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0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. Amid the exodus of Mountain West Conference teams to the Pac-12, there's still viable contenders in the Group of Six league.
In addition, the Mountain West boasts one of the biggest-name additions in years with North Dakota State, the 10-time FCS champions. UNLV looks to take the throne with Boise State gone, and New Mexico has a strong mix of talent back for a run at the Mountain West crown.
The UNLV Running Rebels reached the Mountain West title game last season, and head coach Dan Mullen's crew expects to do more of the same in 2026.
UNLV boasts quarterback Jackson Arnold, who previously played at Auburn and Oklahoma. Running Rebels running back Jai'Den Thomas is a playmaker, and UNLV has promising additions at wide receiver.
Defensively, the Running Rebels have a strong core of linebackers with Blesyng Alualu-Tuiolemotu and Kamuela Ka'aihue. UNLV will have a new-look secondary, but former SMU cornerback Kyron Chambers could be a big addition.
The New Mexico Lobos have lots of talent back with 12 returning starters, and head coach Jason Eck's squad is looking to take things to a new level.
Lobos quarterback Jack Layne leads a talented offensive attack. That includes running back Scottre Humphrey and tight end Cade Keith. The Lobos also added wideout Troy Omeire from UNLV, which gives Layne another talented target.
Defensively, the Lobos look tough to score against once again. Linebacker Jaxton Eck leads the defense, and fellow linebacker Mercury Swaim is a force.
The NDSU Bison look to prove they belong in the FBS after dominating the FCS for 15 years.
NDSU doesn't return much talent from last year's squad that got upset in the FCS playoffs, but the Bison are accustomed to reloading. Nathan Hayes takes over at quarterback, and running back D.J. Scott is expected to step up in the backfield.
On defense, the Bison have talented linebackers in Donovan Woolen, Keith Williams and Alex Elliott.
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