2008 Mountain West Conference football season

The 2008 Mountain West Conference football season was the 10th since eight former members of the Western Athletic Conference banded together to form the MW. The University of Utah won their fourth conference championship, ending the year 13–0 with a victory over Alabama in the 2009 Sugar Bowl.

Memorable Games
August 30, 2008 • Michigan Stadium • Ann Arbor, Michigan • ABC • Attendance: 108,421
 * Utah 25, Michigan 23

Brian Johnson threw for 305 yards and a touchdown and Louie Sakoda was 4–4 on field goals as the Utes held on to beat Michigan on their home field.

September 6, 2008 • Husky Stadium • Seattle, Washington • FSN • Attendance: 64,611
 * #15 BYU 28, Washington 27

In one of the year's most controversial endings, Washington quarterback Jake Locker scored on a 3-yard touchdown run with two seconds remaining, but was penalized 15 yards when he flipped the ball into the air in celebration. BYU defensive end Jan Jorgensen blocked the 35-yard extra point attempt, securing the win for the Cougars.

September 13, 2008 • Gerald J. Ford Stadium • Dallas, Texas • Attendance: 2,546
 * Air Force 31, Houston 28

The Falcons' scheduled game at Houston was relocated because of Hurricane Ike, the effects of which could still very much be felt in Dallas. In high winds and intermittent rain, Air Force tallied 380 yards rushing and never attempted a pass in the victory.

September 13, 2008 • Amon G. Carter Stadium • Fort Worth, Texas • The Mtn • Attendance: 25,531
 * TCU 31, Stanford 14

Across the Metroplex from the Air Force-Houston game, the Frogs' game against Stanford was moved up to the early afternoon because of Ike and was also played in less than pleasant weather conditions. TCU outlasted the Cardinal in a sloppy game, starting the Mountain West's 4-0 day against the Pac-10.

September 13, 2008 • LaVell Edwards Stadium • Provo, Utah • Versus • Attendance: 64,153
 * #18 BYU 59, UCLA 0

Max Hall tied a BYU school record by throwing for 7 touchdown passes as the Cougars easily defeated UCLA in Provo. The Cougars forced four turnovers and blocked a field goal in handing the Bruins their worst defeat in 80 years.

September 13, 2008 • University Stadium • Albuquerque, New Mexico • CBS College • Attendance: 32,337
 * New Mexico 36, Arizona 28

The Lobos had a little extra motivation in this one, after several Arizona players called New Mexico's 2007 win in Tucson a "fluke". Senior tailback Rodney Ferguson rushed for 158 yards to lead the attack.

September 13, 2008 • Sun Devil Stadium • Tempe, Arizona • FSN • Attendance: 59,852
 * UNLV 23, #15 Arizona State 20 (OT)

By beating the 15th-ranked Sun Devils in their own stadium, the Rebels tallied their most impressive victory in recent memory. UNLV forced overtime by tying the game at 20 on an 8-yard touchdown pass from Omar Clayton to Phillip Payne with 18 seconds remaining in the 4th quarter. Kyle Watson then kicked a 20-yard field goal on the Rebels' overtime possession, and Malo Taumua blocked Arizona State kicker Thomas Weber's 35-yard field goal attempt to secure the win.

September 20, 2008 • Falcon Stadium • Colorado Springs, Colorado • Versus • Attendance: 36,952
 * #20 Utah 30, Air Force 23

Utah running backs Darrell Mack and Matt Asiata both ran for more than a hundred yards, and Mack's third rushing touchdown of the day with 58 seconds remaining in the game gave the Utes the victory.

September 20, 2008 • Sam Boyd Stadium • Las Vegas, Nevada • The Mtn • Attendance: 25,567
 * UNLV 34, Iowa State 31 (OT)

For the second consecutive week, the Rebels knocked off a team from one of the nation's elite conferences in overtime. The Cyclones had the ball first in overtime and kicked a 37-yard field goal. Then on the first play of the Rebels' possession, Omar Clayton threw his third touchdown of the game to Phillip Payne to win the game.

September 20, 2008 • Memorial Stadium • Norman, Oklahoma • FSN • Attendance: 85,158
 * #2 Oklahoma 35, #24 TCU 10

In one of the Horned Frogs' two defeats of the 2008 season, the Sooners jumped out to a 28–3 halftime lead to secure the victory. The Frogs, however, did hold OU to just 25 yards rushing and 35 points- the Sooners' smallest point total of the year.

October 2, 2008 • Rice-Eccles Stadium • Salt Lake City, Utah • Versus • Attendance: 45,559
 * #15 Utah 31, Oregon State 28

A week to the day after the Beavers had knocked off the nation's #1 team, Southern Cal, they fell to the Utes in a Thursday-night thriller. Oregon State led late into the fourth quarter, but Utah tied the game at 28–28 with 1:29 left when Brian Johnson hit Bradon Godfrey for a 25-yard touchdown pass and then Johnson ran the ball in for a two-point conversion. The Ute defense was able to hold for a three and out, which gave them the ball back with enough time for Louie Sakoda to kick a game-winning 37-yard field goal as time expired to run their record to 6–0.

October 16, 2008 • Amon G. Carter Stadium • Fort Worth, Texas • Versus • Attendance: 36,180
 * #24 TCU 32, #8 BYU 7

In a highly anticipated matchup of ranked MW teams, the Horned Frogs jumped out to a 23–0 halftime lead and never looked back. TCU sacked Max Hall 6 times- including 4 by All-American defensive end Jerry Hughes- and debuted their "Wild Frog" formation with wide receiver Jeremy Kerley lining up at quarterback.

November 6, 2008 • Rice-Eccles Stadium • Salt Lake City, Utah • CBS College • Attendance: 45,666
 * #9 Utah 13, #11 TCU 10

Coming into this Thursday-night matchup, the Frogs were 9–1 and the Utes 9–0 with the winner putting themselves in good position for a BCS Bowl bid. The Frogs led 10–0 early, but were unable to improve upon that lead. TCU freshman kicker Ross Evans missed two field goals in the fourth quarter, and Brian Johnson hit Freddie Brown for a 9-yard touchdown pass with 48 seconds remaining to give the Utes the 13–10 victory.

November 8, 2008 • Neyland Stadium • Knoxville, Tennessee • ESPN GamePlan • Attendance: 99,489
 * Wyoming 13, Tennessee 7

In a defensive battle, Cowboys' linebacker Ward Dobbs returned an interception 24 yards to give Wyoming a 13–0 halftime lead. Despite a few drives into Wyoming territory in the second half, the Volunteers were only able to score 7 points. The defeat may have cost Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer his job.

November 22, 2008 • Rice-Eccles Stadium • Salt Lake City, Utah • The Mtn • Attendance: 46,488
 * #7 Utah 48, #14 BYU 24

In the annual Holy War game, Utah picked off BYU quarterback Max Hall five times as the Utes claimed an outright conference championship, a BCS Bowl bid and their third undefeated regular season in school history.

New Mexico Bowl
December 20, 2008 • University Stadium • Albuquerque, New Mexico • ESPN
 * Colorado State 40, Fresno State 35

Colorado State running back Gartrell Johnson ran for 285 yards and scored two touchdowns in the Rams' 20-point fourth quarter surge to beat Fresno State in the New Mexico Bowl. Johnson's 77-yard touchdown run with 1:46 remaining gave the Rams the lead for good, securing their first bowl win since 2001.

Las Vegas Bowl
December 20, 2008 • Sam Boyd Stadium • Las Vegas, Nevada • ESPN
 * Arizona 31, #16 BYU 21

In the Cougars' fourth-consecutive trip to the Las Vegas Bowl, they outgained the Wildcats 444 yards to 416, but were unable to turn that offensive production into points and lost.

Poinsettia Bowl
December 23, 2008 • Qualcomm Stadium • San Diego, California • ESPN
 * #11 TCU 17, #9 Boise State 16

In a game of teams whose BCS dreams were dashed late in the season, Boise State jumped out to an early 10–0 lead, but TCU running back Aaron Brown cut the lead to 13–7 with a 16-yard touchdown run with 24 seconds remaining in the first half. The Frogs took the lead for good on Joseph Turner's 17-yard touchdown run with 8:51 remaining in the fourth quarter. The win gave TCU their 3rd 11-win season in the last 4 years, and was Boise State's lone defeat of the year.

Armed Forces Bowl
December 31, 2008 • Amon G. Carter Stadium • Fort Worth, Texas • ESPN
 * Houston 34, Air Force 28

In a rare bowl game featuring a rematch from the regular season, the Cougars earned a season split with the Falcons with a 34–28 win. It was the Falcons' second consecutive appearance-and loss- in the Armed Forces Bowl, and was the Cougars' first bowl victory since 1980.

Sugar Bowl
January 2, 2009 • Louisiana Superdome • New Orleans, Louisiana • FOX
 * #6 Utah 31, #4 Alabama 17

As a result of their 12–0 regular season and Mountain West Conference title, the Utes earned a spot in the Sugar Bowl and the $17 million pay-out that comes with it. They were heavy underdogs to Alabama, the SEC team that had spent much of the year ranked number one. The Utes jumped out to a 21–0 first quarter lead, but the Tide had pulled to within 21–17 early in the third quarter. The Utes responded with a 7-play, 71-yard drive capped by a Brian Johnson to David Reed touchdown pass, and added a Louie Sakoda field goal late in the fourth quarter to secure the 31–17 victory. Johnson ended the game with 336 yards passing and three touchdowns, and the Ute defense sacked Alabama quarterback John Parker Wilson eight times.

Awards

 * Coach of the Year: Kyle Whittingham, Utah
 * Offensive Player of the Year: QB Brian Johnson, Sr, Utah
 * Defensive Player of the Year: DE Jerry Hughes, Sr, TCU
 * Special Teams Player of the Year: K/P Louie Sakoda, Sr, Utah
 * Freshman of the Year: QB Tim Jefferson, Air Force