The college football season is almost upon us. Football games will be played this Saturday for Week 0, meaning it’s time to rank the teams to enter the year. Take a look at this week’s MWCConnection Power Rankings, and let us know what you like and what you don’t. Feel free to drop your own rankings in the comments section.
It should be noted that preseason rankings are based almost exclusively on opinions and educated guesses, since no games have been played yet. It’s fair to say they don’t amount
to much, like most preseason content, but that’s no fun. That being said, expect these rankings to go through many changes week to week for the first month of the season. Since they are not games to go off of, each team will feature reasons why they could be successful and reasons why things go in an unwanted direction.
1) Boise State
No change from last week
The Broncos return a lot of talent on both sides of the ball. The offense should once again be dynamic behind a veteran offensive line and a solid group of running backs. Likewise, the pass-rush figures to get the job done once again. However, the passing game may struggle if a wide receiver doesn’t emerge since the opposition won’t be loading the box anymore. And the secondary has reportedly improved, but if it doesn’t, the defense may struggle. That all being said, they are the clear favorites in the conference.
2) San Jose State
No change from last week
The Spartans appeared to reload on offense and have a lot of star power on defense. Throw in a favorable schedule with a strong coaching staff, and San Jose State could find themselves with a clear path to the Mountain West Championship game. However, in order to get there, they will need to avoid the uneven quarterback play that plagued them last season, and the defense will need to find a way to consistently get stops instead of being boom or bust.
3) Air Force
No change from last week
The Falcon’s offensive system is too strong and disciplined to falter for too long, and the team did find their stride last November, so there’s a good chance it carries over to this season. They have talent at fullback, and the defense should be stout once again. Unfortunately, success is no sure thing for Air Force. Quarterback is still a big question mark, and it’s essential to run the infamous offense. If the offense isn’t dominating the time of possession, then the defense will be less effective as well.
4) UNLV
The Rebels won against Idaho State to open the season, but it could be easily described as survived. They trailed 10-0 at one point and their defense had tackling issues, giving up tons of yards. While the offense was able to display a huge rushing attack, it was hard to know if it was merely due to the quality of their opponent, UNLV’s defense did come up with a few interceptions, although some of them were gift-wrapped. The jury is still out on this team, but the early results didn’t provide a lot of encouragement.
5) Wyoming
No change from last week
The Cowboys appear to have found a reliable answer at quarterback, which will go a long way to making the offense acceptable or perhaps even good. They boast a great offensive line and a talented group of wide receivers poised to be dynamic. All of this should help their defense maximize their talent. On the other hand, Wyoming appears to be lacking a solid running game, so the offense may still be one-dimensional. And if the defense isn’t healthy or the transfers don’t work out as planned, they could still be on the field just as long as they were last season.
6) Hawaii
Timmy Chang and Micah Alejado got their signature win in the season opener against Stanford. It was a battle on both ends of the ball, but the Rainbow Warriors showed their resolve, determination, and improved talent. With Alejado at the helm, the offense can move the ball through the air efficiently, as long as he is healthy long-term, which will be worth keeping an eye on with his ankle injury. If Hawaii can keep playing like this, it will be a fun season in the Mountain West.
7) Colorado State
No change from last week
The Rams found success last season based on a balanced offense. For 2025, they return to a focus on the Air-Raid in hopes of taking their offense to the next level. With a veteran QB and a slew of talented wide receivers, the idea is that the offense can carry the load as the defense rounds into form over the course of the year. But if Colorado State’s offense is still missing the extra gear and they don’t take the next step at quarterback and if the major changes to the defense don’t bear fruit right away, the team may not reach their goals this season.
8) Utah State
No change from last week
The Aggies are hoping the Mendenhall effect pays immediate dividends, helping to make their offense more dynamic and their defense more formidable. Hype is high on building their offense around the strength of their dual-threat quarterback, and many defenders have experience in the Broncos’ system. The pessimistic view for Utah State would say their losses in the transfer portal are too much to overcome and the newcomers on the roster haven’t quite meshed together yet.
9) Fresno State
The Bulldogs had a sensational first offensive drive. They had an explosive play or two, found ways to convert first downs, and found the endzone. Unfortunately, the offense didn’t do much else against Kansas, as they were held scoreless for the remainder of the game. They don’t move down in the rankings since they were already slotted pretty low. It’s only one game, and it wasn’t the easiest of opponents, but it appears Fresno State has a lot of hurdles to overcome to be at the top of the Mountain West this season.
10) San Diego State
No change from last week
The Aztecs are looking for a boost in Year 2 of the Lewis era. They will have a veteran QB commanding the offense and have surrounded him with an influx of receivers to spread the ball around to. Their defense features the preseason defensive player of the year and a top-flight secondary unit. That all being said, it’s no sure thing the San Diego State offense hits the ground running with so many new players. And even if they do, the defense returns most of last year’s starters and the unit still struggled, so if they don’t find their footing this year, the team could struggle to succeed.
11) Nevada
No change from last week
The Wolf Pack lost a significant number of one-score games last season, and are bound to improve if for no other reason than positive regression. They have more players who fit their system and aim to be more disciplined on both sides of the ball. However, it’s also likely that Nevada continues to struggle with penalties, fails to develop a competent passing game and and still struggles to close the talent gap against their opponents
12) New Mexico
No change from last week
With the transfer portal, anything can happen, right? Maybe things all come together for the new-look Lobos and the over-achieve thanks to seasoned FCS veterans. Or perhaps, the new roster struggles to compete at this level, and it becomes clear the rebuild in Albuquerque won’t be a one-year fix.
