The Mountain West has joined the list of leagues that don't put out a preseason football coach's poll, but that doesn't cut down on the number of opinions, or at least the number of people having opinions.
As to the actual predictions, though, there is a pretty clear consensus among pundits. UNLV is a clear favorite, with New Mexico a clear second, then FBS newcomer North Dakota State and Hawaii in the next tier.
There is also a consensus at the bottom, with league newcomers UTEP and Northern Illinois filling those two slots in the 10-team league.
This poll of polls looks at seven sources, counting their predicted order of finish as seven votes: Felix Chavez of the El Paso
Times; Nevada Sports Net; ESPN; Athlon Sports; Google AI; and Phil Steele (who picked a tie at No. 1 between UNLV and New Mexico and a tie at third between Hawaii and Air Force).
Here is the breakdown, with teams getting 10 points for a first-place vote, nine for second, etc.
1. UNLV 68 1/2 points (5 1/2 first-place votes)
High: First on five ballots, tied for first on another. Low: Second on one ballot.
The clear favorite after losing in the last three Mountain West title games, the Rebels are the top returning team in the conference and expected to get over the hump this year. Transfer quarterback Jackson Arnold isn't the preseason offensive player of the year, that's Hawaii quarterback Micah Alejado, but if UNLV wins the title as expected, Arnold might be favored to be MVP.
2. New Mexico 64 1/2 (1 1/2)
High: First on one ballot, tied for first on another. Low: Second on five ballots.
With superstar linebacker Jaxton Eck coming in as the preseason defensive player of the year and playing for his father Jason, the Lobos are a clear favorite to join UNLV in the league title game. In their first year under Jason Eck, New Mexico improved from five wins to nine.
3. North Dakota State 52
High: Third on four ballots. Low: Fourth on two ballots.
This season will mark the Bisons' FBS debut, but they went undefeated last regular season (they are 10-time national champions in the FCS) and have had nine players taken in the NFL draft in the past five years.
4. Hawaii 50
High: Third on two ballots, tied for third on another. Low: Fifth on one ballot
Quarterback Micah Alejado is the preseason offensive player of the year after a fantastic freshman campaign in which he led the team to nine wins.
5. Air Force 42 1/2
High: Fourth on one ballot. Low: Sixth on two ballots.
After an uncharacteristic 4-8 campaign in 2025, Air Force is expected to bounce back behind quarterback Liam Szarka.
6. Wyoming 31
High: Sixth on four ballots. Low: Eighth on one ballot.
Another team that went 4-8 last year, the Cowboys are looking to rebound behind William & Mary transfer quarterback Tyler Hughes.
7. San Jose State 28
High: Fifth on two ballots. Low: Ninth on one ballot.
No team has more varied expectations in the Mountain West than the Spartans, who were picked anywhere from fifth to ninth a year after finishing 11th in a 12-team league.
8. Nevada 26
High: 6th on one ballot. Low: 8th on three ballots.
The Wolfpack are looking to snap a four-year bowl drought and have one of the league's best defensive ends in Dylan Labarbera.
t9. UTEP 11
High: Eighth on one ballot. Low: Tenth on four ballots.
After going 5-19 in coach Scotty Walden's first two years, the Miners face a pivotal third season.
t9. Northern Illinois 11
High: Ninth on four ballots. Low: Tenth on three ballots.
After going 3-9 in the MAC, expectations are not high for the Huskies, who face some of the most daunting travel distances in the league.
Bret Bloomquist can be reached at bbloomquist@elpasotimes.com; @Bretbloomquist on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Poll of polls sheds light on top pre-season Mountain West football teams
