The Mountain West Nexus
A comprehensive exploration of the collegiate athletic conference shaping the landscape of Western US sports.
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Conference Overview
Collegiate Athletics
The Mountain West Conference (MW) is a collegiate athletic conference participating in NCAA Division I. Its football teams compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). Officially operational since January 4, 1999, the MW spans a significant geographical area across the Western United States.
Geographic Reach
Member institutions are located across Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, and Hawaii, reflecting a broad Western presence.
Leadership
Gloria Nevarez assumed the role of commissioner on January 1, 2023, succeeding Craig Thompson, the founding commissioner who served until his retirement at the end of 2022.
Conference History
Genesis and Formation
The MW emerged from the 1996 NCAA conference realignment, primarily driven by the dissolution of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). Seven of the eight charter members had prior long-standing affiliations with the WAC. The conference's formation was spurred by internal tensions within the WAC, leading key institutions like Air Force, BYU, Colorado State, Utah, and Wyoming to seek a new alignment, eventually inviting New Mexico, San Diego State, and UNLV.
Realignment Waves
The conference has experienced several significant membership shifts. Notable realignments occurred in 2005 (TCU joining), the early 2010s (Boise State, Fresno State, Nevada joining; Utah, BYU, TCU departing), and subsequent adjustments involving San Jose State and Utah State. The conference has also navigated complex affiliation discussions and departures, notably with San Diego State.
Full Member Football Associate Other Associate Other Conference
Member Institutions
Current Full Members
As of the 2024-25 academic year, the conference includes the following full members:
| Institution | Location | Joined | Nickname |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States Air Force Academy | Air Force Academy, Colorado | 1999 | Falcons |
| Colorado State University | Fort Collins, Colorado | 1999 | Rams |
| University of Nevada, Reno | Reno, Nevada | 2012 | Wolf Pack |
| University of Nevada, Las Vegas | Las Vegas, Nevada | 1999 | Rebels |
| University of New Mexico | Albuquerque, New Mexico | 1999 | Lobos |
| San Diego State University | San Diego, California | 1999 | Aztecs |
| San Josรฉ State University | San Jose, California | 2013 | Spartans |
| Utah State University | Logan, Utah | 2013 | Aggies |
| University of Wyoming | Laramie, Wyoming | 1999 | Cowboys & Cowgirls |
Future Members
Several institutions are set to join the conference in the coming years:
| University of California, Davis | Davis, California | Football: Big Sky |
| University of Hawaiสปi at Mฤnoa | Honolulu, Hawaii | Full Member (Football Affiliate currently) |
| University of Texas at El Paso | El Paso, Texas | Conference USA |
| Grand Canyon University | Phoenix, Arizona | Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF) |
| Northern Illinois University | DeKalb, Illinois | Football Only (Mid-American Conference - MAC) |
Departing Members
Several current members are scheduled to depart for the Pac-12 Conference in 2026:
| Boise State University | Boise, Idaho |
| California State University, Fresno | Fresno, California |
| Colorado State University | Fort Collins, Colorado |
| San Diego State University | San Diego, California |
| Utah State University | Logan, Utah |
Affiliate Members
The conference also includes affiliate members for specific sports:
| Colorado College | Colorado Springs, Colorado | Women's Soccer (Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference - SCAC) |
| Washington State University | Pullman, Washington | Baseball, Women's Swimming (Pac-12) |
Sponsored Sports
Men's Sports
The Mountain West Conference sponsors championship competition in 8 men's NCAA-sanctioned sports:
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Football
- Golf
- Tennis
- Track & Field (Indoor)
- Track & Field (Outdoor)
Women's Sports
The conference supports 11 women's NCAA-sanctioned sports:
- Basketball
- Cross Country
- Golf
- Gymnastics
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming & Diving
- Tennis
- Track & Field (Indoor)
- Track & Field (Outdoor)
- Volleyball
Participation Overview
The number of teams participating in each sport varies, reflecting institutional commitments and program structures. Detailed participation numbers are available in the comprehensive sports tables.
View Sport DetailsSport Participation Details
| Sport | Men's | Women's |
|---|---|---|
| Baseball | 7 | โ |
| Basketball | 11 | 11 |
| Cross country | 9 | 11 |
| Football | 12 | โ |
| Golf | 11 | 9 |
| Gymnastics | โ | 4 |
| Soccer | โ | 12 |
| Softball | โ | 9 |
| Swimming and diving | โ | 9 |
| Tennis | 7 | 11 |
| Track and field (indoor) | 8 | 11 |
| Track and field (outdoor) | 8 | 11 |
| Volleyball | โ | 11 |
Conference Football
Divisions and Championship
From 2013 to 2022, the conference utilized a two-division format (Mountain and West) for football, culminating in a championship game between the division winners. Starting in 2023, divisions were eliminated in favor of a 2-6 scheduling format with permanent rival matchups, and the championship game now features the top two teams based on conference winning percentage.
Bowl Agreements
The MW has established bowl tie-ins, including the LA Bowl, Hawaii Bowl, Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, New Mexico Bowl, and Arizona Bowl. The conference champion is also eligible for an at-large berth in a major CFP bowl if ranked highest among Group of Five champions.
Bowl Performance
The conference has a strong history in bowl games, notably winning the ESPN Bowl Challenge Cup five times. Boise State was the first Group of Five team to make a CFP New Year's Six bowl appearance (Fiesta Bowl 2014).
Intense Rivalries
Conference Football Rivalries
The Mountain West features several historic football rivalries, often contested for unique trophies:
- Border War: Colorado State vs. Wyoming (Bronze Boot)
- Battle for the Valley: Fresno State vs. San Jose State (Valley Trophy)
- Milk Can: Boise State vs. Fresno State
- Fremont Cannon: Nevada vs. UNLV
- Dick Tomey Legacy Game: Hawaii vs. San Jose State
Non-Conference Rivalries
Beyond conference play, MW teams engage in significant non-conference rivalries:
- Rocky Mountain Showdown: Colorado State vs. Colorado
- Rio Grande Rivalry: New Mexico vs. New Mexico State
- Commander-in-Chief's Trophy: Air Force vs. Army vs. Navy
- Beehive Boot: Utah State vs. BYU vs. Utah
Men's Basketball
MW-MVC Challenge
The conference participates in an annual challenge series against the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC). This series, similar in format to the ACC-Big Ten Challenge, pits teams from both conferences against each other, fostering inter-conference competition.
NCAA Tournament Success
Several Mountain West programs have achieved notable success in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament. UNLV notably won the national championship in 1990. Wyoming also secured a championship in 1943.
Notable Performances:
- UNLV: 1 National Championship, 1.65 wins per appearance.
- Wyoming: 1 National Championship, 0.56 wins per appearance.
- San Diego State: Reached the Final Four in 2023.
NCAA Championship Success
Program Achievements
Mountain West Conference institutions have collectively earned numerous NCAA team championships. San Jose State leads with 10 titles, primarily in fencing and soccer. New Mexico, Wyoming, Fresno State, UNLV, Boise State, and San Diego State also boast multiple NCAA team championships across various sports.
| School | Total | Men's | Women's | Co-ed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose State | 10 | 7 | 3 | 0 |
| New Mexico | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| Wyoming | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Fresno State | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| UNLV | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Boise State | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| San Diego State | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Air Force | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Colorado State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Grand Canyon | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Nevada | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Utah State | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 22 | 13 | 6 | 3 |
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References
References
- Grand Canyon's for-profit status is disputed. The U.S. Department of Education treats it as a for-profit institution, but the Internal Revenue Service, the NCAA, and the state of Arizona consider it a nonprofit.
- Currently an NCAA Division III athletic conference
- Fresno State dropped men's tennis at the end of the 2020รขยย21 school year.[46]
- Fencing is officially a coeducational team sport, although a few schools field only a women's team. Air Force, like most NCAA fencing schools, has a coed team with men's and women's squads.
- Rifle is technically a men's sport, but men's, women's, and coed teams all compete against each other. Air Force fields a coed team.
- Fencing is officially a coeducational team sport, although a few schools field only a women's team. Air Force, like most NCAA fencing schools, has a coed team with men's and women's squads.
- Rifle is technically a men's sport, but men's, women's, and coed teams all compete against each other. Air Force and UTEP respectively field coed and women-only teams.
- Joining the Golden Coast Conference in 2026.
- Appeared in the 2018 First Responder Bowl, but the game was canceled midway through the first quarter due to lightning.
- In 2006, "Division I-AA" was renamed "Division I Football Championship Subdivision" or "Division I FCS" for short.
- The "NCAA College Division" was split into today's "NCAA Division II" and "NCAA Division III" in 1973. The NCAA considers all College Division championships to be part of the histories of Division II championships in the same sports.
- Mountain West Posts Top Bowl Win Percentage Among FBS Subdivision Conferences
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Disclaimer
Important Notice
This page was generated by an Artificial Intelligence and is intended for informational and educational purposes only. The content is based on a snapshot of publicly available data from Wikipedia and may not be entirely accurate, complete, or up-to-date.
This is not professional advice. The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional athletic, financial, or administrative consultation. Always refer to official conference documentation and consult with qualified professionals for specific needs.
The creators of this page are not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for any actions taken based on the information provided herein.