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Mountain West Media Days concluded yesterday and the event gave us the chance to familiarize ourselves with the new faces in the conference. It also gives us the opportunity to set our expectations for this fall, despite the league not releasing a preseason poll. Yesterday, Jeremy gave us an excellent
rundown of the opening day that include preseason teams and players of the year.
Per the usual, day two tends to focus more on the coaches. Here is the rundown of everything we learned from yesterday’s event with coverage of each team.
The commissioner kicks things off
Day
let’s gooooo
Commissioner
@GloNevarez on stage with
@JKurtz_MWN &
@KarliePDrew to kick things off
Watch live on MW+
https://t.co/QGYFI0e21gpic.twitter.com/Mqfk9I9QML
— Mountain West (@MountainWest)
July 16, 2026
Commissioner Nevarez also explains why the conference decided to hold Media Days
" - , , …
pic.twitter.com/sBkmzrepSj
— Mountain West (@MountainWest)
July 16, 2026
The head coaches are ready to roll
Head coaches front and center on day two
#MWFB |
#BuiltBoldpic.twitter.com/sNc7Sd2SLT
— Mountain West (@MountainWest)
July 16, 2026
Meanwhile at Mountain West media day, the Old Trapper mountain man mascot enjoys some College Football 27, says the transfer portal has been around since the 1800s when it was simply called Manifest Destiny to seek better resources and opportunities!
pic.twitter.com/CHbbeVE0Fx
— RedditCFB (@RedditCFB)
July 16, 2026
Air Force
Troy Calhoun talks about this year’s Air Force squad
"' – , , , … ' ."…
pic.twitter.com/sX8C142Y7Z
— Mountain West (@MountainWest)
July 16, 2026
Hawaii
Can Timmy Chang and the Rainbow Warriors build on the momentum of last season?
#HawaiiFB head coach Timmy Chang now live on the Mountain West Network live show.
pic.twitter.com/xztQq6XNxT
— Christian Shimabuku (@c_shimabuku)
July 16, 2026
#HawaiiFB@CoachTimmyChang time at Mountain West Media Days! Coach will join
@KyleGaldeira and I live on
@HIsportsradio this morning. Tune in 8-10 a.m. HT
https://t.co/ooAxA4EyFbpic.twitter.com/mTlSXddjih
— Ku'ulei (@KuuleiAgbayani)
July 16, 2026
" , ' ' . ' … ' ."…
pic.twitter.com/xp02yfnw7U
— Mountain West (@MountainWest)
July 16, 2026
Nevada
Coach Choate gives his thoughts on the transfer portal
"I'd be disingenuous if I said I hadn't taken advantage of opportunities in my career."
"If the kid's goal is to go on and play at Notre Dame, that doesn't bother me."
Nevada head coach Jeff Choate weighs in on transfer portal talk at Mountain West media days
#BattleBorn.
pic.twitter.com/wDzxCFSwON
— Grant Kiefer (@KieferMedia)
July 16, 2026
How do the newcomers feel about Nevada football?
From 5 p.m. last night: Hear what the newcomers in the Mountain West have to say about Nevada ahead of the 2026 season.
#BattleBornpic.twitter.com/JbioHmeyGM
— Grant Kiefer (@KieferMedia)
July 16, 2026
New Mexico
Coach Eck looking sharp as he discusses the 2026 Lobos
Lobo tie & the Zia on the socks.
@Coach_Eck representing New Mexico on Media Day 2.
#GoLobos |
#RealOnes26pic.twitter.com/SMCVOv4vBB
— New Mexico Football (@UNMLoboFB)
July 16, 2026
The Lobos are well represented on the preseason all-conference team
Five University of New Mexico football players were named to the preseason all-Mountain West Conference team in voting released by the league Wednesday morning during the opening salvo of the league’s annual Media Days in Las Vegas, Nev.
https://t.co/fanZaWXEiy
— Santa Fe New Mexican (@thenewmexican)
July 16, 2026
Eck gives his thoughts on some important players
Jason Eck on LB Jaxton Eck: "It's funny now. You talk to people from Power Four schools and they'll tell me, 'oh yeah, he was on our board!' Because they were looking and evaluating players in the Group of Five and the FCS for moving up and things.
"So I do get that sometimes.…
— Sean Reider (@lenaweereider)
July 16, 2026
Jason Eck on Layne: "He has thrown full this summer and, you know, we still wanna be smart with him. Try to keep him on some pitch counts and make sure he's not wearing it out. But we expect him to be back and do a good job for us."
https://t.co/tvorOXBFqd
— Sean Reider (@lenaweereider)
July 16, 2026
North Dakota State
TIm Polasek discusses the Bison’s move to the Mountain West
NDSU Football Head Coach Tim Polasek joins The Insiders live from Mountain West Media Days
LISTEN:
https://t.co/UfacYInEZrpic.twitter.com/j5aljq2RdX
— Bison 1660 (@Bison1660)
July 16, 2026
Polasek talks about the importance of adding more players during spring ball
Live from Las Vegas,
@CoachTimNDSU touches on adding more players to the
@NDSUfootball roster throughout the spring
pic.twitter.com/CnnfQYFOUE
— Hot Mic with Dom Izzo (@HotMicWDAY)
July 16, 2026
The offensive line is a strength of this Bison squad
ICYMI:
@NDSUfootball head coach
@CoachTimNDSU talks more on Griffin Empey and the offensive line
pic.twitter.com/TreINGlhl7
— Hot Mic with Dom Izzo (@HotMicWDAY)
July 16, 2026
Northern Illinois
How does Coach Harley feels about the Huskies move to the Mountain West and his team’s chances heading into the 2026 season
NIU fans, we're about to go LIVE on MW+ for Mountain West Media Days, subscribe with no pay needed to tune in!
https://t.co/1uIdSFJby1#GoHuskies#BuiltBoldpic.twitter.com/LmrGaTvJOZ
— NIU Athletics (@NIUAthletics)
July 16, 2026
San Jose State
Coach Niumatalolo discusses what the Spartans need to do to rebound from a disappointing 2025 season
San Jose State football head coach Ken Niumatalolo joins The Insiders live from Mountain West Media Days
LISTEN:
https://t.co/m1lI9lxD8upic.twitter.com/cNwI4t2FGx
— Bison 1660 (@Bison1660)
July 16, 2026
Coach Niumatalolo has high hopes for his new quarterback
San Jose State head coach Ken Niumatalolo says former
#HawaiiFB quarterback Luke Weaver caught his eye in the Hawai’i Bowl, back when he came off the bench and threw the winning touchdown. Weaver is now in the running to be QB1 for the Spartans.
pic.twitter.com/mO62NDf4nB
— Christian Shimabuku (@c_shimabuku)
July 16, 2026
Niumatalolo has been around for a long time, he reflects on his long journey
Hawai'i native Ken Niumatalolo reflects on entering 37th year of coaching journey, reuniting with Radford & UH teammate Brian Norwood at San Jose State ahead of 2026 season • For continuing coverage from Mountain West Media Days
https://t.co/mR4UHIAFGM @ken_niumatalolo…
pic.twitter.com/AY18Ekx7nn
— Rob DeMello (@RobDeMelloKHON)
July 16, 2026
UNLV
Coach Mullen gives his thoughts on the new Mountain West and the upcoming season
UNLV Football Head Coach Dan Mullen joins The Insiders live from Mountain West Media Days
LISTEN:
https://t.co/QDcObUsRhepic.twitter.com/G9PHxMakL3
— Bison 1660 (@Bison1660)
July 16, 2026
Rebel Daily Drive 7.16.2026 | Mountain West Media Days Interview with UNLV Head Coach Dan Mullen
https://t.co/4WDvPRZfUR
— The Scarlet Standard (@SS_MediaLV)
July 16, 2026
Mullen discusses the importance of retaining his coaching staff
UNLV head coach Dan Mullen on how retaining much of his coaching staff will make the team more successful in Year Two:
pic.twitter.com/aY2YpxzrdX
— Derek Hegna (@DerekHegna)
July 16, 2026
UTEP
Scotty Walden talks about his team’s new conference and why he believes they will be improved this fall
UTEP Football Head Coach Scotty Walden joins The Insiders live from Mountain West Media Days
LISTEN:
https://t.co/oPjQeh84iMpic.twitter.com/WNWCmDZbib
— Bison 1660 (@Bison1660)
July 16, 2026
Coach Walden has some advice for young coaches
At age 26, Scotty Walden became the youngest coach in college football with
@GoETBUTigers in East Texas.
Now, the
@UTEPFB head coach (
#PicksUp) gives his advice to all young football coaches trying to break through and find success.
pic.twitter.com/2GaPaxJnKo
— Bryce Brauneisen (@brycebrauny)
July 16, 2026
Reporting in with Coach Walden for day 2 of Mountain West Media Days!
#PicksUp |
#WinTheWestpic.twitter.com/hvJVYzF2dL
— UTEP Football (@UTEPFB)
July 16, 2026
Wyoming
The pressure is on for Jay Sawvel and the Cowboys
Day 2 of Mountain West media days. Cowboys HC
@JaySawvel will be live on MW+ at the bottom of the hour.
#mwfb#gowyopic.twitter.com/yzva82EaaP
— Ryan Thorburn (@By_RyanThorburn)
July 16, 2026
Sawvel is excited for the new Mountain West and he is not a fan of Pullman, Washington
Wyomijng coach Jay Sawvel at Mountain West media days:
“A year ago, there was just this cloud, right? We come to these media days, and it was like, ‘OK, there’s ‘those’ guys, and then there’s ‘these’ guys.’ Now, we don’t have ‘those’ guys. They’re out. They can do whatever. They…
— Alex Taylor (@alex_m_taylor22)
July 16, 2026
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