Due to conference realignment, the college football landscape looks vastly different from two years ago. While the Mountain West has come out unscathed in terms of members, six of the 12 teams hired new head coaches this offseason, and the league shifted to a 7+1 conference schedule to accommodate an alliance with what remains of the Pac-12: Oregon State and Washington State.
Which squads sit atop the 2024 Mountain West Power Rankings, and will any challenge for a spot in the expanded College Football Playoff?
2024 Mountain West Power Rankings
12) Nevada Wolf Pack
Preseason Rank: 12 (no change)
The Wolf Pack moved up a couple of spots despite losing to SMU because of the unexpected gumption they showed with a new head coach (Jeff Choate) and 56 newcomers, including 34 transfers.
They moved up once again after overcoming a scoreless first quarter to upset Troy, 28-26. However, Nevada saw its upward momentum cease following a 20-17 loss to Georgia Southern. The offense generated 14 points in the first quarter but was held to three the rest of the way.
Perhaps more concerning was the team’s 14 penalties for 134 yards — that’s undisciplined football.
11) New Mexico Lobos
Preseason Rank: 11 (no change)
New Mexico fans are used to seeing their team at the bottom of power rankings, but it’s a new era with Bronco Mendenhall at the helm. While the Lobos blew a 31-14 lead, allowing 21 points in the fourth quarter, they impressed against Montana State, who has emerged as a powerhouse in the FCS.
It was a similar finish in Week 1, with New Mexico going band for band with a high-octane Arizona offense before stalling out in the second half.
New Mexico’s last three HC hires went a combined 7-25 in their inaugural seasons, and while Mendenhall’s squad may not finish with a winning record, Devon Dampier and Co. should show vast improvements over 2023.
10) Wyoming Cowboys
Preseason Rank: 6 (-4)
Wyoming has a new HC patrolling the sidelines for the first time in a decade after Craig Bohl retired. However, Jay Sawvel is a familiar face in Laramie, as he has served as the team’s DC since 2020.
His unit is one of the most talented in the conference this year, with DT Jordan Bertagnole, EDGE DeVonne Harris, LB Shae Suiaunoa, DB Wrook Brown, and S Wyatt Ekeler all returning.
The same can’t be said for the offense, especially with RB Harrison Waylee on the mend following knee surgery last month. QB Evan Svoboda hasn’t been able to keep the unit afloat, leading to a 48-7 loss to Arizona State and a 17-13 upset against Idaho.
9) Air Force Falcons
Preseason Rank: 8 (-1)
Air Force entered the season dead last out of 134 FBS teams in returning production (28% on offense; 23% on defense). And due to service academy requirements, the Falcons weren’t able to fill their holes with transfer portal additions.
Yet, if anyone can dampen the impact of roster turnover, it’s Troy Calhoun and his coaching staff. The foundation is there, but Air Force needs several young athletes on both sides of the ball to step up and help the team fly.
The nature of the Falcons’ ground-and-pound offensive scheme limits their output, as seen in their 21-6 win over Merrimack. But the lack of a difference-making runner was clear to see, and it carried over against San Jose State. After scoring a touchdown in the opening quarter, Air Force was held scoreless and gained just 10 first downs on the day.
8) Utah State Aggies
Preseason Rank: 7 (-1)
The Aggies went 0-7 against bowl teams last season and fielded a defense that routinely allowed 30+ points.
Getting a win in Week 1 is never a negative, but the QB play was. Spencer Petras appeared notably worse than Bryson Barnes against Robert Morris, and as the saying goes, if you have two QBs, you have none.
It all came to a head against USC in Week 2, as the Aggies gained just 190 total yards, scored zero points, and allowed 250+ passing and rushing yards.
7) San Diego State Aztecs
Preseason Rank: 9 (+2)
San Diego State is going through an identity change with Sean Lewis at the controls. Usually, the defense blitzes the offense, but Lewis’ unit will pressure its opponents to keep up. That said, he’ll have an unproven starting QB in true freshman Danny O’Neill.
The Aztecs’ defense should remain in the top half of the conference with the help of several transfers, including Tennessee State DB Bryce Phillips, the younger brother of former Utah Ute and current Atlanta Falcon Clark Phillips III.
Marquez Cooper (40-276-2 rushing line through two games) has brought the uber-productive running back archetype back to San Diego State, and all is right in the world. O’Neill was poised in a Week 1 win over Texas A&M-Commerce but hit the deck against Oregon State in Week 2, leading zero scoring drives.
6) San Jose State Spartans
Preseason Rank: 10 (+4)
Brent Brennan’s departure, NFL Draft declarations, and graduations resulted in a mass exodus of talent, but the cupboard isn’t bare for new HC Ken Niumatalolo. WRs Justin Lockhart and Nick Nash returned, Grambling State’s Floyd Chalk IV is a legitimate RB1, and the defense should remain solid under longtime DC Derrick Odum.
SJSU needed a 21-0 run to put Sacramento State away in Week 1 and relied on its defense to round out a 17-7 slogfest against Air Force in Week 2. The thing consistent with the offense is WR Nick Nash, who has taken his 17 catches for 260 yards and three TDs this season.
5) Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
Preseason Rank: 5 (no change)
The biggest favorite of Week 0 (-39.5), Hawaii only beat Delaware State by 21 points (35-14) after a horrendous first half. The poor play followed the Rainbow Warriors into Week 1, as prolific QB Brayden Schager averaged 6.0 yards or fewer per attempt for the second straight game.
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The defense kept them in the contest, but against higher-powered offenses, Hawaii will likely be blown back to its island this season.
4) Colorado State Rams
Preseason Rank: 4 (no change)
The Rams are on a six-year stretch without a winning season — that could change in 2024. Starting QB Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi is back with his rocket arm, and so is arguably the best player in the conference: WR Tory Horton.
Jay Norvell established Nevada as a perennial contender in the MWC, and if Fowler-Nicolosi reins in the turnovers and the defense bounces back after a rough season, he could do so again with Colorado State in Year 3 of his tenure.
We knew the Rams would lose in Week 1 against Texas; we just didn’t know it would be so one-sided. Fowler-Nicolosi completed just 10 of 18 passes for 59 yards and a pick — not great. He didn’t light up Northern Colorado in Week 2 either, and although the Rams won, Horton has to be questioning his decision to turn down six-figure NIL deals to return to Fort Collins.
3) Fresno State Bulldogs
Preseason Rank: 2 (-1)
Fresno State has the offensive talent, including QB Mikey Keene, RB Malik Sherrod, and WRs Jalen Moss and Jacob de Jesus, to upset power-conference teams — just not the elite.
Head coach Jeff Tedford stepped away from coaching for the fourth time in his career due to health reasons, thrusting Tim Skipper into the role for the interim. It’s a change for the Bulldogs, but they’ll play for their fourth straight bowl victory and 9+ win season.
Keene and Co. couldn’t do much against Michigan, but at least the defense held its own. Facing Sacramento State in Week 2 was a treat and allowed the offense to launch some fireworks.
2) UNLV Rebels
Preseason Rank: 3 (+1)
Jayden Maiava’s departure was a blow, but UNLV added Holy Cross All-American Matt Sluka from the transfer portal. He was the 2023 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year and left the Crusaders, having generated 5,916 passing yards, 3,583 rushing yards, and 97 total touchdowns over four years (three starting).
Pairing Sluka with offensive coordinator Brennan Marion and Rickey White III (88 catches, 1,483 yards, eight TDs in 2023) has kept the offensive onslaught coming, but Barry Odom’s squad is no longer flying under the radar.
The Go-Go offense pivoted to a run-first approach against Houston, owning the lead for the entire contest. The aerial assault had its time to shine in Week 2 vs. Utah Tech, with Sluka and White combining for three TDs … in the first quarter.
1) Boise State Broncos
Preseason Rank: 1 (no change)
Boise State’s roster is loaded with playmakers, namely RB Ashton Jeanty, WRs Cam Camper, Chris Marshall, Latrell Caples, DE Ahmad Hassanein, LB Andrew Simpson, and CB A’Marion McCoy. Redshirt sophomore Maddux Madsen being named the starter over USC transfer Malachi Nelson came as somewhat of a shock, but the coaching staff clearly believes he has the tools to lead the team to the promised land.
If Spencer Danielson wants to challenge for a CFP spot, all he needs to do is put the ball in Jeanty’s hands. He carried the team to a 56-45 victory over Georgia Southern, generating 267 yards and a program-record six TDs on 20 attempts.
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Then, against Oregon in Week 2, the Heisman frontrunner nearly single-handedly pulled off the upset, posting a 25-192-3 line with two of his TDs coming in the final frame. The defensive side of the ball has let the team down through two weeks, and Madsen hasn’t exactly proven the coaching staff’s decision right just yet.
Nevertheless, as long as Jeanty is healthy, the Broncos can go blow for blow with some of the best offenses in the country.
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