About the Mountain West Conference
The Mountain West Conference underwent dramatic restructuring for 2026, losing Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Utah State to the rebuilt Pac-12 while gaining UTEP from Conference USA, Northern Illinois from the MAC, and FCS powerhouse North Dakota State. The resulting 10-team conference features Air Force, UNLV, Nevada, New Mexico, San Jose State, Wyoming, Hawaii, UTEP, NIU, and NDSU competing across the Rockies and Pacific coast.
North Dakota State's arrival as an FCS-to-FBS program brings 10 national championships worth of winning culture to the Mountain West. The Bison's first FBS season generates national interest in how the program will transition from dominating at the FCS level to competing against Power Four-adjacent competition.
Select any team below to view their live countdown, full 2026 schedule, and cross-linked opponent pages. Every game on every schedule links to that opponent's own CFBCountdown page.
Conference History & Legacy
The Mountain West Conference was formed in 1999 when eight schools departed the Western Athletic Conference seeking greater national visibility and competitive equity. The conference has produced some of the most memorable Group of Five moments in recent history, including Boise State's legendary 2007 Fiesta Bowl victory over Oklahoma with the Statue of Liberty play, and multiple undefeated regular seasons that fueled debates about playoff access for non-Power conferences.
Boise State's blue turf at Albertsons Stadium has become one of the most recognizable playing surfaces in all of sports, and the Broncos' sustained excellence under coaches like Chris Petersen and Bryan Harsin elevated the entire conference's profile. San Diego State's move to Snapdragon Stadium and UNLV's home games at the NFL's Allegiant Stadium give the Mountain West two of the most modern venues in all of college football. Air Force's Falcon Stadium, set against the Rocky Mountain backdrop at 6,621 feet elevation, provides one of the most visually stunning game day settings in FBS.
The Mountain West's geographic footprint spans from Hawaii to New Mexico, creating travel challenges that also produce unique competitive environments. Games in Laramie, Wyoming at 7,220 feet elevation, Reno's late-season snowstorms, and Honolulu's tropical climate create home-field advantages that visiting teams rarely experience elsewhere. The conference's television deals with Fox and CBS ensure that Mountain West football reaches a national audience, with Boise State regularly appearing in primetime windows.