LARAMIE – Seven of the Mountain West’s 12 teams sit inside the top 100 of ESPN’s power index rankings going into Week 6. 

Boise State, UNLV and Fresno State are the only three ranked inside the top 75. While the Rebels are slotted 16 spots behind the Broncos, they have a higher chance (6.6% vs. 4.9%) to make the College Football Playoffs due to their 4-0 start. 

Conference play is nearing full swing, as eight MW teams face league opponents this weekend. Seven of those teams are playing their first MW game. 

Here are this week’s MW power rankings:

1. Boise State (Last week: 1)

The Broncos (3-1 overall, 1-0 MW) have gotten back on track with a modest three-game winning streak following a season-opening loss to South Florida. Boise State kept the momentum going with a dominant 47-14 win over visiting Appalachian State last weekend. The Broncos’ defense played its best game of the season, limiting the Mountaineers to 184 yards, including just 65 through the air. Boise State won the turnover battle 4-0, and quarterback Maddux Madsen threw for 321 yards and four touchdowns.

The Broncos lead the conference in both scoring offense (38.5 points per game) and total offense (520 yards). Their defense is seventh in points allowed at 24.8. ESPN lists Boise State’s chances of winning the MW at 47%.

The Broncos travel to face No. 21-ranked Notre Dame (2-2) at 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Indiana. The Fighting Irish opened as 19.5-point favorites. 

2. UNLV (Last week: 2)

The Rebels (4-0) earned their first undefeated nonconference record since joining a Division I league in 1982 going into their first bye. While the Rebels haven’t been beaten, they rank 134th in the country in strength of schedule, according to ESPN. UNLV has yet to play a team with a win over a Football Bowl Subdivision program.

The Rebels’ offense has been one of the best in the MW, ranking third in scoring (36.8 points per game) and total yardage (450.5). Their defense, however, has been dreadful, sitting at 10th in scoring (28.3 points allowed) and 11th in yardage (427.8 allowed). Quarterback Anthony Colandrea is third in the league in total offense at 292.3 yards per game. 

The Rebels open conference play against Wyoming at 5 p.m. Saturday at War Memorial Stadium. UNLV opened as 5.5-point favorites. 

3. Fresno State (Last week: 3)

The Bulldogs (4-1, 1-0) took a four-game winning streak into their first bye last weekend. After a blowout loss to Kansas on the road, Fresno State has reeled off wins over Georgia Southern, Oregon State, Football Championship Subdivision Southern University and Hawaii. The Bulldogs will likely lock up bowl eligibility before the month of November in head coach Matt Entz’s first season with upcoming games against Nevada, Colorado State and San Diego State. 

Fresno State’s defense is third in both scoring defense (20 points allowed) and total defense (320.6 yards allowed). The offense isn’t far behind, sitting in fifth in scoring (32.8) and seventh in total offense (373.8 yards). Linebacker Jadon Pearson is sixth in the MW at 8.4 tackles per game. 

The Bulldogs host Nevada at 8:30 p.m. Saturday in California. Fresno State opened as 13.5-point favorites. 

4. Hawaii (Last week: 5)

The Rainbow Warriors (4-2, 1-1) had a grueling schedule to start the season, opening with six consecutive games without a bye. That stretch included two Power Four opponents and two conference games, and it ended with a 44-35 win over Air Force last weekend in Colorado. Freshman quarterback Micah Alejado led the charge during the shootout, finishing 35-of-47 for 457 yards and three touchdowns. While the defense was gashed for 494 yards, the Warriors won the time-of-possession battle by nearly 15 minutes against Air Force’s triple-option offense.

Hawaii’s defense is second in the conference in yards allowed at 315.5 per game, but its offense has struggled with consistency. The Warriors are eighth in total yardage at 368.8.

The Warriors are on their first bye before hosting Utah State on Oct. 11 in Honolulu. 

5. Utah State (Last week: 4)

The Aggies (3-2, 1-0) snapped a two-game winning streak with a 55-35 loss to No. 18-ranked Vanderbilt last weekend in Nashville, Tennessee. It was Utah State’s second loss to a ranked opponent after falling to No. 19 Texas A&M last month. The Aggies were outgained 543-393 against the Commodores, who were led by former New Mexico State quarterback Diego Pavia. He finished with 321 yards and five touchdowns, and he added one more score on the ground.

The Aggies’ offense is fourth in the conference in scoring at 36.4 points, but their defense is 11th at 30.4 points allowed. The unit is also ninth at 413 yards allowed. 

The Aggies are on a bye before playing Hawaii on Oct. 11 in Honolulu. 

6. New Mexico (Last week: 6)

The Lobos (3-1) pushed their winning streak to three games with a 38-20 win over in-state rival New Mexico State last weekend in Albuquerque. Quarterback Jack Layne threw for 303 yards and four touchdowns, and five different players caught touchdown passes. New Mexico outgained the Aggies 477-304.

The Lobos are fourth in the MW in scoring defense at 21.5 points allowed, and they’re sixth in scoring offense at 30.5. Idaho transfer linebacker Jaxton Eck is third in the conference at 10.3 tackles per game. New Mexico is 80th in ESPN’s power index rankings. 

The Lobos open conference play against San Jose State at 8 p.m. Friday in California. The Spartans opened as 2.5-point favorites. 

7. Wyoming (Last week: 7)

The Cowboys (2-2) had a well-timed bye following back-to-back losses to Utah and Colorado. After starting 2-0, Wyoming was outscored 68-26 in its past two games. The Cowboys’ defense has been one of the best in the MW going into Week 6 (ranked second at 18.8 points allowed), but their offense has struggled to put up points. The Cowboys are 10th in the conference in scoring at 16.8 points, and ninth in total yardage at 345.3.

Sophomore quarterback Kaden Anderson has had a shaky start to the season, as he’s completing just 55.1% of his passes. He’s been aided by true freshman running back Samuel Harris, who leads the team with 256 yards on 37 carries. Harris is averaging 6.9 yards per rush. 

UW hosts UNLV at 5 p.m. Saturday in Laramie. 

8. San Diego State (Last week: 8)

The Aztecs (3-1) played in arguably the least-exciting game in the country last weekend, but they held on for a 6-3 road win over Northern Illinois after kicking a game-winning field goal as time expired. SDSU’s defense held the Huskies to 179 yards of total offense, including just 57 through the air. The offense, on the other hand, was limited to 266 yards and a 1-of-3 mark on fourth down. Still, the Aztecs have won their past two games after a dominant 34-0 win over California two weeks ago.

SDSU has the best defense in the conference at 9.8 points and 237.5 yards allowed. The offense is dead last at 316.5 yards.

The Aztecs host Colorado State at 8:30 p.m. Friday in San Diego. They opened as 6.5-point favorites. 

9. San Jose State (Last week: 11)

After being picked third in the MW preseason poll, the Spartans (1-3) have found a unique way to lose on three separate occasions already this season. The latest came in a 30-29 road loss to Stanford, as they blew a 12-point lead in the fourth quarter. Kicker Denis Lynch has had a disastrous start to the season. His two misses against Stanford brought him to a 4-of-10 mark on the year.

SJSU ranks ninth in the MW in both scoring offense (20.3 points) and scoring defense (28 points allowed). Quarterback Walker Eget leads the conference in total offense at 295.8 yards, but the Spartans have proven to be one-dimensional. They’re 11th in the league in rushing offense at 102.3 yards.

SJSU hosts New Mexico at 8 p.m. Friday. 

10. Colorado State (Last week: 9)

The Rams (1-3) suffered another embarrassing setback with a 20-3 home loss to Washington State last weekend in Fort Collins. While CSU tallied 334 yards of total offense, a 5-of-13 mark on third down (and a 1-of-4 showing on fourth down) led to just one field goal in 60 minutes. With his chair continuously heating up, fourth-year head coach Jay Norvell turned offensive play-calling duties over to associate head coach Matt Mumme this week. Is it too little, too late following a disastrous start to the year in Fort Collins?

The Rams – who were picked fourth in the league’s preseason poll – are 11th in the MW in scoring at 15.3 points and 10th in total yardage at 344.3. The defense hasn’t been the problem, as the unit is fifth in both scoring (23 points allowed) and total yardage (356 yards allowed). 

The Rams open conference play against San Diego State at 8:30 p.m. Friday in San Diego. 

11. Air Force (Last week: 10)

The Falcons (1-3, 0-3) have dug what’s likely an insurmountable hole with three consecutive losses to start conference play. Air Force has given up 142 points in those games, including its 44-35 home loss to Hawaii last weekend. Usually known for their stout defense, the Falcons are dead last in scoring defense at 38.8 points allowed. The unit is also last in total yardage at 466.5 yards allowed.

The offense has carried its weight, as Air Force is second in both scoring offense (37.8 points) and total yardage (469.8). The Falcons have been getting aired out all year, as they are last in the MW at 305.8 passing yards allowed. 

The Falcons travel to Annapolis for their annual rivalry matchup with Navy (4-0) at 10 a.m. Saturday in Maryland. Navy opened as 11.5-point favorites. 

12. Nevada (Last week: 12)

The Wolf Pack (1-3) weren’t able to extend their losing streak against FBS opponents to 10 due to a bye last weekend. Nevada has the worst offense in the league at 15 points per game, and it’s also 11th in total yardage at 339.3. The defense has been marginally better, ranking eighth in both scoring (27 points allowed) and total yardage (380.5).

The Wolf Pack have had poor play out of a pair of quarterbacks. Chubba Purdy is 40-of-73 (54.8%) for 494 yards and one touchdown with six interceptions, and AJ Bianco is 13-of-23 (56.5%) for 106 yards and one touchdown with one interception. It has led to Nevada ranking last in the conference in passing offense at 150 yards per game.  

The Wolf Pack open league action against Fresno State at 8:30 p.m. Saturday in California.