The 2025 season is over and we are entering a new era of college football on the west coast with the PAC 12 rebuilding itself with five teams from the Mountain West. Meanwhile, the Mountain West reloaded
with the additions of UTEP and Northern Illinois. Over the next few weeks, we are going to take a very early look at how the members of each conference look heading into next season. In this edition of “The Good, the Bad, the Ugly,” we are going to focus on the Mountain West.
The Good
Hawaii
After looking at the conference schedule for 2026, I was a bit hesitant to rank the Rainbow Warriors this high. Despite being a senior member in the conference, they have to travel to Northern Illinois, UTEP, and Wyoming. But this team has something that nobody else in the conference has, a proven winner under center. The return of Micah Alejado was one of the biggest surprises in the conference. Alejado also has one of his favorite targets returning in Pofele Ashlock. This offense should be prolific, and it just might be enough to lead the Rainbow Warriors to their first conference championship since joining the Mountain West.
UNLV
The Rebels may have lost Offensive Player of the Year, Anthony Colandrea, to the transfer portal, but the addition of former Auburn and Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold will have this team in championship contention for the fourth consecutive season. Explosive running back Jai’Den Thomas will likely be in the conversation for Preseason Player of the Year and should be one of the top tailbacks in the country. Where this team goes will ultimately come down to the defensive side of the ball. The Rebels were a disorganized mess on that side of the ball and it kept a good season from being special. If the defense improves, they should be in excellent shape to win their first conference championship since 1994.
New Mexico
This Lobo team will enter the year building on the momentum that Jason Eck and his staff generated in their first season running the program. Coming off of a 9-4 season, New Mexico is poised to take another step in the right direction. The Lobos did lose some key contributors to the transfer portal in tight end Dorian Thomas and running back DJ McKinney. However, they were able to hold onto the majority of their roster and should have one of the most talented rosters in the conference. Under the leadership of Jason Eck, this team should have an excellent opportunity to win their first conference championship since 1964.
The Bad
Air Force
It has been a rough few years in Colorado Springs for Troy Calhoun and his staff. They have fallen behind the other service academies and have struggled to be consistent on either side of the ball. Last season, the Falcon defense was the worst it has ever been under Calhoun, but the offense showed glimpses of greatness. With 2025 behind them and some of the toughest teams in the conference gone, the Falcons will win enough games to get bowl eligible. But they won’t be able to hang with the likes of Hawaii, UNLV, and New Mexico.
Nevada
2026 is a make or break season for Jeff Choate and his staff. It took nearly two seasons for Nevada to get its first conference win, and the team hasn’t come close to reaching a bowl. With that being said, I’m surprised at the talent Nevada has been able to keep in town. If Carter Jones can take steps in the right direction, this team will finish in the top half of the Mountain West. I think Choate and his staff will do just enough to keep their jobs and lead the Wolf Pack to a 6-6 record and their first bowl appearance since Jay Norvell was the head coach.
Wyoming
The Cowboys are in a tough spot. They are entering the third year with Jay Sawvel as head coach, and honestly, there isn’t much to be optimistic about. For the second straight season, the team fell short of bowl eligibility and the offense was, once again, anemic for the majority of the season. Starting quarterback Kaden Anderson entered the transfer portal (this might be a blessing in disguise) and Sawvel’s staff will need to prove it can find under-the-radar talent. With Boise State and others out of the picture, the Cowboys will flirt with bowl eligibility, but they will fall short for the third consecutive season.
The Ugly
Northern Illinois
This isn’t the Northern Illinois team that was one of the best Group of Five teams in the nation; this is a team that is coming off of a 3-9 record and had one of the worst offenses in the nation last season. Now, they are entering a conference where they will have to travel a significant distance for every road game with their closest opening being Air Force next season. This was one of those additions that looked good on the surface but really didn’t make much sense for either side. The Huskies are in for a reality check next fall, as they will have a hard time topping the three wins they got in 2025.
San Jose State
Picking the Spartans to finish eighth will be a controversial pick, but the Spartans were, without a doubt, the biggest bust in 2025. They will be bringing in a new quarterback and lost their most productive offensive player in wide receiver Danny Scudero to the transfer portal. Head coach Ken Niumatalolo and his staff struggled to make adjustments last season and they are in for another down year in 2026. It wouldn’t shock me if San Jose State is looking for another head coach next offseason.
UTEP
The addition of UTEP was a no-brainer for the Mountain West. Getting into Texas was a must for the conference and UTEP was looking for an upgrade from Conference-USA. However, the football program has been in rough shape for quite a while, and it is going to take time to turn this program around. UTEP will be a bottom-feeder in its early years in the conference and will finish last in 2026.
Who do you see winning the Mountain West next season? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
