It’s a new time, a new focus and a new energy for UTEP football.
So, where will the Miners finish in the 10-team Mountain West Conference in 2026? The Miners left Conference USA to join old rivals and new foes and hopes are high.
But will the Miners find instant success or will the move to the new conference take time for success to develop?
The Mountain West Conference didn’t do a preseason poll predicting the final standings because of the nature of conference realignment. Five teams departed the MWC and newcomers UTEP, Northern Illinois and North Dakota State are now in the league.
So, how will the season play out for the Miners and the other conference teams in their eight-game conference slate? Here is an early prediction of how the MWC could stack up.
No. 10 Northern Illinois
Much like the Miners, the Huskies are a new face in the MWC. Only four starters return with Rob Harley as the interim coach for 2026. There are many uncertainties about the Huskies until they play their first game. The Huskies are likely looking at two or three wins this coming season.
No. 9 UTEP
Year three is here for head coach Scotty Walden and it’s a big one. The Miners have gone 5-19 in Walden’s first two seasons and the move to the Mountain West won’t make it easier.
Walden feels the talent and leadership are better this year. But any improvement the Miners will see will be due in large part to the play of the offense.
In 2025, the Miners struggled with consistency at quarterback, and a lack of consistent big-play ability hurt them.
But new quarterback EJ Colson is highly regarded and looks for the likes of receiver Kam Thomas and transfer running back Tavorus Jones to give the Miners extra punch on offense. Improved offensive line play is also a must.
UTEP’s defense will be led in part by linebacker Jayden Wilson and defensive back Xavier Smith.
If the Miners can stay healthy and the offense can produce more, I think the Miners can find four wins and, with some luck, perhaps a fifth win.
No. 8 Nevada
The Wolf Pack are just 10-39 in the past four years, including 6-19 under head coach Jeff Choate.
An area of concern is offense, where the Wolf Pack only averaged 17.6 points per game. The return of Jack Foster and Zach Cochnauer gives the Wolf Pack two top returning offensive linemen. Defensive end Dylan Labarbera, who had 17 tackles in 2025, will be a leader on that side of the ball.
Nevada is looking at a three or four-win season.
No. 7 San Jose State
The Spartans regressed from seven wins in 2024 to three in 2026 largely because of a minus-12 turnover margin.
The defense lost nine of its top 10 tacklers from last year’s team and the offense will rely on receivers Jerry McClure, Anthony Ivey and Jordan Anderson.
If the Spartans can find consistency on offense, improvement might come in the form of four or five wins.
No. 6 Wyoming
The Cowboys are another team looking to reverse troubling times. Wyoming went 7-17 combined in 2024 and 2025.
There is hope with quarterback Tyler Hughes and running back Samuel Harris, but is there enough overall talent to win the six games needed to be bowl eligible?
No. 5 Air Force
The Falcons had losing seasons in 2024 and 2025, but a strong offense led by quarterback Liam Szarka and fullback Owen Allen gives the team optimism. However, if the team surrenders 34.9 points per game as it did in MWC play last year, another losing season could be in the cards.
No. 4 North Dakota State
The Bison are in their first season at the FBS level but were a power in the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), the second tier of Division I college football.
In 2025, the Bison won 12 games. In 2026, big things are expected of QB Nathan Hayes, RB DJ Scott and linebacker Keenan Wilson. The Bison play four of the top contenders — Air Force, UNLV, New Mexico, and Hawaii — on the road in 2026, but expect the Bison to win 7 to 9 games.
No. 3 Hawaii
The Rainbow Warriors went 9-4 last season and averaged nearly 32 points per game in league play. Quarterback Micah Alejado and receiver Pofele Ashlock return to lead the offense.
North Dakota State, New Mexico, and UNLV visit Honolulu, giving the Rainbow Warriors a favorable path to a spot in the conference championship.
No. 2 New Mexico
Second-year head coach Jason Eck is a fan favorite in Albuquerque as he has embraced the culture of the city and been involved in the community and university.
The Lobos were among the most-improved teams in college football last season in Eck’s debut, finishing 9-4 and just missing out on a spot in the conference title game. With 12 returning starters, Eck’s squad has all of the pieces to rank among the top Group of 6 teams.
With key games against North Dakota State and UNLV at home, the Lobos have a favorable schedule to land a spot in the MWC title game.
No. 1 UNLV
The Rebels have played for the Mountain West title in three straight years but came up short each time. Former Auburn quarterback Jackson Arnold is expected to do big things and much is expected of running back Jai’Den Thomas.
Head coach Dan Mullen has a strong track record of producing prolific offenses and expects more of the same this year. The Rebels are certainly looking at nine or 10 wins in the regular season.
Felix F. Chavez can be reached at fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on X.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Where will UTEP finish in the Mountain West Conference in 2026?
Reporting by Felix F. Chavez, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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By Felix F. Chavez, El Paso Times | USA TODAY Network
