vegas Bowl's fifth consecutive sell-out, however, the Cougars won the rematch 17-16, as Eathyn Manumaleuna blocked UCLA kicker Kai Forbath's last-second field goal to preserve victory.

Texas Bowl
December 28, 2007 • Reliant Stadium • Houston, Texas • NFL Network
 * TCU 20, Houston 13

In a rematch of former Southwest Conference rivals, TCU overcame a 10-7 halftime lead and then held back a last-minute rally by the Cougars to win their third consecutive bowl game, 20-13. Freshman quarterback Andy Dalton threw for 249 yards to earn MVP honors, while the TCU defense held Houston to just 32 yards rushing.

Armed Forces Bowl
December 31, 2007 • Amon G. Carter Stadium • Fort Worth, Texas • ESPN
 * California 42, Air Force 36

Making their first bowl appearance since 2002, Air Force jumped out to a 21-0 lead to start the game. But then the Cal offense got going, with quarterback Kevin Riley throwing for 269 yards and 3 touchdowns and running back Justin Forsett running for 140 yards and two scores. This was the MWC's only loss of the 2007 bowl season.

Awards

 * Coach of the Year: Troy Calhoun, Air Force
 * Offensive Player of the Year: RB/WR Chad Hall, Sr, Air Force
 * Defensive Player of the Year: LB Beau Bell, Sr, UNLV
 * Special Teams Player of the Year: K/P Louie Sakoda, Jr, Utah
 * Freshman of the Year: RB Harvey Unga, BYU