Richard and Alex preview the Mountain West in 2025, starting with the same team that’s favored every year and then going in no particular order:

* Boise State still looks like the class of the league

* San Jose State has leveled up, but now Ken Niumatalolo confronts life without an All-American receiver

* UNLV is the apple of Richard’s eye with Dan Mullen in charge

* Colorado State made strides last year, but were they real, or were they just the result of a lousy schedule? Does it matter?

* Fresno State wipes the slate clean, but we’re optimistic

* Hawaii looks a lot better than we both thought they would

* Air Force should get back to business the way it used to be done

* San Diego State was shockingly bad on offense in Sean Lewis’ first year. How much does that change our feeling on them?

* Utah State made a great hire, but it’ll take some time

* Wyoming is still searching for an identity

* New Mexico is a blank canvas, and a new coach from FCS is trying something different

* Nevada is a hard job that continues to be hard

The episode wraps with preseason award nominees from the hosts for the SZD Dude of the Year, the Low-Key Cool Game of the Year, the Minority Coach of the Week In an Interesting Schematic Spot (of the Year), and the Coach Who’s Not Gonna Be Here Next Year. Producer: Anthony Vito.

Catch up on all of our 2025 previews

In reverse chronological order:

* ACC

* Conference USA

* Big 12

* MAC

* Pac-12 and FBS independents

* Sun Belt

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College Football Previews 2025: Mountain West

Split Zone Duo: College Football Podcast