The Mountain West had five weeks to figure out an identity. Instead, it gave us chaos: Boise State back on the upswing, UNLV unbeaten but untested, Utah State scoring like Oregon and defending like UMass, New Mexico rising from the grave, and San Diego State proving you can still win 6-3 in 2025.
With official stat leaderboards in hand, scoring, yardage, rushing, passing, receiving, tackles, TFLs, sacks, and interceptions, the story of each team sharpens. Here’s the detailed Week 5 Power Rankings, with resumes, analytics, stars on both sides, and a look ahead to Week 6.
1. Boise State Broncos (3-1, 1-0 MW)
After that miserable opening at South Florida (34‑7), Boise has done what Boise does: reset, rampage, and reassert. Eastern Washington was a glorified scrimmage (51–14), but beating Air Force 49–37 in Colorado Springs and then humiliating App State 47–14 reminded the league that the Broncos are still the standard.
Stat profile: Boise leads the Mountain West in points (38.5 per game) and total offense (520 YPG), thanks to a balanced 884 rushing / 1,196 passing attack at an absurd 7.1 yards per play. Defense isn’t suffocating; 338 YPG allowed, middle of the pack, but it’s good enough when the offense is detonating.
Stars:
QB Maddux Madsen has been calm and clinical: 1,129 yards, 9 TDs, just 1 INT at 8.6 yards per attempt.
RB Dylan Riley (360 yards, 5 TDs, 7.5 YPC) is the thunderbolt that unlocks play‑action.
DL Braxton Fely (3.5 sacks) and LB Ty Benefield (5 TFL) are finally giving the defense punch up front.
DB Sherrod Smith adds a steadying presence with an interception.
Best win: 47–14 vs. App State.Worst loss: 34–7 at USF in Week 0.Week 6 outlook: At Notre Dame (Irish favored by 19.5). This is the biggest stage — stay competitive and Boise’s No. 1 holds. Shock the world, and Boise sneaks into national discussion.
2. UNLV Rebels (4-0)
The Rebels are unbeaten under Dan Mullen, but the résumé feels soft. They’ve beaten Idaho State, Sam Houston, Miami (OH) on a late rally, and caught UCLA at home in a winnable spot. But what they do extremely well: score (36.8 PPG, third in the MW) and generate turnovers (conference‑best seven interceptions).
Stat profile: 450 YPG (3rd in MW) at 6.9 yards per play. Defense bleeds yardage (428 YPG, 11th in league), but masks it with takeaways. They’re the quintessential “bend, give up 20 yards…then intercept at midfield.”
Stars:
QB Anthony Colandrea: 940 yards, 72% completion, 8 TDs.
RB Jai’Den Thomas: 393 yards, 5 TDs, 8.7 YPC, explosive on every touch.
WR Jaden Bradley: 355 yards, 2 TDs, reliable possession weapon.
CB Aamaris Brown: 4 picks, 117 return yards, 2 pick‑sixes, the ultimate defensive catalyst.
McDuffie and Welch each have 2 INT as well. UNLV has 8 INTs in just 4 games.
Best win: vs. UCLA (30–23).Week 6 outlook: @ Wyoming (favored by 4.5). A rugged road trip will finally show whether this undefeated run is sustainable.
3. Fresno State Bulldogs (4-1, 1-0 MW)
No team embodies “steady contender” like Fresno. Yes, they were blown out at Kansas. But follow‑ups: beating Oregon State on the road (36–27), smashing Southern (56–7), and gutting out a two‑point road win at Hawai‘i. Fresno sits top‑5 in almost every efficiency category, winning with balance and discipline.
Stat profile: 373.8 YPG (7th), 32.8 PPG (5th). Defense ranks third, allowing just 320.6 YPG.
Stars:
RB Bryson Donelson: 343 yards, 5.4 YPC, steady chain mover.
QB E.J. Warner: 946 yards, 73% comp, but 5 INTs = the blemish.
S Jadon Pearson: 42 tackles, 8.4 per game: stabilizer.
Best win: @ Oregon State, 36–27.Week 6 outlook: Host Nevada (favored by 14). This should be routine, but anything less than command casts doubt.
4. San Diego State Aztecs (3-1)
SDSU has now won three games three different ways: obliterating FCS Stony Brook, shocking Cal 34–0, then surviving NIU 6–3. The common denominator: defense.
Stat profile: Offense is last in the conference (317 YPG, 4.8 YPP). Defense is first in the conference: 237 YPG allowed, 3.6 per play.
Stars:
RB Lucky Sutton: 337 yards, 3 TD, 67 carries as the workhorse.
QB Jayden Denegal: 636 yards, just 3 TDs, game‑management only.
LB Owen Chambliss: 37 tackles, 2 sacks.
DL August Salvati: 3.5 sacks.
DB Chris Johnson: 2 INTs, 101 return yards, and a TD; game‑changing playmaker in a defense that scores.
Best win: Cal, 34–0.Worst “win”: NIU, 6–3.Week 6 outlook: vs. Colorado State at home (favored by 5.5). Expect grimy.
5. New Mexico Lobos (3-1)
The surprise story of the league. A competitive loss at Michigan, then beat UCLA at the Rose Bowl 35–10, and handled rival NMSU last week. New coach Jason Eck has instilled discipline and firepower.
Stat profile: 391 YPG, 30.5 PPG. Defense ranks fourth in scoring (21.5 ppg allowed).
Stars:
QB Jack Layne: 818 yards, 7 TDs, 69% completion.
RB Scottre Humphrey: 263 yards, 3 TDs, 5.6 per carry.
WR Dorian Thomas: 247 yards, 3 TDs.
LB Jaxton Eck: 41 tackles, 10.3 per game, plus 1 sack.
DE Keyshawn James‑Newby: 2.5 sacks, 3.5 TFL, disruptive.
DB David Murphy: 1 INT.
Best win: @ UCLA, 35–10.Week 6 outlook: @ San José State as a 2.5‑point underdog. If they win, it’s UNM’s best start since 2007.
6. Utah State Aggies (3-2, 1-0 MW)
If you want chaos, watch Utah State. Against Vanderbilt, they scored 35… and gave up 55. They’re averaging over 36 points per game but allowing over 30.
Stat profile: 421 YPG (4th), 36.4 PPG. Defense allows 413 YPG (9th), 30.4 PPG (11th).
Stars:
QB Bryson Barnes: 1,143 yds, 11 TD, 1 INT (19 total TDs when rushing included).
RB Miles Davis: 314 yds, 6.3 YPC.
WR Braden Pegan: 369 yds, 4 TD.
LB John Miller: 48 tackles, 5 sacks.
CB Noah Avinger: 3 INT.
Best win: 49–30 vs. Air Force.Worst loss: 55–35 @ Vanderbilt.Week 6 outlook: Bye. An exhale before Hawai‘i.
7. Hawai‘i Rainbow Warriors (4-2, 1-1 MW)
They’ve already played 6 games and bring maximum volatility. Losses: blowout at Arizona, heartbreak vs. Fresno. Wins: Stanford upset, Air Force shootout thriller.
Stat profile: 369 YPG offense, 25.7 PPG. Defense allows 316 YPG, but has bent in key moments.
Stars:
QB Micah Alejado: Finally healthy, huge upside.
WR room: Balanced, though no MW top‑5.
LB Jackie Johnson: 4.5 sacks, constant QB pressure.
Week 6 outlook: Bye. Regrouping for league stretch.
8. Wyoming Cowboys (2-2)
Wyoming is Wyoming: excellent defense, moribund offense. Their wins are Akron and UNI. Their losses are Utah and Colorado, where they scored a combined 26 points.
Stat profile: Just 345 YPG (9th) and 16.8 PPG (11th). Defense compensates with 359 YPG allowed, #2 in PPG allowed (18.8).
Stars:
RB Sam Harris: 256 yards, 6.9 YPC.
WR Chris Durr: 290 yards, 3 TD.
DL Ben Florentine: 3 sacks.
Week 6 outlook: Host UNLV as a 4.5‑point dog. The brawl in Laramie will test whether defense can carry them farther.
9. Air Force Falcons (1-3, 0-3 MW)
No team is more Jekyll‑and‑Hyde. They average 470 yards, 37.8 PPG, and 7.1 YPP — top 2 in the league. And yet: they’re 1–3. Why? Defense is dead last, giving up 466.5 YPG, 7.3 YPP, and 38.8 PPG.
Stars:
QB Liam Szarka: 638 pass yds in just 46 attempts (13.9 YPA!), plus 296 rushing.
WR Cade Harris: 439 yds, 27.4 YPC.
DE Isaac Hubert: 7 TFL, 3 sacks.
Best win: Bucknell, 49–13.Worst loss: All three conference games, especially 44–35 vs. Hawai‘i.Week 6 outlook: @ Navy (+10.5). Feels like another uphill.
10. San José State Spartans (1-3)
SJSU is cursed. Lost by 2 to CMU, gave away Stanford in the final seconds, and barely survived Idaho. Their stat lines are gaudy, but their defense can’t hold up.
Stat profile: 399 YPG (5th), but defense allows 422 YPG (#10).
Stars:
QB Walker Eget: MW pass leader, 1,187 yds (296/g).
WR Danny Scudero: 514 yds, 128/g.
WR Kyri Shoels: 269 yds.
LB Taniela Latu: 4 TFL.
DB Jalen Apalit‑Williams: 1 INT.
Week 6 outlook: Host New Mexico as a 2.5‑point favorite. Absolutely must close this one.
11. Colorado State Rams (1-3)
CSU is defense without an offense. Their one win is against Northern Colorado, and the offense hasn’t scored more than 21 against an FBS opponent.
Stats: 344 YPG, just 15.3 PPG (#11). Defense, a respectable 356 YPG (#5).
Stars:
RB Jalen Dupree: 267 yds.
LB Owen Long: Leads MW in tackles (52, 13/g).
DB Jahari Rogers: 1 INT.
Week 6 outlook: @ San Diego State (+5.5). Their defense keeps them hanging around, but CSU has to find points.
12. Nevada Wolf Pack (1-3)
The lone bright spot: a close win vs. Sacramento State. Since then: collapses, blowouts, and misery.
Stat profile: 339 YPG (11th), just 15 PPG (last). Defense 380 YPG allowed (#8).
Stars:
QB Chubba Purdy: 276 rush yds, also their leading rusher.
LB Dylan LaBarbera: MW leader in TFL (7), 3 sacks.
DB EJ Smith: 2 INT.
Worst loss: Middle Tennessee, 14–13. Blowing a game to a middling C‑USA program says it all.Week 6 outlook: @ Fresno State as a 14‑point underdog. It could get messy.
Final Word
This league is chaos incarnate. Boise has the numbers, UNLV has the turnovers, Fresno looks steady, SDSU has the best defense in America, Utah State and Air Force churn points but not wins, and New Mexico looks reborn. Wyoming exists to grind, while Colorado State and Nevada bleed away in the basement despite individual standouts.
Week 6 Storylines:
Boise at Notre Dame: Can the Broncos prove they’re #1?
UNLV at Wyoming: Rugged road test.
UNM at SJSU: The Lobos could be 4-1 for the first time in two decades.
SDSU vs. CSU: Is 6–3 the new normal?
The Mountain West never gives clarity. It only gives absurdity, and that’s why we love it.