Fri Jan 10 01:10:00 UTC 2025: ## UNLV Tops Projected 2026 Mountain West Power Rankings

**RENO, NV** – With the Mountain West Conference undergoing significant realignment in 2026, sports columnist Chris Murray has released his projected power rankings for the conference’s athletic departments. The rankings consider all sports, except for the football-only and women’s soccer-only affiliates, Northern Illinois and Colorado College.

UNLV takes the top spot, leveraging its strong football program’s upward trajectory and success in women’s basketball. New Mexico follows closely, fueled by its dominance in cross country and track and field, while Grand Canyon, a newcomer to the conference, is projected to be a strong contender across multiple sports. Air Force and San Jose State round out the top five, each boasting strengths in specific areas but needing improvement in others.

Hawaii, Nevada, Wyoming, and UTEP occupy the lower half of the rankings, each facing challenges in various programs. Notably, Nevada and Wyoming struggle with a lack of recent conference titles. UTEP’s challenges stem from its underperforming football and men’s basketball programs. UC Davis, a non-football member, is expected to make an impact in several sports.

Murray also highlighted the potential of Northern Illinois, a football-only member, predicting them to immediately become a top contender in the MW football landscape alongside UNLV and Air Force. The full rankings are as follows:

1. UNLV
2. New Mexico
3. Grand Canyon
4. Air Force
5. San Jose State
6. Hawaii
7. Nevada
8. Wyoming
9. UTEP
10. UC Davis

The article concludes by emphasizing that these rankings are projections based on current trends and the anticipated impact of new member institutions.

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