Mountain West players and coaches are laser-focused on football as the conference race takes shape. Those who don’t earn a championship game berth can console themselves with at least six wins and a bowl berth.

Boise State (5-2, 3-0 MW) and San Diego State (5-1, 2-0) are the last two undefeated teams in conference play. Hawaii (6-2, 3-1), UNLV (6-1, 2-1), Fresno State (5-2, 2-1) and Utah State (4-3, 2-1) all are in the mix with one loss. Hawaii and UNLV both have reached six victories, and several of their conference peers are expected to follow their lead.

Every player on every team has a story. The Union-Tribune talked to many of them as the season began about how they got into football, their passions off the field and the fun parts of the game. Here is a sampling of their responses:

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