The Mountain West should be eager to prove itself in 2026

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At this time of year, every team is starting to get restless, ready for games to finally begin. The teams in the Mountain West are no different, and four of them get to start early, playing in Week 0 games on Saturday. But collectively, all ten Mountain West Conference teams should have a chip on their shoulders as they set out to prove they deserve to be in the conversation for best Group of 6 conference in 2026.

Over the past two years, the five former MW/current Pac-12 teams have communicated a message that those who remain are not good enough in their eyes. To make matters worse, the conference appears to be coming off the wrong end of the litigation settlement. While opinions and facts may differ, the court of public opinion seems to have made its ruling, and the majority are saying it’s not a win for the MW. The accuracy of that can be debated, but it influences perceptions of the conference.

That all being said, it’s completely understandable if the Mountain West comes into 2026 with an us-against-the-world mentality. Now that the season is here, it’s time to take action on the field. And it’s gearing up to be a season full of intrigue, with lots of preseason storylines.

For starters, the league will almost certainly crown a new football champion in 2026. Outside of San Jose State in a COVID-shortened season, no other team has hoisted the trophy. Three or four teams could be in the contender category, but all of them would be first-time title-game champions. It’s a new era for the Mountain West and in some ways, it’s fitting that this new era will usher in new football champs, and perhaps new football dynasties.

Is this the year UNLV finally converts a championship game appearance into a championship? Four straight years of going to the title game is impressive no matter what, but winning them remains the goal, and that’s eluded the Rebels thus far, despite success that has been unparalleled in the rest of the program’s history. They are definitely one of the teams to beat.

New Mexico enters 2026 as the darling of the Mountain West, and maybe mid-major football in general. Jason Eck is a big reason why, winning at least 9 games the past three seasons as a head coach. He’s taken Idaho and now New Mexico to instant success, despite being two of the most difficult schools to win at. It’s not just Eck, as the roster he’s put together is filled with talent and is not satisfied with last year’s success. They will be hunting for a MW championship despite now having a target on their back.

Hawaii is looking to make an impact in their first year as a full member of the conference. They boast the top quarterback and offense entering the season. While they fell a bit short of making the championship game, becoming bowl-eligible was a success. However, the Rainbow Warriors are looking to take things a step further, and a fun Hawaii offense is great for college football. Could this be a special season on the islands?

Do the Bison, who are no stranger to conference titles, make quick work of the Mountain West and begin their FBS tenure with a MW championship? There are many ways to go with NDSU. They are coming off a winning season, but are making a jump to a higher level of competition. They returned most of their roster, but have to replace key offensive pieces as quarterback, running back, and wide receiver. North Dakota State has a long track record of executing a system that wins a lot of games, wearing teams down by running through them. However, will that be nullified by a potential lack of depth, size, or athleticism to compete at the FBS level? Will the jump be harder than anyone anticipated, or will they make all of these questions look foolish by rolling through the Mountain West Conference?

The Wolf Pack retained key core players this past offseason. Is it enough to make a significant difference? That’s what the program is banking on, and they should improve just by having more returning players with time in the system. The roster does feature a few of the best players in the MW and if nothing else, Nevada shouldn’t be an easy game for most teams this season.

Then, there is the trio of remaining conference holdovers, the Cowboys, Falcons, and Spartans. All three are coming off of disappointing 2025 seasons and hoping to rebound this coming season. Bowl berths are the hope for each of these teams, but they may not all be going to the postseason in 2026.

Air Force had a strong offense but struggled on defense last season. The secondary is a year more experienced, which counts for something, and there are all-conference-level players at each part of the defense. Then, the Falcon offense should pick up where they left off in 2025, putting up a lot of points and causing havoc for the rest of the conference. Who knows where they will end up in the standings, but they should be an improved team in 2026.

Interestingly enough, Wyoming had the opposite issue, fielding a tremendous defense but an offense that struggled to move the ball through the air consistently. The defense’s floor should be solid once again, with the potential to be even better. The more interesting side of the ball is the offense. It will have the usual Cowboy traits of a strong offensive line paired with a talented running back. The question mark is still at quarterback, but they are trying a new plan this time around, plugging in a talented FCS transfer with proven production that should translate. For any hope of a bowl berth, it needs to translate.

San Jose State was inconsistent on both sides of the ball and nosedived over the course of the 2025 season. They reloaded in the transfer portal, and the passing offense looks good on paper. The Spartans will need to develop a consistent running game to keep teams from sitting back on their passing game. They could pile on points with their offense, but are just as likely to give up a lot of points while struggling to score.

As for the other newcomers, Northern Illinois and UTEP, they are a bit of an unknown, but the known parts aren’t inspiring. The Huskies face an uphill battle with an interim head coach and losing players following his exit, but bringing in a high-profile transfer QB should pair well with their other offensive weapons. Meanwhile, the Miners have only won 8 games over the past three seasons, and that was in Conference USA. The road will be tougher in the Mountain West, and despite having some talented players, there isn’t enough to expect a high level of competition for 2026.

While individual teams may differ in talent level, collectively they are all set on proving that the conference can make a positive statement despite all the changes this offseason. Let the games begin.

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