The American Football Coaches Association and D2Football.com have both slotted Western Colorado’s Mountaineers at No. 11 in the preseason Division II rankings, a rare consensus that signals the team’s rising national profile.
In each of the last five seasons the program has posted a winning record, including four campaigns with double‑digit victories and a string of NCAA tournament appearances that culminated in a 2021 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championship.
A Legacy of Winning
The 2025 run saw the Mountaineers advance to the second round of the DII tournament before finishing the year ranked No. 10 in the AFCA poll and No. 13 in the D2Football.com final list, underscoring a trajectory of sustained excellence.
Looking ahead, the team opens the 2026 slate on the road against West Texas A&M on August 27, then returns home to face Angelo State University on September 3 at 6 p.m. in Mountaineer Bowl, part of The Rady Family Sports Complex.
With a five‑year ledger of 48 wins and 13 losses, the Mountaineers enter the new season carrying the momentum of a program that has consistently turned early‑season tests into opportunities for growth.