Mountain West announces 8-game league football schedule plus two nonconference games
The Mountain West announced Wednesday afternoon that it will go with an eight-game conference football schedule this fall and give each team the option to play two nonconference games.
Fall competition can’t begin any earlier than the week of Sept. 26, according to Wednesday’s press release, which means Boise State’s season opener against Georgia Southern (Sept. 5) is off, unless the teams can find an open date later in the season.
Following the conference’s announcement, Boise State — which was scheduled to open fall camp on Friday — opted to postpone camp until the week of Aug. 17, according to a team spokesperson.
“Today’s decision by the Mountain West Board of Directors gives us more time to prepare for the fall season while allowing us to continue monitoring the COVID-19 situation - not just in Boise, but across each of our conference campuses,” Boise State Athletic Director Curt Apsey said in a statement. “We have been and will continue to work with local health experts in regards to safety precautions for our student-athletes, coaches and staff.”
The Broncos’ road game at Air Force on Sept. 12 will have to be rescheduled. Idaho State will have to reschedule or cancel games against Fresno State (Sept. 5) and New Mexico (Sept. 19).
Boise State already lost a home game against Florida State (Sept. 19) when the ACC announced that its nonconference games had to be played in the home state of the ACC school. The Broncos are scheduled to travel to Marshall on Sept. 25, and BYU is scheduled to be in Boise on Nov. 6.
Potential dates for the Mountain West championship game are Dec. 5, 12 and 19.
Fall Olympic sports will also consist of conference-only play, and women’s soccer and volleyball champions will be determined by regular-season standings. Options for men’s and women’s cross country are still being reviewed, according to Wednesday’s release.
All fall competition in men’s and women’s golf, men’s and women’s tennis, indoor track and field, baseball and softball has been canceled.
This story was originally published August 6, 2020 at 4:12 PM.
