Mountain West power ratings: Unbeaten Air Force remains No. 1 as Fresno State rises, Wyoming falls

With a huge third quarter, the Bulldogs defeated UNLV.

Last season, the Hotline published weekly ‘Best of the West’ power ratings that included teams from the Mountain West and Brigham Young in addition to the Pac-12. We’re adding a MW-specific column to our lineup this season because the exercise was so popular.

1. The Air Force (8-0/5-0)

Last week: 1

Result: Won at Colorado State 30-13

Next up: vs. Army (11:30 a.m. on CBS Sports Network)

Comment: It’s easy to imagine some poor Power Five team losing its conference championship game and then being assigned to face

The Falcons face the triple option in the New Year’s Six.

Take the points in that case.

2. Fresno State (7-1/3-1) is ranked second.

Last week: 3

Result: Beat UNLV 31-24

Next up: vs. Boise State (7 p.m. on CBS Sports Network)

Comment: Whatever Jeff Tedford said to the Bulldogs at halftime, he should save it for later. They came back from a 17-7 deficit in the third quarter to defeat UNLV’s upset bid.

3. Boise State (4-4/3-1)

Last week: 4

Result: Beat Wyoming 32-7

Next up: at Fresno State (7 p.m. on CBS Sports Network)

Comment: If not for Colorado State’s defensive collapse, which culminated in CSU’s successful Hail Mary, the Broncos would be unbeaten in conference play heading into Saturday night’s showdown in The Valley.

4. Wyoming (5-3/2-2)

Last week: 2

Result: Lost at Boise State 32-7

Next up: vs. Colorado State (Friday, 5 p.m. on CBS Sports Network)

Comment: Craig Bohl’s case for Mountain West Coach of the Year began strong but is quickly fading — and Wyoming’s recent stumbles are only part of the reason.

5. UNLV (6-2/3-1)

Last week: 5

Result: Fresno State was defeated 31-24.

Up next: New Mexico (3 p.m. on MW Network).

Comment: While we’re on the subject of the MW Coach of the Year… Meet the clear favorite: Barry Odom’s work in Las Vegas is phenomenal. The Rebels will have their first winning season if they win one more game. within a decade. And when was the last time they won eight games in a row? Consider the 2000 season.

6. San Jose State (4-5/3-2)

Last week: 6

Result: Won at Hawaii 35-0

Next up: Idle

Comment: The advantages of playing and losing to USC in Week 0: SJSU now has its second bye of the season and should be fresh for the remaining games against Fresno State, San Diego State, and UNLV.

7. Colorado State (3-5/1-3)

Last week: 7

Result: Lost to Air Force 30-13

Next up: at Wyoming (Friday, 5 p.m. on CBS Sports Network)

Comment: The Rams are averaging more penalty yards (75.6) per game than rushing yards (74). That is not an easy task. Congrats.

8. Utah State (3-5/1-3)

Last week: 8

Result: Did not play

Next up: at San Diego State (4 p.m. on FS2)

Comment: Both teams are coming off byes, so neither team has a competitive advantage. With both teams having three wins, the loser has no chance of making it into the bowl season.

9. Nevada (2-6/2-2)

Last week: 12

Result: Beat New Mexico 34-24

Next up: vs. Hawaii (1 p.m. on Spectrum Sports)

Comment: We never expected the Wolf Pack to rise from the bottom of the power rankings, but wins are wins, and Nevada has two (in a row): New Mexico and San Diego State.

10. New Mexico (3-5/1-3)

Last week: 9

Result: Lost at Nevada 34-24

Next up: vs. UNLV (3 p.m. on MW Network)

Comment: UNLV, Boise State, and Fresno State are among the others.

With only two games left on the schedule, the Lobos have no chance of reaching.500, let alone clinching a winning season. As a result, the Hotline expects to fill a coaching position in Albuquerque.

11. San Diego State (3-5/1-3)

Last week: 10

Result: Did not play

Next up: vs. Utah State (4 p.m. on FS2)

Comment: What could be worse than bad? Worse and

The Aztecs are both boring and uninteresting. With a new stadium and so many empty seats, the administration is confronted with a two-pronged problem with Brady.

Hoke: financial and competitive.

12 Hawaii (2-7/0-4)

Last week: 11

Result: San Jose State defeated them 35-0.

Up next: Nevada (1 p.m., Spectrum Sports)

Comment: We respectfully decline to comment. There are no words to describe what happened in Honolulu on Saturday.