Mountain West Football Rankings: Spring 2026 First Look

10 Northern Illinois

New conference, new coach - defensive coordinator Rob Harley is the interim guy - and lots of new players. It’s a young team with the secondary and lines needing work.

2025 Record: 3-9
2025 CFN Rankings
Preseason: 116 | Final: 126
Top Transfer: Liam Lindo, CB Bryant
Top Transfer Lost: Lance Ingold, EDGE to Iowa

9 UTEP

UTEP was supposed to break through, and didn’t. Scott Walden has another interesting team with the upside to make some noise, but more playmakers must emerge.

2025 Record: 2-10
2025 CFN Rankings
Preseason: 121 | Final: 131
Top Transfer: EJ Colson, QB Incarnate Word
Top Transfer Lost: Wondame Davis Jr., WR to Wake Forest

8 Nevada

Jeff Choate and the Wolf Pack have to fire up the offensive power, and it should start with an improved, deeper line. Pass rushers have to emerge from somewhere.

2025 Record: 3-9
2025 CFN Rankings
Preseason: 111 | Final: 115
Top Transfer: Luke Duncan, QB UCLA
Top Transfer Lost: Jonathan Maldonado, EDGE to Ole Miss

7 San Jose State

The dangerous offensive style isn’t changing, but too many massive pieces have to be replaced. On the plus side, the offensive line could be an early strength.

2025 Record: 3-9
2025 CFN Rankings
Preseason: 80 | Final: 116
Top Transfer: Brian Tapu, OT Nebraska
Top Transfer Lost: Danny Scudero, WR to Colorado

6 Wyoming

After scoring 24 total points over the last four games, will there be any O? The young playmakers are there, but the offseason has to be all about finding the explosion.

2025 Record: 4-8
2025 CFN Rankings
Preseason: 95 | Final: 103
Top Transfer: Markell Holman, RB Western Illinois
Top Transfer Lost: Lucas Samsula, DT Utah

5 Air Force

Last year’s crazy mess is about to be cleaned up. Leading rusher QB Liam Szarka is back, along with most of the top tacklers from a defense that has to be far stronger.

2025 Record: 4-8
2025 CFN Rankings
Preseason: 81 | Final: 96
Top Transfer: None
Top Transfer Lost: None

4 North Dakota State

Alright, Bison, you wanted to step up? Here you go. Replacing QB Cole Payton won’t be easy, but enough starters and key backups return to be great right away.

2025 Record: 12-1
2025 CFN Rankings
Preseason: NR | Final: NR
Top Transfer: Kene Anene, DT Kansas
Top Transfer Lost: Toby Anene, EDGE to Colorado

3 Hawaii

The offense kept its guy. Star QB Micah Alejado is back, and for the most part, the transfer portal was kind. The offseason is about getting the defensive front six right.

2025 Record: 9-4
2025 CFN Rankings
Preseason: 88 | Final: 79
Top Transfer: Audric Harris, WR Washington
Top Transfer Lost: Jackson Harris, WR to LSU

2 New Mexico

In the new Mountain West world, New Mexico is built to do even more. It starts with the lines that remain relatively intact. The rushing production should be tremendous.

2025 Record: 9-4
2025 CFN Rankings
Preseason: 110 | Final: 53
Top Transfer: Luke Moga, QB Oregon
Top Transfer Lost: Dorian Thomas, TE to Cal

1 UNLV

It’s UNLV’s conference, and Dan Mullen has the talent with a strong transfer class coming in to go along with a solid base. QB Jackson Arnold (Auburn) should go off.

2025 Record: 10-4
2025 CFN Rankings
Preseason: 85 | Final: 67
Top Transfer: Jackson Arnold, QB Auburn
Top Transfer Lost: Anthony Colandrea, QB to Nebraska