MWC Football: Week 1 Helmet Sticker Awards

Week 1 of college football is complete, and some unexpected results occurred.

But that's why they play the games. 

Examining the Mountain West Conference alone, certain storylines stood out more than others.

The reigning league champion and CFP G5 representative Boise State looked all but championship-esque in a 34-7 tail kicking at South Florida. 

Wyoming pitched a shutout in a low-scoring 10-0 win at Akron and San Diego State rolled FCS Stony Brook 42-0 at Snap Dragon Stadium. 

UNLV kept things rolling and may have found its starting quarterback in a win over Sam Houston 38-21, while San Jose State had a head-scratching loss at home to Central Michigan 16-14. 

Utah State (28-16 over UTEP), Fresno State (42-14 over Georgia Southern), and Air Force (49-13 over Bucknell) all took care of business at home. 

New Mexico, Nevada, and Colorado State all traveled and lost to Big-10 powers on the road: No. 14 Michigan (34-17 UNM loss), No. 2 Penn State (46-11 Nevada loss), and Washington (38-21 Colorado State loss). And Hawaii went to Big-12 Arizona and fell 40-6 in Tucson.

Although the final results of week 1 are a mixed bag, there were still plenty of elite performances worth noting.  

Here are some of the top performers and helmet sticker awards from week one:

RB Lucky Sutton - San Diego State

Sutton rushed for 100 yards on 23 carries and scored two touchdowns. He surpassed a career high in carries, which was previously at 12 in 2023 against Nevada. He is clearly the main horse in the stable of backs for Sean Lewis, as the next one only saw seven total carries. Sutton has battled injuries and sat out for most of last season, but when healthy, he can definitely help jumpstart this Aztec offense.

Defensive Unit - Wyoming

The defense held Akron scoreless for all 60 minutes and allowed the Zips to cross midfield only four times. Akron’s offense was limited to 16-38 passing for 139 yards (41%) and only 92 yards on the ground. On 38 of those dropbacks, the Pokes defense delivered 22 total pressures. The last time Wyoming pitched a shutout was in 2017 against Gardner-Webb. 

QB Anthony Colandrea - UNLV

There is a permanent decision on the quarterback in Las Vegas. Anthony Colandrea saw 50 total snaps vs. Alex Orji’s eight (four of them were QB runs).  Colandrea completed 19 of 23 for 249 yards and two touchdowns - for a 91.7 passing grade (PFF Premium Stats). He also carried the ball six times for 23 yards and a rushing touchdown.  His ability to effectively throw downfield and be a running threat fits UNLV head coach Dan Mullen’s scheme almost too perfectly. It’s still hard to determine how good this Reb’s are since they haven’t played a proven opponent yet, but they’re winning the games they’re supposed to.

RB Cade Harris - Air Force

Cade Harris rushed eight times for 66 yards and two touchdowns and caught three passes for 83 yards and a touchdown.  In a crowded backfield (Air Force handed the ball off to 11 rushers), it was Harris who stood out the most.  He fits a unique position in an Air Force offense that moves players all over the field. Last season, Harris lined up as a wide receiver 157 times and carried it 48 times.  No matter where he lines up on the field, opponents will need to identify him pre-snap.

QB Bryson Barnes - Utah State

Barnes completed 19 of 28 throws for 233 yards and a touchdown and rushed for 29 yards and another score. Barnes spent four seasons at Utah before transferring to Utah State (Anderson signee), and is finally seeing ends meet. Barnes threw for 856 yards in sporadic starts in 2024 but threw for 1,573 yards in 2023 as a full-time starter for the Utes. The talent is clearly there. Will Bronco Mendenhall squeeze more out of Barnes?

TE Dorian Thomas - New Mexico

Thomas caught 10 passes for 71 yards and two touchdowns against No. 14 Michigan at The Big House. In Jason Eck’s first game as UNM’s head coach, the Lobos gave more fight than Michigan wanted. Leading that fight was tight end Dorian Thomas, who helped keep them in striking distance of the Wolverines. The highlight of the night was Thomas’ trick play touchdown catch that put New Mexico on the board in the second quarter.

WR Chris Durr - Wyoming

Durr caught seven passes for 146 yards and one touchdown. For a low scoring game, Durr’s stat line stood out like a sore thumb. Wyoming’s offense was able to move to move the ball consistently but failed to convert points. Durr’s lone touchdown proved to be just enough to fend off Akron.

Honorable Mentions: RB Sam Scott - Wyoming, RB Miles Davis - Utah State, WR Jaden Bradley - UNLV