DENVER, Colo. – The Mountain West's directors of athletics announced the formation of two football divisions beginning in 2013, based upon common geographic regions and traditional rivalries, while also creating the league's first football championship game.
 
The new football alignments will feature Air Force, Boise State, Colorado State, New Mexico, Utah State and Wyoming in the Mountain Division and Fresno State, Hawai'i, Nevada, San Diego State, San Jose State and UNLV in the West Division.
 
Each team will play five divisional games and three cross-divisional contests annually. The actual rotational sequence and matchups will be developed via computer scheduling models.
 
The inaugural Mountain West Football Championship game will be played December 7, 2013 at the home stadium of the team with the highest BCS ranking.
 
UH concluded its inaugural season in the Mountain West in 2012.
 
The Warriors have long and storied rivalries with each of West Division members, including Fresno State, which the teams have played 45 times in a series that began in 1938. UH and San Diego State were longtime members of the Western Athletic Conference from 1979-98. Hawai'i and UNLV have met 22 times, including eight meetings since 2000. Hawai'i and San Jose State were traditional rivals prior to conference affiliation while UH and Nevada began its series in 1920.