Las Vegas, Nev.-----The San Jose State University football mantra last season was "Stop, I'm Climbing the Mountain." The Spartans scaled the top of the Mountain West conference football standings for its first outright championship in 30 years going undefeated through regular season action with six victories and a seventh win over Boise State, 34-20, for the title.
Even with 23 returning starters and 62 overall letter winners, San Jose State is picked to finish second in the West Division of the conference's two divisions for the 2021 season by a panel of media members in an announcement on the first of two days of the Mountain West Football Preview.
Nevada, defeated by the Spartans, 30-20, in the last 2020 regular season game for both teams, received 19 of 25 first-place votes and the designation as the West Division preseason favorite to play in the 2021 Mountain West championship football game. San Jose State received five first-place votes and was second to the Wolf Pack in the polling with 121 points to Nevada's 141. San Diego State was third with 96 points. Fresno State landed fourth with one first-place vote and 85 points. Hawaii, with 56, and UNLV, with 26 rounded out the projected order of finish in the West Division.
Boise State was a clear choice to win the Mountain Division with 23 of 25 first-place votes and 148 points. Wyoming received the other two first-place votes as part of its 115 points total. Air Force, at 104; Colorado State, 72; Utah State, 47; and New Mexico, 39, complete the Mountain Division projected order of finish.
On July 22, the conference will announce a preseason All-Mountain West team. San José State has nine returning players with past all-conference accolades – defensive linemen Viliami Fehoko and Cade Hall, linebacker Kyle Harmon, and offensive tackles Jack Snyder, first-team; quarterback Nick Starkel and defensive back Tre Jenkins, second-team; and defensive back Jay Lenard, tight end Derrick Deese, Jr., and kicker Matt Mercurio, honorable mention.
Season tickets to see the 2021 San Jose State University's mountain climb covering a six-game home schedule are available by visiting https://am.ticketmaster.com/sjsuathletics/21football or by calling 408-924-7589.
2021 Mountain West media poll order of finish
| Mountain Division | Points |
| 1. Boise State (23) | 141 |
| 2. Wyoming (2) | 115 |
| 3. Air Force | 104 |
| 4. Colorado State | 72 |
| 5. Utah State | 47 |
| 6. New Mexico | 39 |
| West Division | |
| 1. Nevada (19) | 141 |
| 2. San José State (5) | 121 |
| 3. San Diego State | 96 |
| 4. Fresno State (1) | 85 |
| 5. Hawai'i | 56 |
| 6. UNLV | 26 |
| first-place votes in parentheses |