Around the Mountain West: North Dakota State Making Noise in First FBS Season

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Photo by: Tim Sanger. Photo courtesy of NDSU Athletics

LAS VEGAS, Nev. - The Mountain West enters another week with several teams making noise nationally, led by newcomers North Dakota State and a surging New Mexico squad. From College Football Playoff projections and national poll recognition to record-setting starts, here’s a look at what’s happening around the conference.

Saturday, September 19
Wyoming at Central Michigan	ESPN+	1 p.m. ET
UTEP at #19/19 Michigan	Big Ten Network	3:30 p.m. ET
Nevada at Middle Tennessee	ESPN+	6 p.m. CT
RV/NR New Mexico at #21/24 Oklahoma	ESPN2	6:30 p.m. CT
RV/RV North Dakota State at Sacramento State	ESPN	7:30 p.m. PT
NIU at RV/RV Arizona	TNT	7:30 p.m. MST
Fresno State at San José State	FS1/FOX One	8 p.m. PT

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AROUND THE MOUNTAIN WEST

A new look Mountain West opens the 28th football season for the Conference, welcoming NIU, North Dakota State and UTEP.
Only two weeks remain to save 15% on an annual MW+ subscription. Sign up by Sept. 30 to take advantage of this limited-time offer.
ESPN's Bill Connelly ran one million simulations using the preseason SP+ projections and determined the top five non-autonomous 4 teams who have the greatest chance of earning a spot in the College Football Playoff. North Dakota State (12.6%) and UNLV (7.0%) were ranked No. 1 and No. 3, respectively, on that list.
The Mountain West has six wins against non-conference opponents this season by at least 30 points. That ranks second among non-autonomous 4 conferences, ahead of CUSA (five), MAC (five), Pac-12 (three) and American (two).
New Mexico and North Dakota State are receiving votes in the U.S. LBM Coaches poll, while the Bison are also receiving votes in the AP Top 25.
The Mountain West leads all non-autonomous 4 conferences with two teams receiving votes in the national polls.
The Mountain West has had at least one team nationally ranked in each season since the league was formed in 1999, including multiple teams in eight of the last 10 years.
The MW is well represented on all national award preseason watch lists, including six standouts on the Maxwell Award Watch List. The six honorees are the most selections among non-autonomous 4 conferences.
MW teams will play 10 games against Autonomous 4 opponents, including UNLV hosting Cal in Week 5.
North Dakota State is the only program in the last 45 seasons to win its first three games as a fully-fledged FBS team while scoring at least 30 points in each victory.
New Mexico has outscored its opponents by 94 points (108-14). That is the highest point differential through two games of a season in MW history.
New Mexico is riding a nine-game home win streak, tied for the sixth-longest active streak nationally. The Lobos haven't suffered a loss at University Stadium since Nov. 2, 2024 (45-49 vs. Wyoming).
UNLV has recorded back-to-back seasons of at least 10 victories. The Rebels are looking to become the first MW program with at least three straight years with double-digit wins since Boise State from 2016-19.
The MW has had at least one 10-win team in 24 of 26 seasons, not including the COVID-shortened 2020 campaign.
Looking ahead to December, if UNLV qualifies for the MW Football Championship Game, the Rebels would become just the second program ever to participate in at least three consecutive MW title games (Boise State, four straight appearances between 2017-20).