From humiliating FCS upsets to statement road victories, the Mountain West turned into absolute chaos last weekend. While conference newcomers North Dakota State continued their dominant FBS transition by dismantling Air Force, stalwarts like UNLV hit an unexpected brick wall, and two other programs suffered embarrassing home drops to lower-subdivision foes. But amidst the wreckage, a few programs took care of business, racked up record-setting blowouts, and found their footing.

Here are the top five takeaways from a wild, unraveling week of Mountain West college football with Colton Pool.

Week 1 in the Mountain West didn’t just nudge preseason storylines off course—it blew them to pieces.

From New Mexico’s dominant, defensive masterclass, to North Dakota State proving its FBS transition is built for immediate contention, the opening slate brought absolute chaos to the league. Add in UNLV’s crucial, defense-led rebound, Hawaii’s frustrating slow start, and a statement blowout from a hyper-physical Nevada squad, and the hierarchy of the conference has already been reshuffled.

Here are Colton Pool’s top five takeaways from a wildly unpredictable opening week in Mountain West college football.

UNLV Basketball is stuck in the "Great In-Between"—not irrelevant, but never quite threatening. With the 2025-26 at-large bid officially off the table, the focus shifts from the scoreboard to the foundation. This isn't just a slump; it’s an identity crisis. The rest of this season won't decide a seed, but it will decide if Josh Pastner’s program has a future or if it’s headed for another total reset.

LAS VEGAS—UNM men’s basketball delivered a dominant performance in Las Vegas, routing rival UNLV 89–61 at the Thomas & Mack Center to improve to 17–4 overall and 8–2 in Mountain West play. The 29-point margin marked the Lobos’ largest win over the Runnin’ Rebels in 72 meetings. UNM seized control early behind a 13–2 first-half run sparked by Tomislav Buljan and never let UNLV find a rhythm. The Lobos finished with 44 points in the paint, forced 11 first-half turnovers, and recorded 21 assists. Buljan led UNM with 18 points and 11 rebounds.

LAS VEGAS—UNM heads to Las Vegas seeking a key Mountain West road win against a talented but inconsistent UNLV team. The Runnin’ Rebels, under first-year coach Josh Pastner, have shown a high ceiling with wins over Stanford and Utah State but also costly losses to lesser opponents. UNLV struggles with discipline and efficiency, particularly at the free-throw line, despite ranking seventh nationally in attempts. Guard Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn leads the offense, while Emmanuel Stephen and Tyrin Jones provide size inside. For UNM, taking care of the ball, handling UNLV’s athleticism, and defending the three-point line will be critical.

Knockout in Vegas: Lobo Football Punches Ticket to Bowl Season!

The New Mexico Lobos didn't just win a football game in Las Vegas—they won a heavyweight title fight and earned their first trip to a bowl game since 2016!

In a thrilling, back-and-forth battle at Allegiant Stadium, the Lobos (6-3, 3-2 MW) showcased the resilience and resolve of first-year coach Jason Eck, taking down high-octane UNLV, 40-35.