A recent aggregation of predictions from seven outlets paints a clear picture of the Mountain West Conference’s upcoming football season, with UNLV emerging as the overwhelming favorite.
Preseason Favorites
The Rebels received the highest number of first‑place votes, reinforcing the consensus that they are poised to lead the league after a strong offseason and a promising returning core.
Close behind, New Mexico is projected to finish second, buoyed by the preseason designation of defensive standout Jaxton Eck as the conference’s defensive player of the year.
Debutants and Rebounders
North Dakota State enters the FBS ranks after an undefeated run in the FCS, a transition that has already attracted attention for its nine recent NFL draft picks, while Hawaii’s freshman quarterback Micah Alejado earned preseason offensive player of the year honors after guiding the Rainbow Warriors to nine victories in his debut season.
Air Force, after a 4‑8 record in 2025, is banking on quarterback Liam Szarka to spark a turnaround, whereas Wyoming, also coming off a 4‑8 campaign, hopes quarterback Tyler Hughes can provide the spark needed for a rebound.
Mid‑Tier and Bottom Teams
San Jose State’s preseason placement varies widely, with analysts projecting anywhere from fifth to ninth, reflecting the team’s 11th‑place finish in a 12‑team league last year, while Nevada aims to snap a four‑year bowl drought, highlighted by defensive end Dylan Labarbera’s impact.
At the bottom of the poll, newcomers UTEP and Northern Illinois round out the rankings, with UTEP showing progress from a 5‑19 record in its first two seasons under coach Scotty Walden, and Northern Illinois seeking to improve on a modest recent record.
The consensus rankings were compiled from a diverse set of sources, including local journalist Felix Chavez of the El Paso Times, Nevada Sports Net, ESPN, Athlon Sports, Google AI, and analyst Phil Steele, ensuring a broad perspective on the conference’s outlook.