Day 1 of Mountain West Media Days in Las Vegas, the marker on the calendar that the off-season is nearing a conclusion and fall camp is right around the corner for college football fans. The first day of proceedings belongs to the players, the coaches will then step in today.

I haven’t received an explanation as to why there isn’t a preseason poll from the league, but well, there isn’t one. I presume someone like New Mexico, UNLV, or even Hawaii would’ve grabbed pole position. We’ll never know.

However, the preseason all-conference offense, defense, and special teams units were released along with the preseason player of the year awards. Expectations continue to rise at Manoa with sophomore quarterback Micah Alejado grabbing the preseason offensive player of the year award. Retaining Alejado was one of the best stories of the off-season for the MWC, the Vegas product is poised to dominate.

Surprising nobody, the 2025 co-defensive player of the year, New Mexico’s Jaxton Eck, is also preseason player of the year for defense. Eck will be the heart and soul of the 2026 Lobos. The preseason special teams player of the year award went to North Dakota State kick/punt returner Jackson Williams.

Obligatory footage of all the cool helmets/jerseys

Commissioner Gloria Nevarez on expansion:

Senior linebacker Blake Fletcher and senior fullback Owen Allen were named to the preseason all-Mountain West team yesterday morning. Troy Calhoun’s Falcons will enter this upcoming season looking to prove people wrong. Typically in the mix at the top of the conference, you have to think the Falcons will enter the season with an edge to them.

Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors

Over the years, MWC Media Days were often an opportunity for Hawaii’s athletes and coaches to defend themselves against the low expectations set by the media and gambling companies. Not so this year. Quarterback Micah Alejado is preseason player of the year and fully healthy entering camp. Jesse Kurtz interviewed both Alejado and defensive back Elijah Palmer in Vegas.

For a team entering the 2026 season with somewhat low expectations from the outside, the Wolf Pack featured quite a bit on the preseason teams. Offensive lineman Jack Foster, defensive end Dylan LaBarbera, kicker Joe McFadden, and defensive back Aiden Walker all made the list. LaBarbera’s return to Nevada was a surprise to some, many thought the star would leave for a Power 4 program. Why did he stay? He answered yesterday.

What a difference a year makes! Last year, New Mexico entered summer 2025 a little frustrated. Bronco Mendenhall had just left them hanging after only one year. Expectations were low. Enter Jason Eck. The Lobos dream 2025 season has raised expectations, but 2025 co-defensive player of the year and 2026 preseason defensive player of the year Jaxton Eck isn’t allowing those expectations to breed arrogance.

North Dakota State Bison

Is there a new Sherrif in town? The now former FCS powerhouse North Dakota State Bison are in the Mountain West. It’s been a wild 12 months for this league! Even when transitioning to a higher division, expectations do not dip for the Bison. There are four Bison on the preseason all-conference list, headlined by preseason special teams player of the year, Jackson Williams.

WDAY TV News’ Dom Izzo interviews Nathan Hayes about taking over the starting quarterback position for the Bison.

Northern Illinois Huskies

I didn’t know it was allowed for someone to leave the MAC. That’s precisely what happened this past winter when Northern Illinois left for the Mountain West. The Huskies didn’t place anyone on the conference lists, but wide receiver DeAree Rogers and cornerback Liam Lindo sat down with Jesse Kurtz on what to expect from the Huskies in 2026.

San José State Spartans

It was a quiet day for the Spartans on the all-conference lists, not placing any players. Anticipated to be in the middle of the pack in the conference race, I’d bet Ken Niumatalolo’s squad will be a thorn in the side of opposition this year. Offensive linemen Tyler Chen and Joseph Harbert repped the Spartans yesterday.

Are the Rebels the frontrunners in the Mountain West? If there had been a preseason poll, good chance the Rebels would have been picked first. UNLV has qualified for the conference championship the last three seasons, albeit losing all three to Boise State (who is now gone). Running back Jet Thomas is back despite Power 4 opportunities and the roster is loaded again.

UTEP is in the Mountain West, a conference they should’ve been in all along. The iconic Sun Bowl will be a must-see venue. KFOX14 New’s Chas Messman asked EJ Colson on the moment he found out of was QB1 in El Paso.

The Pokes from Laramie will surely be looking to spoil the party this fall in the Mountain West. Offensive lineman Rex Johnsen, punter Bart Edmiston, and linebacker Ethan Stuhsatz all made the preseason teams, showing off the talented balance of the Cowboys. Also, they brought some cool pens with them.