A new day has dawned on the Mountain West.
Boise State dominated the conference for more than a decade, winning a league-record six championships since 2014 and playing in the title game nine times since its inception in 2013. The Broncos also won a share of the regular-season title in 2012.
But in a season full of questions thanks to conference realignment, there’s one thing college football fans can take to the bank in 2026. Boise State will not add to its trove of Mountain West titles.
The Broncos are gone. They joined San Diego State, Fresno State, Utah State, Colorado State, Oregon State, Washington State and Texas State as football-playing members of the rebuilt Pac-12. Gonzaga is also joining but it doesn’t sponsor football.
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Many of the Mountain West’s most recognizable brands and well-funded programs are now flying a new banner. At least one of the five departing members has played in the Mountain West championship game every year since 2013, and San Diego State, Fresno State and Utah State have all joined the Broncos in winning at least one title.
San Jose State is the only returning member that has won a Mountain West title, while Hawaii and UNLV join the Spartans as the only current members that have appeared in the championship game.
The Pac-12’s gain may be the Mountain West’s loss, or a new era, marked by intense competition and parity, has begun. Regardless of your perspective, the question remains which team is prepared to emerge not just as the latest champion but the conference’s new flagship program?
UNLV
The Rebels have won 30 games in the past three years and appeared in three straight Mountain West championship games, losing all three to Boise State. UNLV made a splashy hire a couple years ago when it brought in former Florida and Mississippi State head coach Dan Mullen. The Rebels play in an NFL venue – Allegiant Stadium – and they call one of the flashiest cities in America home. UNLV has also received several large donations in recent years, including a $10 million gift given by the Boyd family last November.
Prediction: The conference should be the Rebels’ to lose over the next few years. Recruiting the transfer portal shouldn’t be a problem as long as Mullen is there. Support is strong from the administration and from what is quickly becoming one of the country’s top sports towns. With Boise State out of the picture, anything less than a fourth straight title game appearance will be a failure this year.
Hawaii
The Rainbow Warriors played for the Mountain West title in 2019 – losing to (you guessed it) Boise State. But they were on the cusp of a championship run last year. Hawaii’s nine wins last season were its most since 2019, and this year’s team may be even better. It’s led by one of the league’s top passing duos in quarterback Micah Alejado and wide receiver Pofele Ashlock, and the Warriors invested heavily in the transfer portal. A new football stadium is in the works, support is strong from the administration and it has never been questioned from the community. The athletic department recently received a $5 million gift from a group of local businesses.
Prediction: Hawaii has what may be its best chance to become a perennial Mountain West title contender since it joined the conference as a football-only member in 2012. The Warriors become a full member this year. Keeping Alejado and head coach Timmy Chang around for a couple more years will be key.
New Mexico
The Lobos have been the turnaround story of the past two seasons, first under Bronco Mendenhall and then last season under Jason Eck, who led them to nine wins – their most since 2016. Eck and new athletic director Ryan Berryman have sparked a fire in a community that had lost faith in its team. New Mexico set attendance records last year, and the Lobos were one win shy of their first appearance in the Mountain West championship game.
Prediction: The Lobos’ football team has a ways to go if it’s going to catch up with New Mexico’s illustrious basketball program, but there’s more excitement in Albuquerque heading into this season than there’s been in a long time. The longer Eck hangs around, the better the Lobos’ chances of becoming perennial title contenders.
