MW changes title-game host format
Rankings, computer polls no longer determining factors
Last year’s end-of-the-regular-season surprise scenario has prompted a new procedure to determine the host of the Mountain West Conference Football Championship Game.
On the eve of the MWC media days, the MWC threw rankings and computer polls out the window.
The host of the MWC Football Championship Game will now be the team with the highest winning percentage in MWC games only, with head-to-head competition serving as the first tiebreaker.
The MWC announced that the member institutions conducted a thorough review of the MWC’s football operation.
Last year, Fresno State and Boise State both had 7-1 conference records with Fresno State beating Boise State in the final game of the regular season. Under the new MWC procedure, the Bulldogs would be hosting the MWC Football Championship Game. Instead, last year they lost on the smurf turf.
“We had a very unique set of circumstances last December with the two divisional champions playing on the final weekend of the regular season,” Deputy Commissioner Bret Gilliland said
in a release. “That prompted a review of the formula and a shift to place a priority on head-tohead competition, while maintaining strategic positioning for the Mountain West champion to serve as the Group of Five respresentative to the College Football Playoff structure.”
The Fresno Bee reported that Fresno State coach Jeff Tedford was not available for comment.
The Bee instead published a tweet from Fresno State president Joseph Castro: “Never again. Go ‘Dogs!”
No one could have predicted last year’s scenario as Fresno State went 1-11 in 2016 and the Broncos were 10-3.
This season, New Mexico will play host to Fresno State, Oct. 20, and also to Boise State, Nov. 16. UNM and Boise State are both in the Mountain Division and Fresno State is in the West Division.
The MWC is now going with a more simple procedure and scrapping a five-step system, that involved computer rankings, to determine the host for the title game.
This year, the host site will be determined no later than the Sunday following the conclusion of the regular season.
In the event of a tie, the following procedure will be used to determine the host location for the MWC Championship Game.
1. Head-to-head result between the tied divisional champions. 2. If still tied: A. If one team was ranked in the latest available CFP Selection Committee ranking and wins in the final weekend of the regular season, they will be declared the host. If in that same scenario, the team that was the highest-ranked team in the latest available CFP Selection Committee ranking loses in the final weekend of the regular season, a composite average of selected computer rankings will be used; OR B. If both teams are ranked in the latest available CFP Selection Committee ranking, the highest-ranked team that wins in the final weekend of the regular season; OR C. If neither of the ranked teams win in the final weekend of the regular season, a composite average of selected computer rankings after all games conclude the final weekend of the regular season will be used; OR D. If neither team is ranked in the latest available CFP Selection Committee ranking going into the final weekend of the regular season, a composite average of selected computer rankings after all games conclude the final weekend of the regular season will be used.
3. If still tied, the best record against common Conference opponents.
4. If still tied, the team with the highest overall winning percentage (Conference and non-conference excluding exempt games).
5. If still tied, a coin toss will be conducted by the Commissioner.