Where fans fuel champions.
Simple. Secure. Direct.
Loading...
Where fans fuel champions.
Simple. Secure. Direct.
Loading...
Where fans fuel champions.
Simple. Secure. Direct.
Where fans fuel champions.
Simple. Secure. Direct.
15 Schools•Division I•Est. 1998
The Mountain West Conference was conceived on May 26, 1998, when eight institutions broke away from the Western Athletic Conference to form a new Division I-A league. The conference officially began operations on July 1, 1999, with Craig Thompson as its first commissioner. Thompson retired after nearly 24 years, and Gloria Nevarez became the league's second commissioner on January 1, 2023. The Mountain West has been an innovator in college athletics — the first conference to launch a dedicated sports TV network (The Mtn.), the first to experiment with the coaches' challenge in football instant replay, and the first non-AQ conference to appear in four BCS bowl games, winning three. In 2024, Boise State earned the No. 3 seed in the expanded 12-team CFP field, becoming the first non-autonomous conference team to receive an automatic bid and a first-round bye. For 2025-26, the conference has 12 full members: Air Force, Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Grand Canyon, Hawaii (football only), Nevada, New Mexico, San Diego State, San José State, UNLV, Utah State and Wyoming. However, five schools — Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State — are departing for the Pac-12 in 2026-27, while UTEP, UC Davis, Northern Illinois and North Dakota State are set to join. The Mountain West sponsors 19 sports for more than 5,000 student-athletes. Its slogan — Above The Rest — is literal: half its campuses exceed 4,000 feet, and Wyoming's Laramie campus at 7,220 feet is the highest Division I campus in the nation. UNLV's Allegiant Stadium (65,000 seats) is the largest football venue; New Mexico's The Pit (15,411) ranks among basketball's most intimidating arenas. Mountain West schools distribute up to $20.5 million annually under House v. NCAA — among the highest NIL ceilings in the Group of Five.
Official Website
The Mountain West Conference was conceived on May 26, 1998, when eight institutions broke away from the Western Athletic Conference to form a new Division I-A league. The conference officially began operations on July 1, 1999, with Craig Thompson as its first commissioner. Thompson retired after nearly 24 years, and Gloria Nevarez became the league's second commissioner on January 1, 2023. The Mountain West has been an innovator in college athletics — the first conference to launch a dedicated sports TV network (The Mtn.), the first to experiment with the coaches' challenge in football instant replay, and the first non-AQ conference to appear in four BCS bowl games, winning three. In 2024, Boise State earned the No. 3 seed in the expanded 12-team CFP field, becoming the first non-autonomous conference team to receive an automatic bid and a first-round bye. For 2025-26, the conference has 12 full members: Air Force, Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Grand Canyon, Hawaii (football only), Nevada, New Mexico, San Diego State, San José State, UNLV, Utah State and Wyoming. However, five schools — Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State and Utah State — are departing for the Pac-12 in 2026-27, while UTEP, UC Davis, Northern Illinois and North Dakota State are set to join. The Mountain West sponsors 19 sports for more than 5,000 student-athletes. Its slogan — Above The Rest — is literal: half its campuses exceed 4,000 feet, and Wyoming's Laramie campus at 7,220 feet is the highest Division I campus in the nation. UNLV's Allegiant Stadium (65,000 seats) is the largest football venue; New Mexico's The Pit (15,411) ranks among basketball's most intimidating arenas. Mountain West schools distribute up to $20.5 million annually under House v. NCAA — among the highest NIL ceilings in the Group of Five.
Official Website