The calm before the storm... (2024 CFB Preview thread)

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

NCAA votes to ease limit on 'countable' coaches

The NCAA on Tuesday approved a rule change that will allow any staff member to "provide technical and tactical instruction to student-athletes during practice and competition."

www.espn.com

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Buffalo

Preview segment: The Buffalo Bulls

Last season: A tough 3-9 record, which included another loss to an FCS team. So coach Maurice Linguist is out, and veteran Pete Lembo is in.

Good news: Line play should be the highlight of this Buffalo team; the O-line returns 4 starters and the D-line looks good as well. RB Jacqez Barksdale should rack up rushing yards, and watch Marcus Fuqua in the secondary.

Bad news: QB Cole Snyder transferred to Eastern Michigan, and Buffalo has SIX guys trying to take his place. Oh sure, CJ Ogbonna has the edge, but can he wake up the passing game? Oh, and Buffalo came up empty in the transfer portal (more or less) thanks to the late start by Lembo and his staff.

Key games:
9/7 @ Missouri (Buffalo lucked out on the schedule front; this game looks to be the only "impossible" game for them in 2024.)
9/21 @ Northern Illinois (Going to Dekalb looks scary, but Buffalo can win this game if their passing game shows up.)
11/12 vs. Ball State (The Bulls can send Mike Neu to the unemployment line if they beat the Cardinals here.)
11/20 @ Eastern Michigan (So Buffalo is facing their former starting QB... on EMU's Senior Day. Of course the Bulls will circle this game on the calendar.)

Bottom line: You know... For a rebuilding team, Buffalo has lucked out so far. Their line play looks good. Pete Lembo is a known program builder. And if you take away the Missouri game, the Bulls schedule looks very good. Buffalo won't be bowling in 2024, but don't be surprised if they upset a big MAC team this fall.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Eastern Michigan

Preview segment: The Eastern Michigan Eagles

Last season: I honestly don't know what to make of Eastern Michigan's 2023 season. On one hand, they lost their bowl game 59-10 and had the 129th-ranked offense in the country. But on the other hand, EMU continues to be a constant threat in the MAC West. And they now have, what, 5 bowl appearances over the last 6 years?

Good news: QB Cole Snyder has come in from Buffalo to help the offense out. The kicking game looks very good, and Peyton Price has become one of the best players in the MAC. Also, the school is getting some needed upgrades (led by former player Maxx Crosby) that will help them in the long term.

Bad news: The short term, however, doesn't look all that good. A lot of playmakers are gone from last year's team, most noticeably RB Samson Evans. EMU is also thin on the O-line.

Key games:
9/14 vs. Jacksonville State (Hopefully, EMU will do better against Jacksonville State at home than they did last year in Alabama.)
10/12 vs. Miami-Ohio (Has the Eagles really won their last 2 meetings against Miami-Ohio?)
10/19 vs. Central Michigan (EMU was unable to beat either one of their in-state MAC rivals in 2023. They'll host the Chippewas this year, so let's see if the Eagles can get revenge.)
11/30 @ Western Michigan (And here's the other in-state MAC rival that EMU is hoping to top in 2024.)

Bottom line: With the lack of Samson Evans on this team, I don't think EMU will compete for the MAC West title this year. But never count out Chris Creighton and his coaching staff; they'll compete for yet another bowl appearance as they set things up for 2025 and beyond.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Central Michigan

Preview segment: The Central Michigan Chippewas

Last season: CMU went 5-7 in 2023, with a 3-game losing streak to end things (which pushed them out of a bowl). Now the coaching staff wants the Chippewas to "finish better" this season.

Good news: QB Bert Emanuel Jr. flashed some good skills last season, so if he stays healthy the CMU offense should fly. That's because Bert will have a bevy of experienced options at RB and WR.

Bad news: Aside from safety Donte Kent, nobody really stands out on the CMU defense. The kicking game could be a mess, and I still haven't figured out who the new offensive coordinator for CMU is yet.

Key games:
9/14 @ Illinois (The schedule for CMU in 2024 is nicer than last year's, as this game could be their toughest challenge.)
10/12 vs. Ohio (A simple challenge match for both teams. And CMU needs to do well here, because they must go to EMU one week later.)
11/12 @ Toledo (November will be busy for Central Michigan. First they'll host Bowling Green, then challenge Toledo for a chance at the MAC West title.)
11/19 vs. Western Michigan (After that, CMU will host their bitter rivals from Kalamazoo before finishing at Northern Illinois.)

Bottom line: In the MAC conference, offense usually wins. So CMU needs to find a new coordinator for that side of the ball quickly. If they do that and then make sure the defense doesn't suck, the Chippewas will be back in a bowl game and maybe be a challenger in the MAC West.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Northern Illinois

Preview segment: The Northern Illinois Huskies

Last season: Thomas Hammock and his Northern Illinois program continues to vex and confuse us. They start the 2023 campaign by beating Boston College, then lose to SOUTHERN Illinois the very next week! Then NIU goes on a 4-game losing streak, then a 3-game winning streak, then another losing streak, and then NIU ends the year with 3 straight wins (including their bowl game).

Good news: Maybe the volatile antics of NIU will stop in 2024; they return 16 starters from last year (which is rare in the portal era). Highlighting the returns are a proud special teams unit, 8 starters from a Top-25 defense in 2023, and Antario Brown leading a group of proud RB's.

Bad news: The O-line is missing a couple of starters, but the biggest worry is at the most important point: Quarterback. Rocky Lombardi has graduated, and expect the battle between Ethan Hampton and Jalen Macon to continue into summer camp.

Key games:
8/31 vs. Western Illinois (NIU has road dates with Notre Dame and NC State in September. But to me, Huskies fans will be happy if they just don't lose against another in-state foe from the FCS.)
10/12 @ Bowling Green (Breaking Bowling Green's defense will be key for NIU to win this MAC contest.)
10/19 vs. Toledo (If Northern Illinois wants to win the MAC West, they have BETTER silence the rival Rockets this time around.)
11/30 vs. Central Michigan (Hmm... Could the Chippewas ruin the MAC title dreams of the Huskies?)

Bottom line: On paper, Northern Illinois is ready to compete for the MAC title. The defense looks great, and the running game is solid. Maybe all NIU has to do is find a new, capable QB to guide them to the top. That is, if the coaching staff can finally get some CONSISTENCY!
Remember that word, folks. Consistency. That's what Northern Illinois will finally have to get if they want to be back on top of the MAC.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Western Michigan

Preview segment: The Western Michigan Broncos

Last season: A tough 4-8 in Lance Taylor's 1st year.

Good news: The Broncos wanted an offensive jolt when they hired Lance, and they could get it this year. RB Jalen Buckley was the MAC Freshmen of the Year, and he has a good O-line to help him get more yards. The D-line has some good depth...

Bad news: ...but depth could be a problem in other key areas, like at WR (a new deep threat needs to be found). The defense needs to find some true playmakers, but early trips to Wisconsin and Ohio State might not help matters.

Key games:
9/28 @ Marshall (Let's see how the Broncos do against a team that used to be in the MAC many moons ago.)
10/19 @ Buffalo (The early part of the MAC slate is pretty easy for Western Michigan in 2024. But they should just be careful against Buffalo.)
11/6 vs. Northern Illinois (However, the month of November will be BUSY for the Broncos. Can WMU do better against the Huskies than the 24-0 stinkbomb they dropped last year?)
11/19 @ Central Michigan (The Broncos have now won 5 of their last 6 games against the rival Chippewas.)
11/30 vs. Eastern Michigan (This might decide a bowl berth for both teams.)

Bottom line: Oh! I almost forgot. Western Michigan has a new offensive (Walt Bell) and defensive coordinator (Scott Power)! If those two settle in quickly, maybe the Broncos can get back to bowl contention in 2024. Just don't expect them to seriously contend for the MAC.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Akron

Preview segment: The Akron Zips

Last season: Another rough year for them, as the Zips went 2-10.

Good news: The Zips defense was actually pretty good last year, and most of it returns. Akron found some good finds in the transfer portal, like QB Ben Finley and FS Daymon David.

Bad news: While playing for teams like NC State and Cal, Ben Finley had more INT's than TD's... so let's hope he can fix that problem. Also, there looks to be a lack of speed throughout the team. And the O-line looks pretty green.

Key games:
10/5 vs. Bowling Green (Akron's defense failed them against the Falcons last year. Let's hope Akron does better here.)
10/26 vs. Eastern Michigan (Actually, Akron was more competitive in 2023 than I first thought; 5 of their losses were by a TD or fewer, and 3 of them came in OT. Here's a chance for Akron to avenge one of those losses.)
11/2 vs. Buffalo (A winnable MAC game for Akron.)
11/19 @ Kent State (At least Akron was able to beat Kent State last year for the "Wagon Wheel". Can they do it again, this time at Kent?)

Bottom line: Give coach Joe Moorhead some credit; he attracted attention from some NFL teams in the offseason, but he wants to stay in Akron and try to make it work. But with a brutal "payday" schedule (Ohio State, Rutgers, and South Carolina) and the lack of excitement on offense, Akron could have yet another tough year in 2024.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Miami-Ohio

The last preview segment for the MAC: The Miami-Ohio Redhawks

Last season: This wasn't intentional, but it looks like we're ending the MAC previews with our new MAC champions. Yep, in 2023 Miami-Ohio was able to put it all together, as they avenged an earlier loss to Toledo to take the conference title. And... oh yeah! Miami-Ohio actually defeated Cincinnati! For the first time since 2005! That alone makes it a wonderful season for these guys.

Good news: And what's this? Their top quarterback Brett Gabbert is actually staying in Oxford for his last year? That means the Redhawk offense should be awesome once again... especially since 4 starters return on the O-line. The front-7 on the defense looks very nasty.

Bad news: The secondary, though, could be a big problem; it got gutted by graduation. Nobody at wide-receiver jumps out as a threat, and let's all hope that Brett stays healthy this time; he got hurt late last season, and his backup transferred away.

Key games:
9/14 vs. Cincinnati (Here we go, ladies and gentlemen! Not since the days of Ben Roethlisberger has Miami-Ohio won consecutive games against their bitter rivals. Is this the time for history to be made?)
10/5 @ Toledo (As I said earlier this week, this is the rubber match between the Rockets and the Redhawks.)
10/19 vs. Ohio (I don't care if the Bobcats are weakened, Miami-Ohio; do NOT underestimate your rivals from Athens.)
11/19 vs. Northern Illinois (Could this be a preview of the MAC championship game? It could be...)
11/29 @ Bowling Green (...but only if the Redhawks stop the challenge of the Falcons.)

Bottom line: Are back-to-back MAC championships in Miami-Ohio's future? Since nobody is trusting Northern Illinois right now, and since Brett Gabbert is staying around for one more year, I'd say yes. But let's hope Chuck Martin and his staff has a emergency plan if (god forbid) Brett goes down again.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

MAC Predictions

Wait... Did I just give away my prediction for the MAC champion? Oops. ...Oh well, let's see how the rest of the league will look in 2024:

MAC East:
1. Miami-Ohio (Conference champs)
2. Bowling Green
3. Ohio
4. Buffalo
5. Kent State
6. Akron

MAC West:
1. Northern Illinois
2. Toledo
3. Central Michigan
4. Western Michigan
5. Eastern Michigan
6. Ball State

There's only 1 more conference to go on this thread, and that will be the Mountain West (starting on Monday)!

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Nevada

Before we start with the Mountain West previews, I need to point out something. All of the teams in the Mountain West have been asked to help Washington State and Oregon State out during their time of uncertainty. Just keep that in mind during the "Key Games" part of the previews, OK?
Now then...

The first preview segment for the Mountain West: The Nevada Wolfpack

Last season: Well, the Ken Wilson era was a failure, wasn't it? After another 2-10 season, he is gone and former Montana State coach Jeff Choate is in.

Good news: Nevada was busy in the transfer portal, as they got a LOT of help on offense. In particular, the O-line should be better than it was last year. Inside linebacker also looks like a strength.

Bad news: There is STILL a lot to fix over here. In particular, the secondary is VERY unproven and the WR group is a big concern.

Key games:
8/24 vs. SMU (Wait. So Nevada has the 13-game slate in 2024, and not Hawaii? Anyway, this will be the first chance we'll see the new stars at Nevada play.)
10/5 @ San Jose State (If Nevada breaks the Spartan defense, this game is winnable for them.)
11/2 vs. Colorado State (Another winnable game for Nevada.)
11/30 @ UNLV (Wait. Lowly UNLV is starting to get their act together? This is a "doomsday scenario" for Nevada, and they need to stop it soon.)
Asked to help: Oregon State (on 10/12)

Bottom line: With Jeff Choate as the new head man, Nevada should be a better team. Just don't expect it to show in the win-loss record, as the schedule looks brutal (10 of their 13 opponents made bowl games in 2023). Best to just leave them to start the rebuilding.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Utah State

Preview segment: The Utah State Aggies

Last season: On the surface, Utah State had a blah 6-7 season in 2023. But if you look deeper, you'll see Utah State winning some tight contests thanks to a reawakened offense. And they somewhat overcome low expectations that year, so that counts as progress.

Good news: The offense could be awesome once again; the WR group is powerful (Micah Davis and Jalen Royals could be two of the best WR's in the FBS), QB Spencer Petras comes in from Iowa to take the starting job, and the O-line could be the best in the Mountain West.

Bad news: How much better will the defense truly be from last year (it ranked 117th in 2023)? A new defensive staff gives hope, but I need to see it to believe it. Also, Petras wasn't a world-beater QB at Iowa; will the change in scenery help?

Key games:
9/14 vs. Utah (The "Battle of the Brothers" is back after a 9-year absence! Utah State is looking to shock the Utes for the first time since 2012.)
10/12 vs. UNLV (The Aggies will have a tough start to the Mountain West slate in 2024; they'll host the high-flying Rebels after dealing with Boise State.)
10/26 @ Wyoming (Wait. Wyoming has a brand new coach? Maybe Utah State can take advantage and upset the rival Cowboys.)
11/23 vs. San Diego State (Let's hope that this Senior Day game will go better than last year's 45-10 debacle for the Aggies.)
Asked to help: Washington State (11/9)

Bottom line: After back-to-back 6-7 seasons, where will Utah State go in 2024? Will they fix their defense and return to Mountain West contention? Or will the Aggies just be another middle-of-the-road squad just fighting for another bowl spot? The offense will do it's part, but it'll be up to the coaching staff to get the Aggies to rise up.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

San Diego State

Preview segment: The San Diego State Aztecs

Last season: Poor Brady Hoke was never able to recapture the magic at San Diego State, and now he's gone after a 4-8 record in 2023. Now we're getting offensive coach Sean Lewis to lead the Aztecs through a (almost) complete rebuild.

Good news: Sean's offensive regimen, a proud group of WR's, and an experienced O-line should equal improved point totals for SDSU this year.

Bad news: SDSU's offense hasn't been good in several years, so I don't know how much improvement we'll get over there. The defense only returns 1 starter, with the D-line the biggest area of worry. In fact, depth could be a worry all over the team.

Key games:
9/14 @ California (Anytime the Aztecs challenge a bigger school from the state of Cali, it always is fun to see.)
10/5 vs. Hawaii (Let's see if SDSU can shut down the Hawaii "run and shoot" offense again.)
11/2 @ Boise State (The Aztecs almost beat the Broncos last year, but can they finish the job in Boise?)
11/23 @ Utah State (Last year, Utah State edged out SDSU in double-OT. Can the Aztecs return the favor?)
Asked to help: Oregon State (9/7) and Washington State (10/26)

Bottom line: After a great deal of success from 2010 to 2021, San Diego State is officially in rebuilding mode. I mean, only 5 starters from last year are back? An offense that's been in a funk for years? And that schedule... Not only do they have to go to Boise State and UNLV, but they're trying to help BOTH Oregon State and Washington State?!
All of this will point to a losing season in Sean Lewis' 1st year.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Hawaii

Preview segment: The Hawaii Warriors

Last season: Slowly, it's getting better for Timmy Chung and his Hawaii program. Hawaii may have gone 5-8 in 2023, but they finished the year with wins in 3 of their last 4 games. Now the goal for the Warriors is to get back to a bowl game in 2024.

Good news: The return of QB guru Dan Morrison is a welcome sight for Hawaii. With him back on staff, the Warriors' "run-and-shoot" offense should continue to improve... especially with QB Brayden Schager returning for one more year. Watch for slotback Pofele Ashlock to be a dangerous weapon again for Hawaii.

Bad news: Line play could be an issue; the D-line has a lack of returning starters and the O-line is missing some key pieces from last year. The kicking game is wide-open as Matthew Shipley transferred to Arkansas.

Key games:
8/31 vs. UCLA (Huh. Hawaii isn't playing 13 games this season, and isn't making any cross-country trips? Anyway, let's see if the Warriors can shock a discombobulated UCLA team.)
10/12 vs. Boise State (Hawaii hasn't beaten Boise State since 2007, but they'll have a chance this time in Honolulu.)
11/2 @ Fresno State (A "shootout alert" may be needed for this Mountain West battle.)
11/16 @ Utah State (This could be a "bowl decider" game for both teams.)
Asked to help: Washington State (10/19)

Bottom line: With 2 FCS teams on the schedule, Hawaii needs to beat 5 FBS opponents to make a bowl game. But a shorter travel schedule should help, as well as Dan Morrison coming back to Honolulu. If Hawaii continues to improve, I think they can fulfill their goal of a bowl berth.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

San Jose State

Preview segment: The San Jose State Spartans

Last season: Let's give San Jose some credit; in 2023, they managed to recover from a 1-5 start and finish the regular season on a 6-game winning streak. And that streak would give them a share of the regular-season Mountain West title!
Sadly for the program, 2 of their best contributors are now gone: QB Chevan Cordeiro (who graduated) and coach Brent Brennan (who's now at Arizona). So... what will happen now?

Bad news: Only 6 starters total are back from last year's team. And the lack of experience could be mostly felt on the O-line. And the new head coach Ken Niumatalolo? Oh, he had great success while coaching at Navy, but how will SJSU run the triple-option?

2024 X-factor: The "spread and shred" offense (...Wait, what? The Spartans are NOT using the triple-option? That's a bit of a surprise. Instead, Ken is letting offensive coordinator Craig Stutzmann run his "Spread and Shred" offense, and we'll see how it looks in Year 1.)

Good news: San Jose was able to keep their defensive coordinator, so the defense should be good again despite the lack of starters. Craig Butterfield has stabilized the QB position, and he'll throw to a great collection of WR's.

Key games:
9/7 @ Air Force (Let's see if the Spartans can start the 2024 season better than they did last year. And this game is winnable, as Air Force is missing a LOT of production from years past.)
10/26 @ Fresno State (So SJSU won't face SDSU this year? Aww. Oh well, I guess San Jose will have to settle with shocking the rival Bulldogs again.)
11/16 vs. Boise State (Good news for San Jose: Their last 3 games are at home. Bad news: Those 3 games are super important, as they'll host the Broncos on the 16th.)
11/23 vs. UNLV (Then the Spartans will look to upend the Rebels again, before finishing up with Stanford.)
Asked to help: Washington State (9/21) and Oregon State (11/9)

Bottom line: This one is hard to call. I mean, San Jose State is returning a lot more talent than at first glance. But can Niumatalolo win at a place other than Navy? And will the new offense run well? We'll just have to wait and see; San Jose may not be bowling in 2024, but don't be surprised if they upset someone.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Boise State

Preview segment: The Boise State Broncos

Last season: It was getting bad in Boise after 9 games, as the school fired Andy Avalos effective after the New Mexico game. And with the team sitting at 5-5, Spencer Danielson was asked to hold down the fort until the disastrous 2023 season ended.
But, surprise! Boise State actually made the conference title game! And they won it over UNLV! So now Spencer is being asked to lead the program full-time and get Boise to the new 12-team playoff.

2024 X-factor: The new head coach- (Needless to say, the CFB press is watching to see if Spencer CAN lead a program full-time... especially a program of the caliber of Boise State. If he keeps the magic of his first 4 games, he'll do just fine. If not, though...)

Good news: On paper, Boise State is once again LOADED with weapons. QB Malachi Nelson looks ready to lead the way, and you gotta love a team that has Ashton Jeanty as your "do-everything" man on offense. The O-line looks solid, the kicking game looks great, and the defense returns 8 starters from last year.

Bad news: Last year's defense got gashed quite a few times, so let's hope it can make improvements. Boise also needs to find a go-to receiver soon.

Key games:
9/7 @ Oregon (OOOO! This one looks good, as Boise State will challenge themselves against the mighty Oregon Ducks. Just one question: What will Malachi Nelson do against a deep Oregon secondary?)
10/12 @ Hawaii (Wait. Boise only has 7 conference games in 2024? What is the conference thinking about? Anyway, Boise should be careful that they don't get upset here.)
10/26 @ UNLV (This is a rematch of last year's Mountain West title game, same building and all.)
11/23 @ Wyoming (Wyoming might not have Craig Bohl as coach anymore, but they'll still be tough. Hopefully, Boise will remember that.)
Asked to help: Washington State (9/28) and Oregon State (11/30)

Bottom line: This is a true rarity, folks. Boise State is going into 2024 not just as the conference favorite, but also the "wild-card" of the Mountain West. The team is loaded on paper, but can Spencer Danielson lead the program full-time? Will the fact that they only have 7 conference games help or hurt them? And will people like Oregon State and UNLV ruin their dreams of making the playoff?
One thing is for sure: Boise State is thinking "Title or Bust" in 2024.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

New Mexico

Preview segment: The New Mexico Lobos

Last season: Too bad. New Mexico got 4 wins in a season for the first time in 7 years, but that wasn't enough to save Danny Gonzales' job in Albuquerque. Now his replacement is... Bronco Menderhall? Wait, I thought he was retired!

Good news: The Lobos should be better simply by having Bronco as their coach. For this team, the offense is ahead of the defense; QB Devon Dampier shows flashes of greatness, and we have some good options at RB and WR.

Bad news: The depth on this Lobos team is terrible. I mean, we could have an O-line completely full of transfers. And the defense REALLY has to do better up front. Plus, the schedule is brutal.

Key games:
9/28 @ New Mexico State (New Mexico simply HAD to be jealous over the amount of success their in-state rivals had in 2023. Or maybe they were happy for them, I don't know. Anyway, let's see if the Lobos can take out the Aggies this time.)
10/19 @ Utah State (New Mexico had a chance to kick Utah State out of the bowl picture last year, but lost in double-OT.)
11/2 vs. Wyoming (A winnable game for the Lobos.)
Asked to help: Washington State (11/16)

Bottom line: How long will Bronco Menderhall coach at New Mexico? Who cares! New Mexico will gladly take all the time with Bronco that they can get. But 2024 could be a long season for them; they only have 5 home games, depth problems all over the place, and trips to Arizona and Auburn? Best to leave the Lobos alone for now and let them rebuild.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Wyoming

Preview segment: The Wyoming Cowboys

Last season: When Craig Bohl took over Wyoming in 2014, the program was almost nothing on the radar. Now Craig has left the school to be the executive director of the American Coaches Football Association after 10 years. And look what he was able to achieve: 61 wins, a Mountain West title berth, the NFL superstar known as Josh Allen, and... oh yeah! Last year, Wyoming had their best season since 1996 with a 9-4 record.

Good news: The transition from Craig Bohl to new coach Jay Sawvel has been seamless, and he'll inherit a championship-level defense that can terrorize Mountain West teams. Jay has promised to still rely on the running game, and Harrison Waylee leads a talented group of RB's.

Bad news: Spring ball was pretty rough for the O-line; the tackle positions look a bit rusty and the left side had some injury problems. Finding an extra corner or two will be key for the Cowboys during fall camp.

2024 X-factor: New QB Evan Svoboda- (There is optimism in Laramie that Evan Svoboda will be Wyoming's first superstar QB since Josh Allen. Heck, Evan is even wearing Josh's old number (#17)! But remember, folks, talk is cheap. Evan will have to go out and prove that he can do it.)

Key games:
8/31 @ Arizona State (Hmm... Arizona State is rebuilding. And Wyoming did beat Texas Tech last year. Can the Cowboys get another landmark win?)
9/14 vs. BYU (Same scenario as the Arizona State game; Wyoming hasn't beaten the Cougars since 2003, but BYU is still figuring things out in the Big 12.
9/28 vs. Air Force (This is the Mountain West opener for both teams. Can Wyoming exploit an inexperienced Air Force offense?)
11/16 @ Colorado State (Another edition of the "Bronze Boot" rivalry. And it should be a dandy; Colorado State is looking for a bounce-back season, while Wyoming wants a conference title.)
11/23 vs. Boise State (Of course, if Wyoming wants a shot at that Mountain West title, they'll have to go through the Broncos.)
Asked to help: Washington State (11/30)

Bottom line: With Craig Bohl gone, outside expectations for Wyoming are low. But if the defense remains strong and Evan Svoboda steps up as the Cowboys' new QB, the Cowboys will be a dark-horse contender in the Mountain West in 2024. They can stand to do better in road games, however...

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Fresno State

Preview segment: The Fresno State Bulldogs

Last season: By most standards, 2023 was another great one for Fresno State; they beat teams like Purdue and Arizona State and got another bowl trophy. However, they were a bit inconsistent in conference play as they went 4-4 in the Mountain West.

Good news: The offense should be even better than it was last year. I mean, QB Mikey Keene is still here. He'll have a great O-line watching his back. And RB Malik Sherrod and 3 of the top 4 pass catchers from 2023 are also still here.

Bad news: The defense may not be terrible, but it will be replacing some key contributors from years past. In particular, replacing Levelle Bailey may be impossible for Fresno to do.

Key games:
9/28 @ UNLV (Can the Bulldogs stop UNLV's championship quest? I mean, they did beat the Rebels last year.)
10/26 vs. San Jose State (This one is strictly personal for Fresno. I mean, last year they were trucking along nicely at 8-1 and then BAM! Their arch-rivals ruin the party 42-18.)
11/23 vs. Colorado State (Could this be an Mountain West elimination game?)
11/30 @ UCLA (Fresno will gladly take UCLA as their last game of the season. I mean, they've actually have a 4-game winning streak against the Bruins! You didn't know that, did you?)
Asked to help: Washington State (10/12)

Bottom line: With the type of offense that Fresno State has, I think they'll be a handful in every game they'll play in 2024. Heck, I was even thinking about putting their opening game at Michigan as a "Key Game"! But if they want to regain the Mountain West title, Fresno has GOT to shore up their defensive woes.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Colorado State

Preview segment: The Colorado State Rams

Last season: They may not have gone bowling, but Colorado State was definitely better in Year 2 of Jay Norvell's tenure than in Year 1. Had a few more plays gone in their favor against teams like Colorado and Hawaii, they could have gone bowling for the first time since 2017. And now, that's the goal for the Rams in 2024.

Good news: We have another proud offense to fawn over; WR Tory Horton looks destined to be in the NFL. Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi did good stuff as a freshmen QB, he has a good O-line protecting him, and the kicking game is set.

Bad news: Brayden threw QUITE a few INT's last year, so fixing the turnover problem will be key for him. Much like Fresno State, Colorado State has to replace some proud production on defense (Mohamed Kamara is gone) and fix the secondary.

Key games:
9/14 vs. Colorado (Remember when "College Gameday" came to see Deion Sanders and Colorado, and then their in-state rivals almost ruined the party in Boulder? Let's see if the Rams can finish off Deion and the Buffaloes this time.)
10/19 @ Air Force (7 straight losses to the Falcons for Colorado State. But even though this edition of the rivalry is in Colorado Springs, I think the Rams can snap the skid this year.)
11/16 vs. Wyoming (See my Wyoming preview.)
11/23 @ Fresno State (...Did I really say earlier that CSU's game with Fresno could help determine the Mountain West race? Well, if Colorado State has their offense running at peak performance, that could happen.)
Asked to help: Oregon State (10/5)

Bottom line: Can Colorado State get the bowl berth they've been aching for in 2024? Absolutely; they finally got the horses to do it. Could the Rams return to the Mountain West title race? Only if the QB cleans us his game and the coaches find some new stars on defense.

 

[Dolgevillefootballfan]

Nevada-Las Vegas

Preview segment: The UNLV Rebels

Last season: You know you've been through a lot when you treat a 9-win season like it's the greatest thing ever. That's what UNLV went through last year, and it was a hell of a ride. With the arrival of freshmen sensation Jayden Maiava, the Rebels went 9-5 and made an appearance in the Mountain West title game. More importantly, they whet people appetites' in Vegas for more great things to come.

Bad news: The defense was a season-long problem last year for UNLV, so fixing that has to be a priority. But let's go ahead and address the elephant in the room; Jayden Maiava has transferred to USC. And we don't know who will be his replacement yet.

Good news: At least both Hajj-Malik Williams and Matthew Sluka has the duel-threat talent to make the "Go-Go offense" of UNLV work. And UNLV is set at every other position of the offense; watch for WR Ricky White III to be awesome once again. And improvements on defense looks likely with 7 starters from last year coming back.

Key games:
8/31 @ Houston (A great chance for UNLV to make some more headway, as they'll start 2024 by visiting a rebuilding Houston team. Hopefully UNLV will know who their starting QB will be by this time.)
9/14 vs. Kansas [from Children's Mercy Park in Kansas City] (A rematch of last year's Guaranteed Rate Bowl.)
9/28 vs. Fresno State (Despite their success, UNLV was still unable to solve Fresno State last year. Let's see if the Rebels defense will help them get revenge.)
10/26 vs. Boise State (Another rematch from 2023 for the Rebels, as they host the mighty Broncos. Could this be a preview of this year's Mountain West title game?)
11/30 vs. Nevada (If only because this is the 50th installment of this in-state rivalry.)
Asked to help: Oregon State (10/19)

Bottom line: In just one year, coach Barry Odom has turned UNLV from a nothing program to a team actually worth stopping for. But is UNLV more than just a one-year wonder? That's the big question for me entering 2024; yes, UNLV still has a good team. But the defense needs to get better, and Jayden Maiava leaving was a BIG blow for the team.
One thing's for sure: UNLV wants to prove themselves as real contenders. Let's see if they can do it.