16 Mountain West soccer video games that can assist outline the 2026 season

Mountain West soccer can have a brand new look this season after dropping 5 colleges to the Pac-12 and including three applications for the 2026 season. That will assure a brand new convention champion with back-to-back-to-back winner Boise State not within the league. Before that, groups will play their non-conference schedules in an try to qualify for the College Football Playoff. Here are the MW’s 16 most intriguing soccer video games in 2026, contest that can assist outline the season.

Mountain West’s top-16 video games

Hawaii at Stanford (Aug. 29): The Rainbow Warriors opened final season with a 23-20 win over Stanford and appears for a repeat of that consequence with the 2026 opener. This recreation will come on the street for Hawaii, which final beat a Power 4 opponent away from residence in 2009 towards Washington State. Opening this season by beating Stanford on the street could be a monumental solution to open Timmy Chang’s fifth season.

Memphis at UNLV (Aug. 29): The Rebels have their eyes on a College Football Playoff berth and have a schedule that might permit for that with video games towards marquee Group of 6 opponents Memphis and North Texas in addition to the ACC’s Cal. UNLV performs one in every of eight Week 0 video games, 4 of which characteristic MW colleges. Memphis has been bowl eligible for 12 straight seasons, averaging 8.9 wins per recreation throughout that interval.

Jacksonville State at North Dakota State (Aug. 29): A late add to the MW, North Dakota State debuts within the FBS after successful 10 of the final 15 FCS nationwide championships. It will achieve this with a season opener towards a comparatively new FBS colleges in Jacksonville State, which has gained 9 video games in every of its first three seasons at this degree. The Bison would in all probability be pleased with a nine-year Year 1 within the FBS.

Wyoming at Colorado State (Sept. 5): This is likely one of the uncommon matchups this season that can pit a present MW college (Wyoming) towards a Pac-12 defector (Colorado State). The Border War, which dates to 1899, fortunately stayed on the schedule regardless of the cut up. Wyoming has gained 12 of the final 17 video games between the applications, together with final yr’s 28-0 defeat.

Montana State at Nevada (Sept. 12): Games towards FCS groups usually are not normally “must watches” for MW colleges, however that is an intriguing matchup. Jeff Choate enters his third season because the Wolf Pack’s head coach and can host his former staff, Montana State, which is coming off an FCS nationwide championship. It wouldn’t be a shock to see the Wolf Pack a house underdog on this recreation after barely getting previous FCS college, Sacramento State, final season.

New Mexico at Oklahoma (Sept. 19): The Lobos will likely be projected as one of many MW’s prime groups and have a softer non-conference schedule with the one rigorous check coming at Oklahoma, which was within the College Football Playoff final season and will likely be a preseason Top 25 staff this yr. New Mexico held its personal in a loss at Michigan in final yr’s season opener however will search for greater than a aggressive loss towards elite foes this yr.

UTEP at Michigan (Sept. 19): We’ll embrace this recreation within the Big House regardless of the Wolverines possible creaming UTEP, a first-year MW member. Michigan has taken a elaborate to internet hosting MW colleges, doing so 5 instances within the final 4 seasons, all double-digit wins. The Miners additionally play at Oklahoma and host Oregon State as a part of its non-league schedule.

Fresno State at San Jose State (Sept. 19): We’re attempting to get each MW staff at the least one slot on this checklist — sorry, Northern Illinois — and can slot in San Jose State’s recreation towards Fresno State, which was once a convention rivalry earlier than the Bulldogs have been one in every of 5 MW groups to depart for the Pac-12. The Spartans have been utterly rebuilt this offseason with all kinds of potential outcomes for this system in 2026.

Cal at UNLV (Oct. 3): The MW had success towards Cal final season with San Diego State and Hawaii each beating the Bears, who fired head coach Justin Wilcox late within the yr and changing him with Oregon defensive coordinator Tosh Lupoi. This is UNLV’s solely shot this season towards a Power 4 opponent with the Rebels going 4-1 towards power-conference groups the final two years, together with a win over Cal within the 2024 LA Bowl.

Navy at Air Force (Oct. 3): Air Force is coming off uncommon back-to-back seasons and not using a bowl berth and appears to get proper within the simpler MW. Whether the Falcons can reclaim their spot as one of many league’s prime groups is a key story line getting into this season. Air Force has not crushed rivals Navy or Army in both of the final two seasons and has secured only one Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy within the final 9 seasons (2022).

Hawaii at Arizona State (Oct. 10): The Rainbow Warriors play two Power 4 foes on the street, this being the second of these video games. Arizona State had an up-and-down 2025 season, going 8-5 one yr after it reached the College Football Playoff quarterfinal in 2024. This will likely be a large check for Hawaii, which might do effectively to separate its street video games at Stanford and Arizona State.

New Mexico at Hawaii (Oct. 17): The MW’s top-four groups within the preseason ballot needs to be (in some order) New Mexico, UNLV, North Dakota State and Hawaii, so any matchups between these colleges will tackle added significance. The Rainbow Warriors host UNLV, New Mexico and North Dakota State, so they are going to be in good condition for a spot within the convention title recreation in the event that they win their MW residence video games.

North Dakota State at New Mexico (Oct. 24): North Dakota State’s first season within the MW consists of robust MW street video games at UNLV, Hawaii and New Mexico, with the Bison possible needing to win two of these three to succeed in the convention championship recreation. The Lobos are led by Jason Eck, the previous Idaho coach who by no means confronted North Dakota State throughout his three seasons with the Lobos however is a lot aware of this system from his time as an assistant at South Dakota State.

Air Force at Army (Nov. 7): As talked about above, Air Force has struggled in current Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy video games. The Falcons are 1-5 of their final six contests towards Army, that win coming in 2022. Since 2017, Air Force has averaged simply 9.8 factors per recreation towards the Black Knights, a determine that should improve if Air Force is to beat Army for the primary time since 2022.

UNLV at New Mexico (Nov. 14): Our projected MW title recreation pits UNLV and New Mexico, two groups that face off within the third-to-last week of the common season. The Lobos beat the Rebels, 40-35, in Las Vegas final season whereas averaging 9.67 yards per offensive play and can look to copy that method in what might be the primary of two matchups between the groups.

Nevada at UNLV (Nov. 28): The MW/Pac-12 cut up broke up a slew of in-conference rivalries with the most effective remaining rivalry within the league being the Battle for the Fremont Cannon, which Nevada as soon as owned however UNLV has dominated of late. The Rebels have gained the final 4 video games between the faculties by a mean of 18 factors per recreation. Can the Wolf Pack shut that hole after UNLV has established in-state superiority?

Sports columnist Chris Murray offers perception on Northern Nevada sports activities. Contact him at [email protected] or observe him on Twitter @ByChrisMurray.