2026 Week 8 Mountain West College Football Previews

Air Force Falcons at Wyoming Cowboys

Friday, October 23
 6:30 PM PT, CW

Wyoming hosts Air Force on Friday night in a matchup that surprisingly has some conference implications as both teams sit 3-1 in MW play.

The Falcons have won four straight games, while the Cowboys come in as the slight surprise with just the lone blemish in conference play thus far.

Air Force has run the ball for 430+ yards in each of their last two games, while attempting just three passes total. That is one thing against NIU, but last week they pulled the feat on UNLV.

The Falcons’ option offense will test a Wyoming defense that has struggled against the run. The Pokes are allowing 172.1 yards per game on the ground; the Falcons may not have to throw a pass in this one either.

The biggest reason to believe Wyoming will win is the emergence of quarterback Tyler Hughes. In last week’s 41–23 victory over Northern Illinois, Hughes completed 16 of 19 passes for 196 yards while rushing for 183 yards and four touchdowns.

His dual-threat ability gives the Cowboys a way to produce explosive plays while also sustaining drives and keeping Air Force’s dangerous rushing attack on the sideline.

UW racked up a season-high 510 yards last week, their highest total in a game since 2024—but again, at the expense of NIU—so grain of salt there. Hughes is finding his footing and could cause problems for the Falcons.

The Air Force ground game looks too difficult for Wyoming to contain, and Evan Medders looked more than adept at guiding the offense last week against UNLV.

Wyoming is playing well, but the Falcons continue their win streak.

Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors at Northern Illinois Huskies

Saturday, October 24
 12:30 PM PT, MW+

Hopes were high for the Warriors this season, and Hawai’i has not lived up to them. Northern Illinois expected struggles this season, but I don’t think anyone expected the Huskies to be as bad as they have been.

Micah Alejado was able to throw for 250 yards and a TD against New Mexico and their solid defense last week. The QB should be able to shred the Huskies. The NIU secondary is vulnerable, and the Rainbow Warriors should have plenty of receivers open on Saturday.

The ‘Bows defense limited UNM to 21 points last week in a strong showing. The NIU offense is one of the worst in the nation, and Hawaii should be able to limit their production.

The only thing that could cause problems for UH in this one is giving the ball away. The Warriors have turned it over five times in the last three games.

If Hawai’i limits turnovers and gives Alejado adequate protection, its passing game should force the Huskies to play from behind—something an inconsistent NIU offense has not shown it can handle successfully.

The long road trip will be difficult, but Hawai’i leaves the Midwest with its first conference win of the season.

San Jose State Spartans at Nevada Wolf Pack

Saturday, October 24
 2:00 PM PT, MW+

The Spartans have performed well in conference play entering this one at 2-1, while Nevada has dropped two of their first three conference games. While the records may be flipped, I think the Wolf Pack are the better team.

The Spartans turned to the ground in the win over UTEP last week as they ran for 233 yards, and that was with leading rusher Jabari Bates out. In his absence, Viiami Teu ran for a career-high 156 yards on 7.8 yards per carry.

The Spartans will need more of the same from whoever totes the rock as the Pack have struggled to stop the run this season. The question is, did SJSU find something, or was it a product of facing a UTEP team that ranks 122nd against the run this season?

They should be able to get something going on the ground again this week; with the Spartans’ uncertainty at QB, running the ball will be critical.

The Spartans have given up 205.5 yards rushing per game in their last two games. In the losses to USC and Fresno State, the run defense also struggled. Nevada is the third-best rushing team in the MW, averaging 192.8 per outing.

The duo of Dominic Kelly and Herchel Turner Jr has been dynamic this season. Establishing the ground attack will neutralize a Spartan pass rush that has gotten to QBs this season.

The Pack had too many mistakes as their upset bid fell short in Fargo last week. This week they should clean things up and be able to control the pace of the game with the rushing attack. The Wolf Pack are seventh nationally against the pass this season.

Whether it is Luke Weaver or Daniel Rolovich making his second career start, they could face issues throwing the ball against Nevada.

The Pack holds serve at home in a tight game.

North Dakota State Bison at New Mexico Lobos

Saturday, October 24
 7:00 PM PT, CW

All roads lead to Albuquerque! Well, in the battle for MW supremacy they certainly do this week.

The winner of this one will certainly have an inside track on playing for the conference crown on the first Friday in December—and perhaps even hosting the contest.

This one has the makings of a defensive slugfest with both teams among the top-six nationally in total defense this season.

North Dakota State has wasted no time proving they belong in the FBS and will be a problem in the Mountain West. The Bison really want to lean into the ground game on offense.

The yards could be hard to come by in this one against a Lobo unit allowing just 92.0 yards per outing on the ground. The Lobos are also stout against the pass, but this might be where the Bison will need to have success.

Nathan Hayes has proven he can sling it when asked to, but his worst performance by far this season was in the loss to UNLV. If the Bison don’t have the threat of the pass in this one, then the ground game will struggle to get momentum going.

New Mexico is also going to look to lean on the ground attack and Scottre Humphrey is coming off a good afternoon on the ground against Hawai’i, and the Lobos are averaging 214.5 rushing yards per game.

The Lobos lead the nation in turnover margin this season at +2.83 per game but last week they gave it away three times—they only had one miscue all season entering the game.

The uncharacteristic turnover problems along with 16 penalties kept the win over the Warriors closer than it should have been.

The Bison are disciplined and dangerous, so New Mexico cannot afford another mistake-filled performance, or this one goes the way of NDSU. UNM is not going to have two stinkers in a row.

The Lobos win this one in a close one with the New Mexico defense stepping up late.