Week 0 of College Football action is just two weeks away! Multiple Mountain West Conference teams will take the field for that first weekend of games. The Mountain West conference will look much different in 2026 as teams depart for the PAC-12. However, for 2025, 12 teams will compete in the conference. Let’s take a look at this College Football 2025 Mountain West preview and best bets.
The “Core Seven” teams that have signed up to remain a part of the conference are Air Force, UNLV, Wyoming, Nevada, New Mexico, San Jose State, and Hawaii. Hawaii will become a member for all sports in 2026. For Boise State, Fresno State, Colorado State, San Diego State, and Utah State, it’ll be their final seasons competing in the Mountain West Conference. The conference has more teams signed up, along with a media deal and legal fees, and is sitting in a good position for 2026.
Boise State is coming off a 2024 Mountain West Conference Championship title going 12-2 overall and 7-0 in the conference with a final ranking in both the AP and Coaches Poll of #9. They enter 2025 as the conference favorites once again, and the only team ranked in the preseason AP Poll checking in at #25. They are also the heavy favorite to repeat as conference champions.
College Football 2025: Mountain West Preview and Best Bets
Odds to Win 2025 Mountain West Conference
Bosie State -160
UNLV +750
San Jose State +1000
Fresno State +1200
Colorado State +1600
Air Force +1600
Hawaii +2000
San Diego State +3000
Wyoming +4000
Utah State +8000
New Mexico +15000
Nevada +15000
UNLV Over 8.5 Wins (-105)
UNLV is a team I’m extremely high on going into 2025. They racked up nine wins in 2023 and backed it up with 12 wins in 2024 and an appearance in the Conference Championship game. Head coach Barry Odom took the job at Purdue, but the team didn’t skip a beat hiring Dan Mullen to take over the program. Mullen brought in the top transfer class in the conference, including four offensive line transfers to shore things up up front.
This program is headed in the right direction, and whichever way they go at quarterback, they’ll be in the hands of a veteran who can lead the program under great coaching. Alex Orni transferred in from Michigan, and Anthony Colanera comes from Virginia. They only lost one game in conference play last season, to Ashton Jeanty and the Boise State Broncos. This year, they’ll end the season with four of their last five games in the state of Nevada, keeping things close to home.
San Jose State Spartans Over 7.5 Wins (-105)
Ken Niumatalolo came into his new job in 2024 firing on all cylinders. The Spartans opened the season 5-2, losing at Washington State in overtime and by just one macroeconomic to Colorado State, also on the road. They struggled down the stretch against more physical teams, but Niumatalolo brings physicality with him from Navy. He’ll build this into a physical team over time.
Walker Eget is back for his final season with the team. He’s one of the few quarterbacks in the country who has spent his entire career with one program. Walker and team were top five in the entire FBS in passing yards per game last season. A second year for Niumatalolo and Eget in this system should produce at least one more win in 2025.
UNLV Mountain West Champions (+750)
It’s impossible to bet Boise State now at a -160 price. But I don’t think UNLV is as far behind the Broncos as some may expect. They kept it close in last year’s championship game, where top 10 NFL Draft pick Ashton Jeanty was the main difference in the game. This was all in a season that came with quarterback drama and off-the-field distractions. With all of that behind them and Dan Mullen now in charge. This is a team that’ll have something for Boise State and they’ll take pride in winning the title for a conference they plan to stay in.
San Jose State Mountain West Champions (+1000)
Typically, I’d like to look down the board and give you a long shot to bet on. I think that’s hard to do in this conference. You can make cases for Air Force, San Diego State, or Colorado State. But I’d rather grab San Jose State and have the next two favorites after Boise State. Both teams are capable of taking down the Broncos.
Ken Niumatalolo showed us for years that with Navy he knows how to win big games. The story writes itself with the senior quarterback who paid his dues leading a magical run to a conference championship. Even if Boise State is the team to beat. Having futures on the two next best teams could give you plenty of options when it comes to that championship game on December 5th.
