Mountain West Power Rankings After Week 7

By mid-October, the Mountain West is stratifying: UNLV’s offense is the standard, San Diego State’s defense is the squeeze, Boise has the best balance, and the middle tier is a knife-fight where money downs and hidden yards decide direction. Below is where each program currently stands, with on-field data to match the eye test.

Identity: Efficient, explosive, and opportunistic.
Offense: 442.3 YPG (3rd MW), 38.17 PPG (2nd). Passing is ruthlessly efficient with Anthony Colandrea (68.1%, 8.8 YPA, 10 TD, 3 INT) and a run game that hits explosives behind Jai’Den “Jet” Thomas (577 rush, 8.01 per; 6 TD). Line has allowed 13 sacks (T-8), which is solid given the team's vertical passing game. 1st downs: 134 (3rd). 3rd down: 48.6% (2nd).
Defense: Bend-but-takeaway profile: 445.0 YPG allowed, but 9 INT (T-1) and the best opponent 3rd-down rate in the league (25.0%). That leverage cancels yardage.
Special teams: Strong top-4 in kickoff distance (62.36), top-3 in punt returns (10.43 per; 2 TDs by Jaden Bradley), and Ramon Villela is 9/11 FGs with perfect PATs (26/26).
Why No. 1: Best combined money-down offense + ball-hawk defense, plus explosives at RB/WR and real return value.

Identity: Boa constrictor.
Defense: No. 1 total D (259.7 YPG), No. 1 scoring D (12.17 PPG), No. 1 rush D (2.81 Y/A); 15 sacks (T-3) and 5 INT. They win early downs and suffocate drives (opponent 3rd: 25.81%, 2nd). Few freebies: opponent penalties against SDSU are the lowest (33.0 YPG), and they still win.
Offense: Clean and field-position friendly. Jayden Denegal (65.9%, 8.7 YPA, 7 TD, 2 INT), Lucky Sutton (531, 6 TD). Only 7 sacks allowed (fewest).
Special teams: Premium: Gabriel Plascencia 10/10 FGs, punter Hunter Green 46.6 gross with excellent net (42.6) and 15 I-20. Kickoffs travel (64.73 avg, 2nd).
Why No. 2: They script games, choke tempo, and rarely blink on special teams.

Identity: Control through balance and volume.
Offense: 465.3 YPG (2nd), 25 TD, and league-best TOP (34:05). Maddux Madsen (1,570, 11 TD) distributes while Dylan Riley (494, 7.0 per) keeps explosives on schedule. 1st downs: 145 (1st). 3rd down: 46.7% (3rd). Sacks allowed: 11 (T-6).
Defense: No. 3 total D (328.8 YPG), strong vs pass (185.5 YPG allowed, 2nd), 7 INT (3rd), 13 sacks. Opponent 3rd: 36.71% (6th).
Special teams: Kickoffs travel farther than anyone (64.82 avg), punting is sturdy (44.6 gross; 39.6 net). FGs: 5/7.
Why No. 3: The most sustainable snap-to-snap profile. Boise squeezes possession count and wins the middle eight.

Identity: Playmaking with turbulence.
Offense: 382.9 YPG, E.J. Warner (1,486, 10 TD) drives volume at 69.2% completions, but 9 INT adds variance. Run game is committee-solid (Donelson/Luke: 789 combined).
Defense: No. 2 total D (311.9 YPG), 9 INT (T-1). They keep explosives down (5.2 YPP allowed), but have yielded 20 TDs, red-zone strain shows.
Money downs: Offense 43.9% on 3rd (5th); D sits 9th in opponent 3rd (39.78%). Penalties: middle. Sacks by: 11 (9th). Allowed: 13 (T-8).
Special teams: Reliable: Dylan Lynch 8/12 FGs, elite punt-return threat (TD on a 42-yarder by Jaden Carrillo), and FG/PAT perfection on the season’s volume.
Why No. 4: Top-2 defense by yards + takeaways- if the INTs on offense cool, they have a title ceiling.

Identity: Disciplined air with a complementary defense.
Offense: 394.1 YPG, 2,066 pass yds at 63.2% with Micah Alejado (9 TD, 5 INT at QB; team: 14 pass TD). WR Pofele Ashlock (46-468-6) is the chain mover; Jackson Harris adds vertical bite (14.9 per, 3 TD). TOP is real: 32:33 (3rd).
Defense: No. 4 total D (332.6 YPG), opponent 3rd at 34.52% (5th), and 16 team sacks (T-1)-quiet pass-rush that flips series counts.
Special teams: Best kicker in the league: Kansei Matsuzawa 19/19 FGs (long 52). Punt game travels (45.4 gross; 40.4 net). Returns steady.
Why No. 5: Efficiency, TOP, pass rush, and perfect kicking travel. Hawai‘i is built for one-score wins.

Identity: Best big-play passing profile outside UNLV; chaotic defense.
Offense: 423.0 YPG (4th), 6.6 YPP, Bryson Barnes (16 TD, 2 INT, 8.5 YPA) with Braden Pegan/Brady Boyd as explosive complements. Run at 4.98 YPC.
Protection: 22 sacks allowed (most), that’s the leak. 3rd down: 29.2% (12th) despite the yardage self-inflicted waste.
Defense: 2611 yards allowed (435.2 YPG, 10th), but 16 sacks (T-1) and 6 INT, they create negatives and give up chunks.
Special teams: Punt game No. 1 net (40.9) with Landon Rehkow; Tanner Rinker 4/4 FGs.
Why No. 6: Ceiling is high, floor is low. If sacks/3rd-down stabilize, they jump a tier.

Identity: Ahead-of-schedule offense with hidden-yardage edges.
Offense: 369.2 YPG, 29.17 PPG. Jack Layne at 66.7% and Keagan Johnson as WR1; Damon Bankston fuels all-purpose (722 yds) and the No. 1 KO return average (24.79).
Defense: 390.8 YPG allowed (7th), 15 sacks (T-3), 3 INT. Opponent 3rd is heavy (44.19%, 11th).
Special teams: Clean: 6/6 FGs, strong KO distance (61.84), and Bankston’s TD threat.
Why No. 7: Multiple ways to create short fields (pass rush + returns + kicking). If 3rd-down D improves, they’re dangerous.

Identity: Pace suppression and field position.
Defense: 345.7 YPG allowed (5th), 14 sacks (6th), opponent 3rd 38.37% (8th). They win with structure and tackling.
Offense: 357.7 YPG (10th), balanced but modest (4.20 YPC rush, 216.3 pass YPG). Protection is solid (10 sacks allowed, 5th-best).
Special teams: KO leg is live (63.52 avg, 3rd) but net punting is low (33.3); FGs 5/6.
Why No. 8: They drag you into a rock fight and wait for your mistake. Works every week against finesse.

Identity: Elite offense, busted defense.
Offense: No. 1 total O (490.3 YPG), 276.0 rush YPG, 31 TD, 51.43% on 3rd (1st). Liam Szarka (584 rush; 1,025 pass at a staggering 12.5 YPA), and Cade Harris (492 rec) give the play-action teeth. 8 sacks allowed (T-2).
Defense: Last in total D (496.7 YPG), 8.1 YPP allowed, and opponent 3rd at 53.52% (last)-that’s unsustainable for their style. Only 9 sacks and 2 INT.
Special teams: Average.
Why No. 9: The offense is championship-good; the defense drags the whole operation below water.

Identity: Hidden yards keep them afloat.
Offense: 344.3 YPG (11th), 35% on 3rd (10th). Run game at 4.39 YPC; passing 185.5 YPG with modest efficiency (10.70 Y/C). Protection is shaky (15 sacks allowed, 10th).
Defense: 405.5 YPG allowed (8th), 6 INT (T-4), 9 sacks. Opponent 3rd at 42.31% (10th).
Special teams: Excellent: Bryan Hansen 47.6 gross, 43.1 net; kickoffs 59.73 avg; KR game with Lloyd Avant (31.25 per) tilts the field.
Why No. 10: The punt/return edge is real, but efficiency gaps on O/D cap the ceiling.

Identity: Best pure passing outfit; leaky on D.
Offense: 309.0 pass YPG (1st), Walker Eget (1,809, 13 TD) to Danny Scudero (50-845-8, MW leader). Protection is clean (8 sacks allowed, T-2). 3rd-down O is strong (44.58%, 4th).
Defense: 419.5 YPG allowed (9th), opponent 3rd 33.33% (3rd): odd split: they can get off the field, but they give up chunks (6.2 YPP). Sacks by: 12 (8th); INT: 6 (T-4).
Special teams: Punting is excellent (Trent Carrizosa 47.3 gross; 40.4 net).
Why No. 11: Elite aerial attack, but too many explosives allowed to climb.

Identity: Stabilizing after the QB change.
Offense: 309.5 YPG (12th), 14.5 PPG (12th). Carter Jones (316, 3 TD, 3 INT, 6.7 YPA) has replaced Purdy; run game is functional (4.30 YPC). Protection is quietly good (8 sacks allowed, T-2).
Defense: 378.8 YPG allowed (6th) with competitive fronts (15 sacks, T-3) and 4 INT.
Special teams: Joe McFadden 10/13 FGs, punting is strong (44.4 gross; 39.1 net). KR and PR are competent.
Why No. 12: Structure exists, OL, DL, and kicking, but explosive play creation is lagging.

1) Anthony Colandrea, QB, UNLV - Three-time MW Player of the Week; top efficiency QB on the league’s last unbeaten team. Case to win: If UNLV keeps pace and he stays this clean, the blend of record + efficiency + big moments is unmatched.

2) Bryson Barnes, QB, Utah State - 16 TD / 2 INT, 8.5 YPA. Case to win: Best TD: INT ratio on a high-ceiling offense; if USU heats up, voters will see “most valuable” every Saturday.

3) Jai’Den “Jet” Thomas, RB, UNLV - 8.01 per carry, offense-defining explosives. Case to win: If the Rebels finish atop the league and he clears 1,200 yards with double-digit TDs, he can siphon POY votes off his own QB.

4) Micah Alejado, QB, Hawai‘i - 2,066 pass yds, 14 TD, command within a discipline-heavy structure. Case to win: He’s the engine of Hawai‘i’s rise; combine production, TOP control, and clutch with Matsuzawa’s closing, and you have a narrative finisher.

5) Liam Szarka, QB, Air Force - 1,609 total yards, 16 TD, 12.5 YPA passing. Case to win: If Air Force rallies and his counting stats keep surging, he’s the stat-monster candidate.

The separation is coming from three things: (1) money downs (UNLV/SDSU/Boise), (2) defensive explosives allowed (SDSU/Fresno/Hawai‘i good; Air Force/SJSU bad), and (3) hidden yards (Hawai‘i’s perfect FG unit; CSU/Wyoming punting; UNLV/Hawai‘i returns).