The Mountain West finally blinked. UNLV walked into Laramie and left with a wire-to-wire win that felt more like a program statement than a September resume line. Boise State took a national punch at Notre Dame but still charts as the league’s most balanced team by yardage. Fresno State’s defense keeps dragging games onto its terms. San Diego State is back to strangling offenses. Utah State and Hawai‘i remain the late-night chaos pairing. New Mexico is ahead of schedule. Air Force can score on anyone but struggles to stop much of anything.
These are The Scarlet Standard’s Week 6 power rankings. Listed for each: last week’s rank (our Week 5 SS baseline), record, last result, next game (with TV), and a tight, data-backed read. All stats reflect the Mountain West leaderboards you provided: offense and defense per game, pass offense/defense, sacks by/allowed, and key individual leaders.
UNLV (5-0, 1-0 MW)Rank last week: 2Last week: Won at Wyoming, 31–17This week: vs Air Force, Saturday 12:30 p.m. (CBSSN)The read: That was grown-up football at 7,220 feet. UNLV controlled situations, flipped two takeaways into points, and leaned on the league’s most explosive back. The profile is clear: 35.6 ppg on 411.4 ypg, with Jai’Den Thomas pacing the MW in rushing (489 yards, 8.0 YPC, 5 TD) while Anthony Colandrea stays surgical (69.5%, 9 TD, 3 INT). The defense yields yardage (413.4 ypg; 271.2 pass) but changes games with interceptions (9, Aamaris Brown with 4). If there’s a soft spot, it’s the rush: only seven sacks (11th). That matters with Air Force’s deep-shot identity flying into town.
Boise State (3-2, 1-0 MW)Rank last week: 1Last week: Lost at Notre Dame, 28–7This week: vs New Mexico, Saturday 6:45 p.m. (FS1)The read: South Bend bruised the scoreboard, not the structure. Boise still owns the league’s best yardage balance: MW No. 1 total offense (479.0 ypg) and a top-3 pass defense (186.2 ypg allowed). QB Maddux Madsen averages 282.2 through the air (9 TD, 5 INT), RB Dylan Riley adds the explosives (7.42 YPC, 5 TD); trench truth: 11 sacks generated, only 7 allowed. New Mexico’s play-action can sting, but Boise’s coverage and red-zone discipline at home are a tough solve.
Fresno State (5-1, 2-0 MW)Rank last week: 3Last week: Beat Reno, 20–17This week: at Colorado State, Friday 6:00 p.m. (CBSSN)The read: The Bulldogs keep winning on their defensive script: No. 2 scoring defense (19.5), No. 2 total defense (308.2), and a top-5 pass unit (198.2; 9 INT). The offense is efficient until it isn’t. E.J. Warner is at 73.0% but the 7 TD/6 INT split leaves points on the field. RB Bryson Donelson (382, 4.96 YPC) is the ballast. Friday’s hinge is pressure: Fresno’s disguised fronts (10 sacks) against a CSU line that has already allowed 14.
San Diego State (4-1, 1-0 MW)Rank last week: 4Last week: Beat Colorado State, 45–24This week: at Reno, Saturday 7:30 p.m. (CBSSN)The read: Back to brand. SDSU is suffocating quarterbacks again: 12.6 ppg allowed, 260.8 ypg, best pass D in the league by a stretch (158.0; 51.9% comp), and tied for the MW lead with 13 sacks, while allowing just five (also tied for fewest). Lucky Sutton (450, 5.1 YPC, 5 TD) gives the offense a floor. Nevada’s path is havoc; the Aztecs’ identity is denying it.
Utah State (3-2, 1-0 MW)Rank last week: 6Last week: Bye (previous: beat Air Force, 49–30)This week: at Hawai‘i, Saturday 9:00 p.m. (MW App/Spectrum)The read: It’s either fireworks or a fire drill. The Aggies are tied for the league lead in scoring (36.4) with Bryson Barnes spinning it at 251.8 per game (14 TD, 1 INT). The tax shows up in protection (19 sacks allowed, tied for most) and on a defense that leaks explosives (30.4 ppg; 413.0 ypg). Hawai‘i’s edge rush (13 sacks, T-1) turns this into a clean-pocket referendum.
Hawai‘i (4-2, 1-1 MW)Rank last week: 7Last week: Bye (previous: won at Air Force, 44–35)This week: vs Utah State, Saturday 9:00 p.m. (MW App/Spectrum)The read: Quietly nasty on defense. The ‘Bows sit No. 3 in total D (315.5) and No. 4 vs the pass (187.7), with 13 sacks (T-1). Micah Alejado (275.5 ypg, 11 TD, 7 INT) gives the offense a ceiling. Like USU, they’ve allowed 19 sacks (T-most), so the late window likely swings on havoc rate and one or two explosives.
New Mexico (3-2, 0-1 MW)Rank last week: 5Last week: Lost at San José State, 35–28This week: at Boise State, Saturday 6:45 p.m. (FS1)The read: The leap on offense is real, 30.0 ppg on 396.8 ypg. With Jack Layne at 69.4% (232.4 ypg; 9 TD, 6 INT) and Damon Bankston adding 6.7 yards a tote plus special-teams juice (24.25 KR avg). The front can win downs (11 sacks, T-4), but yardage against in the back end (271.2, T-9) is the leak. Boise stresses both seams: verticals and red-zone finishing.
Wyoming (2-3, 0-1 MW)Rank last week: 8Last week: Lost to UNLV, 31–17This week: vs San José State, Saturday 4:00 p.m. (CBSSN)The read: This still looks like a defense-first bowl team with a ceiling. The coverage unit is elite (No. 2 pass D, 177.2), the scoring D is sturdy (21.2), but the offense hasn’t found its gears (16.8 ppg; 347.4 ypg). The Cowboys’ SJSU plan is familiar: crosswinds, disguise, tackle after the catch, and keep it under 24.
San José State (2-3, 1-0 MW)Rank last week: 10Last week: Beat New Mexico, 35–28This week: at Wyoming, Saturday 4:00 p.m. (CBSSN)The read: The Mountain West’s best passing game by volume and punch. Walker Eget leads a 304.2 ypg attack behind pristine protection (5 sacks allowed, T-1), and Danny Scudero tops the league in receiving (665, 133.0/g). The giveback: 290.4 pass yards allowed (11th). Laramie’s smarts will test Eget’s eyes and patience.
Air Force (1-4, 0-3 MW)Rank last week: 9Last week: Lost at Navy, 34–31This week: at UNLV, Saturday 12:30 p.m. (CBSSN)The read: The most dangerous 1-win offense you’re going to find. The Falcons are tied for the MW scoring lead (36.4), rank No. 2 in total offense (467.8) at 7.1 yards per play, and Liam Szarka is a video game (13.1 Y/A, 13 total TD). The defense is the anchor: 37.8 ppg allowed, 476.6 ypg, and 71.2% completions against. Vegas smells like 70-plus combined.
Reno (1-4, 0-1 MW)Rank last week: 12Last week: Lost at Fresno State, 20–17This week: vs San Diego State, Saturday 7:30 p.m. (CBSSN)The read: The front has teeth (13 sacks, T-1) and pass pro has held up (6 allowed, 3rd fewest), but the passing game sits at the league floor (143.4 ypg; 4 TD, 10 INT). That’s a nightmare for SDSU’s coverage shell. If the Pack doesn’t win the turnover margin, they’ll be playing the whole night uphill in field position.
Colorado State (1-4, 0-1 MW)Rank last week: 11Last week: Lost at San Diego State, 45–24This week: vs Fresno State, Friday 6:00 p.m. (CBSSN)The read: The defense can cover (201.4 pass ypg, 6th MW) but doesn’t dent pockets (4 sacks, last), and the protection leaks (14 allowed, 10th). Offense is 10th in scoring (17.0) and 11th in total (346.4). To make Friday weird, CSU needs short fields and a Lloyd Avant jolt (31.25 KR avg).
Week 7 viewer’s guide
Friday: Fresno State at Colorado State - 6:00 p.m., CBSSN. Bulldogs’ secondary and disguised pressure versus a leaky Rams front. Fresno can win on defense alone; CSU needs a special-teams swing.
Saturday early: Air Force at UNLV - 12:30 p.m., CBSSN. Strength-on-strength shootout: Szarka’s bombs vs a takeaway-hungry secondary; first to 35 probably gets it.
Saturday afternoon: San José State at Wyoming - 4:00 p.m., CBSSN. Vertical Spartans into Laramie’s coverage clinic. If SJSU reaches 24, Wyoming has to leave its comfort zone.
Saturday evening: New Mexico at Boise State - 6:45 p.m., FS1. Layne’s play-action can land haymakers; Boise’s pass D and red-zone math usually close the door at home.
Saturday night: San Diego State at Nevada - 7:30 p.m., CBSSN. Trench-ball connoisseur special. Nevada must win havoc or it’s a 40-rush Aztec squeeze.
Late night: Utah State at Hawai‘i - 9:00 p.m., MW App/Spectrum. Midnight mayhem. Both teams are tied for most sacks allowed (19). The winner is whoever protects the quarterback for five clean shot plays.
Bottom lineUNLV earned the belt; now it has to defend it against the league’s most volatile offense. Boise remains the trust play, Fresno the grim reaper, SDSU the boa constrictor. Utah State and Hawai‘i promise drama after dark. New Mexico is feisty, Wyoming still makes you play their way, and Air Force will run with anyone. If you like clarity, look elsewhere. If you like chaos that counts, the Mountain West is in midseason form.