Once again, Boise State is a favorite to win the Mountain West.
The Broncos were picked by media members in July to win the conference in the final year of its current configuration. It’s the 18th consecutive year that they have been predicted to win a conference or division title, including every year since Boise State joined the Mountain West in 2011.
Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Colorado State, and Utah State will all join the rebuilt Pac-12 next season. The rest of the conference has one last chance to unseat the Broncos and claim the title heading into a new era, but it isn’t going to be easy.
There’s a reason the Broncos are the favorites. They return a ton of experienced players on both sides of the ball. There’s also so much talent in the backfield they may not even miss a step after losing Heisman Trophy runner-up Ashton Jeanty to the NFL.
Sire Gaines and Jambres Dubar should have special seasons if they can stay healthy. Dylan Riley might be the fastest of the bunch, and sixth-year senior Malik Sherrod is in Boise for the final season of his college career. He led Fresno State with 966 yards and nine touchdowns in 2023.
Quarterback Maddux Madsen was one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the conference last season, and the defense is loaded with talented returning starters, including EDGE Jayden Virgin-Morgan, linebacker Marco Notarainni, cornerback A’Marion McCoy, and safety Ty Benefield.
Boise State isn’t rolling into the season without questions. There isn’t much in the way of depth behind Madsen, a No. 1 wide receiver must emerge, and the defensive line is full of new starters.
The Broncos are the unquestioned favorites to win the Mountain West title for a third straight season, but they’ll see plenty of competition from a transfer-heavy team at UNLV and a pair of longtime bottom dwellers that could shock the world.
Mountain West Betting Odds
Boise State is the college football betting odds favorite to win the Mountain West title, according to BetMGM. Here’s a list of every MW team and their odds to win the league:
- Boise State -160
- UNLV +700
- San Jose State +850
- Fresno State +1100
- Colorado State +1200
- Air Force +1400
- Hawaii +2000
- Wyoming +3500
- San Diego State +3500
- Nevada +5000
- Utah State +5000
- New Mexico +20000
San Jose State Is On The Rise
UNLV may have the second-most talent in the conference on paper, but San Jose State is returning starters all over the field. And the Spartans have one of the easiest schedules in the nation.
Quarterback Walker Eget is back after throwing for 2,504 yards and 13 touchdowns last season. Leading rusher Floyd Chalk IV will carry the load again, and the Spartans return four all-conference performers on defense. That includes linebacker Jordan Pollard, who may be the best in the Mountain West at his position.
The Spartans don’t play Boise State or UNLV, and they get Hawaii, Air Force, and Fresno State at home. That’s especially helpful considering the Mountain West got rid of its divisions a few years ago, leaving the teams with the best winning percentages in league play to meet for the championship.
Hawaii Is A Darkhorse
Don’t be shocked if Hawaii finds itself squarely in the mix to play for the conference title by the end of the season. The Rainbow Warriors return one of the top groups of wide receivers in the country, led by Nick Cenacle (63 catches, 721 yards, and six touchdowns in 2024) and Pofele Ashlock (61 catches, 629 yards, and six TDs).
New quarterback Micah Alejado made a historic debut with 523 yards of offense in his only start last season against New Mexico. He was the first quarterback in program history to finish a game with at least 450 passing yards and 50 rushing yards.
Leading rusher Landon Sims is back, and he’s running behind an offensive line that returns three starters. Hawaii also has three of its top six tacklers back from a defense that ranked in the top five in the conference last season in total defense (376.9 yards per game) and gave up 25.4 points a game.
