North Dakota State, UTEP and Northern Illinois set their travel plans towards the west as they become the newest members to join the Mountain West Conference.
How will the conference perform with Boise State, Fresno State, Utah State, Colorado State and San Diego State departing?
The Mountain West 2026 conference football schedules were recently released and they reflect both departures and additions to the portfolio. Gone are members Boise State, Fresno State, Utah State, Colorado State and San Diego
State and added are North Dakota State, University Texas El Paso and Northern Illinois. The new format will allow for four home and four away games with each team playing eight of the nine remaining conference teams. A conference Championship game will feature the two teams with the highest conference winning percentage. The possibility of a College Football Playoff berth will be up for grabs.
Much conversation is centered around how the conference will stack up after losing several key football schools. Boise departs after winning seven conference titles. Fresno is second with four titles and Colorado State and San Diego State both have three titles. The only remaining team that has a conference title is San Jose State from the shortened 2020 season. Additionally, the discussion of North Dakota State stepping up to FBS level and how they can compete will be one of the most interesting story lines of the upcoming season. Following are the teams conference schedules. A more in depth analysis of non conference games will follow later this season.
AIR FORCE
Away: Nevada, New Mexico, NIU, Wyoming
Home: North Dakota State, San Jose State, UNLV, UTEP
Bye: Hawai’i
HAWAI’I
Away: Nevada, NIU, UTEP, Wyoming
Home: New Mexico, North Dakota State, San Jose State, UNLV
Bye: Air Force
NEVADA
Away: NIU, North Dakota State, UNLV, UTEP
Home: Air Force, Hawai’i, New Mexico, San Jose State
Bye: Wyoming
NEW MEXICO
Away: Hawai’i, Nevada, San Jose State, Wyoming
Home: Air Force, North Dakota State, UNLV, UTEP
Bye: NIU
NORTH DAKOTA STATE
Away: Air Force, Hawai’i, New Mexico, UNLV
Home: Nevada, NIU, UTEP, Wyoming
Bye: San Jose State
NORTHERN ILLINOIS
Away: North Dakota State, San Jose State, UNLV, Wyoming
Home: Air Force, Hawai’i, Nevada, UTEP
Bye: New Mexico
SAN JOSE STATE
Away: Air Force, Hawai’i, Nevada, UTEP
Home: New Mexico, NIU, UNLV, Wyoming
Bye: North Dakota State
UNLV
Away: Air Force, Hawai’i, New Mexico, San Jose State
Home: Nevada, NIU, North Dakota State, Wyoming
Bye: UTEP
UTEP
Away: Air Force, New Mexico, NIU, North Dakota State
Home: Hawai’i, Nevada, San Jose State, Wyoming
Bye: UNLV
WYOMING
Away: North Dakota State, San Jose State, UNLV, UTEP
Home: Air Force, Hawai’i, New Mexico, NIU
Bye: Nevada
