The Mountain West Race Is Taking Shape—and North Dakota State and New Mexico Are Rising Fast!
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North Dakota State is still unbeaten, New Mexico is making progress under Jason Eck, and some Mountain West teams are already facing tough questions after the first month.
By Roger A. Holien | Mountain West Connection
After four weeks of the 2026 college football season, the Mountain West is starting to show what kind of conference it will be, especially among the top teams.
North Dakota State remains the conference’s only unbeaten team. New Mexico has emerged as one of the conference’s most well-rounded programs. Wyoming and Air Force secured key conference wins, and UNLV finally looked like the contender many expected before the season.
On the other side of the standings, Northern Illinois, Hawai‘i, Nevada, and UTEP are searching for answers as their seasons slip away in the win-loss column.
It’s still early, and some teams are just beginning conference play. But the first month has already shown which programs are ready to compete and which have a lot of work to do.
New Mexico Takes Control of the Rio Grande Rivalry
The biggest Mountain West statement of the weekend came in Las Cruces, where New Mexico defeated New Mexico State 42–18 in the 116th meeting of the Rio Grande Rivalry.
New Mexico led 14–3 at halftime, then scored 21 more points in the third quarter to go ahead 35–3. UNM forced turnovers on back-to-back defensive plays and converted both into touchdowns, ending any real chance of an Aggies comeback.
The Lobos finished with two interceptions, three sacks, and 10 tackles for loss. They also recovered a fumble and stopped New Mexico State on fourth down during a dominant stretch of four consecutive Aggie possessions.
That’s what good teams do. They don’t just create chances; they turn them into points.
With the win, New Mexico improved to 3–1 and secured its third straight victory over New Mexico State. UNM now leads the all-time series 76–35–5 and has won two in a row in Las Cruces.
Settling on One Quarterback Pays Off
One of Jason Eck’s most important decisions came before the rivalry game, when New Mexico moved away from its multi-quarterback rotation and named Toa Fa’avae its primary starter.
During the first three games, Fa’avae shared snaps with Luke Moga, while James Laubstein contributed in running and short-yardage situations. The rotation helped the staff evaluate each quarterback after Jack Layne’s season-ending injury, but it also split valuable practice reps.
After the Oklahoma game, Eck decided the offense needed more direction. Fa’avae’s ability to make plays with his legs set him apart, but the main goal was to help him grow as a passer.
With Fa’avae getting almost all the first-team reps, New Mexico simplified the offense, improved its timing, and played more consistently.
Fa’avae completed 10 of 17 passes for 117 yards against New Mexico State while adding 57 rushing yards on 11 carries. More importantly, he protected the football and helped the Lobos produce 253 rushing yards and five touchdowns.
The stats weren’t flashy, but they didn’t have to be. Fa’avae looked comfortable running the offense, made plays when protection broke down, and avoided the big mistakes that can swing rivalry games.
His ball security might be the most promising part of his progress. After struggling with turnovers in spring practice and early training camp, Fa’avae hasn’t had any through New Mexico’s first four games.
That improvement helps explain why Eck called him “our guy going forward.”
Moga is still available, and Laubstein can help in special situations. But making Fa’avae the main quarterback gives the offense something it didn’t have in the first three games: one player getting most of the snaps, practice reps, and the job of leading the team.
For the first time this season, New Mexico went into a game knowing exactly who its quarterback was, and Fa’avae rewarded that trust with a calm, mistake-free performance.
Jason Eck Continues to Change Expectations
It’s getting harder to ignore what Eck has accomplished in less than two seasons.
Last year’s nine-win season wasn’t a fluke. The Lobos are playing with confidence, toughness, and the belief that they should win.
That mindset was evident in New Mexico’s close 14–6 loss to No. 24 Oklahoma and carried into the rivalry game. The Lobos didn’t let the tough loss get to them. They went to Las Cruces, handled the pressure, and got the job done.
The defense led the way again. In four games, New Mexico has allowed just 46 points. The Lobos held Central Michigan and Mercyhurst to seven points each, kept Oklahoma to 14, and held New Mexico State to three points through three quarters.
Defensive coordinator Spence Nowinsky has developed one of the Mountain West’s most dependable units. The Lobos play fast, aggressive, and disciplined football, especially against the run.
Eck has also benefited from having Nowinsky and offensive coordinator Luke Schleusner back for another season. The players know the systems, trust the coaches, and seem more comfortable in big moments.
Without a doubt, Jason Eck has shown a very successful template in FBS, in this day and age of the transfer portal and players leaving for greener pastures.
Keep successful coordinators on staff and build deep relationships with players so they want to come back and play for Eck.
This football team returned 57 players and 11 to 14 starters for the 2026 season, which is among the most in the Mountain West, though they do not have the most returning players or starters across all FBS.
This recipe for success is paying big dividends in win-loss ratio, community excitement, and ticket sales.
New Mexico isn’t a finished product yet. The passing game still needs work, and tougher teams will test the offense’s consistency. Still, the Lobos are starting to look like legitimate Mountain West championship contenders.
North Dakota State Remains the Team to Catch
North Dakota State is 4–0 and still looks like one of the conference’s best, aside from Ecks UNM Lobos.
The Bison opened their first FBS season with wins over Jacksonville State, Fordham, Air Force, and Sacramento State. Their 38–32 win at Air Force remains one of the conference’s most impressive results.
NDSU has brought its signature style to the Mountain West: tough football, disciplined play, a strong running game, and very few mistakes.
The Bison might be new to the FBS, but they don’t seem fazed by the transition. Their October 24 trip to Albuquerque is shaping up to be one of the biggest games on the Mountain West schedule.
If New Mexico and North Dakota State keep playing well, that game could show which team is setting the conference’s standard
Wyoming, Air Force and UNLV Respond
Wyoming delivered a much-needed performance, beating Hawai‘i 27–10.
The Cowboys improved to 2–2 overall and 1–0 in conference play, rushing for 183 yards and three touchdowns. Wyoming also reclaimed the Paniolo Trophy and finally delivered the tough, complete performance fans expect.
Air Force edged Nevada 36–33 in double overtime. The Falcons ran the ball 70 times for 363 yards, and quarterback Liam Szarka totaled 263 yards. Air Force is now 2–1 overall and remains in the conference race despite an earlier loss to North Dakota State.
UNLV finally looked like the preseason contender many expected. After a tough 44–6 loss to North Texas, the Rebels bounced back with a 38–10 win over Akron.
Quarterback Jackson Arnold passed for 290 yards and three touchdowns, and UNLV added 203 rushing yards. The Rebels are 2–2, but they’re 1–0 in conference play and still control their own destiny in the Mountain West race.
Several Teams Are Already in Trouble
Northern Illinois may be the conference’s biggest disappointment.
The Huskies fell to 0–4 after a 35–14 loss to Georgia State. NIU had more total yards and held the ball for over 33 minutes, but turnovers, special-teams mistakes, and missed fourth-down attempts erased those advantages.
Hawai‘i is also struggling at 1–3 overall and 0–2 in conference play. Quarterback Micah Alejado remains talented, but the Rainbow Warriors have not consistently finished drives or stopped opponents in the red zone.
Nevada fell to 1–3 after a double-overtime loss to Air Force. The Wolf Pack have shown some improvement, but close losses and questionable late-game decisions remain a problem.
UTEP is also 1–3 after a 33–7 loss to Oregon State. The Miners gave up seven sacks and scored just one touchdown. Their next test is Saturday in Albuquerque against a New Mexico defense that has made things tough for every opponent.
San José State is 2–2 and still hard to figure out. The Spartans have shown they can score, but conference play will show whether they’re real contenders or just a middle-of-the-pack team.
The Conference Race Is Only Beginning
North Dakota State leads the standings with a 4–0 record, but New Mexico may be the most well-rounded team in the Mountain West title race.
The Lobos have played strongly at home, pushed Oklahoma into the fourth quarter, and beaten their biggest rival on the road.
They have a strong defense, a powerful running game, reliable special teams, and coaches who have raised the program’s bar. New Mexico starts conference play Saturday against UTEP in Albuquerque. This is the first time these teams have faced each other as conference opponents since 1998, giving the Lobos another chance to climb in the Mountain West.
Four games don’t decide a whole season, but they do show where a team is headed. If these early games are a sign of how strong Jason Eck’s team is, the Lobos could be on track for a big matchup for the Mountain West Conference Championship when they host North Dakota State in Albuquerque on October 24.
Currently, North Dakota State is the frontrunner in the conference. Under Jason Eck’s leadership, New Mexico is clear about its goals. The Lobos aren’t just aiming to remain competitive; they aspire to become champions.
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