Around the Mtn: Falcons are flying high

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., -- Aside from a Week-3 hiccup at home against high-flying Utah State, arguably no one is hotter in the Mountain West Conference than the surging Air Force Falcons.

Troy Calhoun's team knocked off Wyoming two weeks ago and added a 24-7 victory over Boise State inside Albertson's Stadium last Saturday night. The Broncos and Cowboys were picked to finish in the top in the Mountain Division, respectively.

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If the Falcons can take care of business Saturday night in Colorado Springs against No. 23 San Diego State, Air Force should enter the Top 25. The Falcons have now won four straight.

Here's some other news and noted from around the MW:

* In 2021, the Mountain West has five victories over autonomous-5 opponents, the most of any non-autonomous-5 conference. Including all 10 FBS conferences, the MW is tied for the third-most A5 victories with the ACC, and trails only the Big Ten and SEC.

* This season, the Mountain West has a pair of nonconference victories over nationally-ranked opponents, including Fresno State’s win over then-No. 13/13 UCLA and Boise State’s defeat over then-No. 10/10 BYU. The MW is tied for fourth nationally with two victories against top-25 nonconference opponents, trailing only the Big 12, Big Ten and SEC (3).

* The Mountain West is one of just two FBS conferences with at least two victories against top-15 opponents (SEC - 3).

* The league has a .500 record against opponents from the Pac-12 in 2021.

* In nonconference play, the Mountain West has compiled a 28-18 (.609) record, the fifth-best win percentage nationally and best among the non-autonomous-5 conferences.

*San Diego State (6-0), which is one of just 11 undefeated FBS programs nationally, is ranked No. 21 in the AFCA Coaches Poll and No. 22 in the Associated Press Top 25. With Fresno State earning a top-25 ranking earlier this season, 2021 is the sixth-consecutive season at least two Mountain West programs have been nationally ranked.

* San Diego State has opened the 2021 season with a 6-0 record, which includes a pair of victories over autonomous-5 opponents (Arizona and Utah). The Aztecs are the only non-autonomous-5 team with multiples wins over autonomous-5 opponents this season.

* Air Force, which is receiving votes in both national polls, is 6-1 for the first time since 2002 and has the nation’s top rushing attack, averaging 336.4 yards per game.

* The Falcons are looking for their 20th all-time victory over a ranked opponent when they host #21/22 San Diego State on Saturday. This matchup features FBS’ No. 1 offense (Air Force - 336.4) against the nation’s top rush defense (San Diego State - 61.2).

* On Oct. 16 against UNLV, Utah State senior Savon Scarver tied the NCAA and Mountain West record for career kickoff returns for a touchdown (7).

* Dating back to the 2019 season, the Mountain West has won 16 games against autonomous-5 opponents, including 14 against the Pac-12.

* In the past 17 years, the Mountain West has been the top nonautonomous 5 conference nine times and second five times.

* The Mountain West has been nationally-ranked in 21 of the last 28 College Football Playoff Rankings.

* The Mountain West produced the first non-automatic-qualifying FBS team into a BCS bowl game (Utah - 2005 Fiesta Bowl) and into the College Football Playoff (Boise State - 2014 Fiesta Bowl).

*Mountain West press release