As the 2025 college football season approaches, the Mountain West Conference finds itself at a crossroads of tradition and transformation. Long a bastion of high-altitude grit and underdog resilience, the Mountain West enters this fall with renewed momentum—and plenty of intrigue. With several coaching changes, standout quarterbacks returning, and realignment ripple effects still being felt across the country, the conference could play a significant role in shaping the Group of Five hierarchy and even the 12-team College Football Playoff conversation like it ultimately did last fall.
Boise State remains the flagship program, but it’s no longer a one-team show. UNLV and San Jose State are poised for deep runs, while other programs like Fresno State and Air Force are looking to re-emerge as viable spoilers to the projected top dogs in this conference. Plus, with the new playoff structure offering more opportunities than ever, the Mountain West champion won’t just be playing for a bowl trophy: they’ll be gunning for a national stage once again.
Here’s a team-by-team breakdown of what to expect in the Mountain West this season. Plus, where do I believe each team stands as we approach the start of the upcoming season:
12) New Mexico
Jason Eck is going to have his work cut out for him on both sides of the ball if he wants to make a bowl game happen in 2025. Thankfully, they did acquire Montana State Transfer Scottre Humphrey who might be one of the best portal acquisitions in the entire Mountain West.
- National Preseason Power Ranking: 121
- Potential Toss-Up Games: Nevada, Utah State, San Diego State
- Record Prediction: 4-8
- Best Case Scenario: 5-7
- Worst Case Scenario: 2-10
11) Nevada
While this team did show signs of improvement over the course of last year, the roster turnover feels too daunting to rank Nevada higher even though I do like Jeff Choate as an head coach.
- National Preseason Power Ranking: 118
- Potential Toss-Up Games: San Diego State, AT New Mexico
- Record Prediction: 2-10
- Best Case Scenario: 4-8
- Worst Case Scenario: 2-10
10) Utah State
The Aggies will have the misfortune of dealing with significant losses throughout the entire roster due to the Transfer Portal. Thankfully, Bronco Mendenhall has surpassed expectations before in the Mountain West…. And he’ll look to do it again this year.
- National Preseason Power Ranking: 110
- Potential Toss-Up Games: Air Force, AT New Mexico
- Record Prediction: 3-9
- Best Case Scenario: 5-7
- Worst Case Scenario: 3-9
9) Wyoming
Even though Wyoming showed positive developments late in the year, can that positive progress be sustained into 2025? This will be a team that’s dealing with almost every defensive starter being a new face plus uncertainty on the offensive side of the ball.
- National Preseason Power Ranking: 109
- Potential Toss-Up Games: N/A
- Record Prediction: 3-9
- Best Case Scenario: 3-9
- Worst Case Scenario: 3-9
8) San Diego State
Defense isn’t going to be a problem with an underrated superstar in Trey White leading that side of the ball. However, can the offensive-minded Sean Lewis figure out how to get more production from the quarterback position?
- National Preseason Power Ranking: 102
- Potential Toss-Up Games: AT Northern Illinois, Colorado State, AT Nevada, San Jose State, AT New Mexico
- Record Prediction: 4-8
- Best Case Scenario: 7-5
- Worst Case Scenario: 2-10
7) Hawai'i
Folks are going to be familiar with Micah Alejado by the time that the season ends. Not to mention that this defense will have 7 returning starters? This will be the best team that 4th year Head Coach Timmy Chang has at his disposal so far.
- National Preseason Power Ranking: 100
- Potential Toss-Up Games: Stanford, Fresno State
- Record Prediction: 5-7
- Best Case Scenario: 7-5
- Worst Case Scenario: 5-7
6) Air Force
Can Tony Calhoun rebound this team after suffering a rare losing season last year? I’m concerned that modern college football has passed him by.
- National Preseason Power Ranking: 95
- Potential Toss-Up Games: AT Utah State
- Record Prediction: 5-7
- Best Case Scenario: 5-7
- Worst Case Scenario: 4-8
5) Fresno State
The Matt Entz era begins in Fresno, coming off of valuable experiences at places like North Dakota State and USC. Thanks to Rice Transfer EJ Warner as well as a solid defense to work with, Fresno State should be poised to make a bowl game again.
- National Preseason Power Ranking: 85
- Potential Toss-Up Games: AT Hawaii
- Record Prediction: 7-5
- Best Case Scenario: 7-5
- Worst Case Scenario: 6-6
4) Colorado State
After nearly making the Mountain West Championship Game last year, they’ll look to build upon that success thanks to Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi leading the way. It will just depend on how much can new defensive coordinator Tyson Summers improve the Rams Defense.
- National Preseason Power Ranking: 82
- Potential Toss-Up Games: AT San Diego State, UNLV
- Record Prediction: 8-4
- Best Case Scenario: 9-3
- Worst Case Scenario: 7-5
3) San Jose State
The Schedule Gods shined brightly on San Jose State in 2025 as they don’t need to worry about playing UNLV or Boise State in the Regular Season. Losing Triple Crown Winner Nick Nash will be difficult to replace, but Walker Eget is back to lead what should be an exciting offense to watch.
- National Preseason Power Ranking: 81
- Potential Toss-Up Games: AT Stanford, AT San Diego State
- Record Prediction: 10-2
- Best Case Scenario: 11-1
- Worst Case Scenario: 9-3
2) UNLV
UNLV might be one of the more compelling teams to watch in 2025. Dan Mullen becomes the new head coach and will take over a team in transition with only 2 starters returning from last year. The Good News? Dan Mullen went to work acquiring an impressive crop of talent from the Transfer Portal including Virginia Transfer Anthony Colandrea. Expect high expectations from the Rebels this fall.
- National Preseason Power Ranking: 65
- Potential Toss-Up Games: UCLA, AT Miami (OH), AT Colorado State
- Record Prediction: 10-2
- Best Case Scenario: 11-1
- Worst Case Scenario: 8-4
1) Boise State
Ashton Jeanty should have won the Heisman Trophy last year, but even though he’s now gone… Spencer Danielson has most of his team coming back including a talented backfield behind Ashton Jeanty. Notably, Maddux Madsen also returns to lead the Boise State Offense making the Broncos the team to beat in the Group of Five.
- National Preseason Power Ranking: 34
- Potential Toss-Up Games: N/A
- Record Prediction: 11-1
- Best Case Scenario: 11-1
