By Mark Pszonak
G5 programs are always looking for a program-building victory against a P4 opponent. Mountain West Conference teams have multiple opportunities to accomplish this in 2025. Here are five games to watch that could produce huge wins for the conference:
Boise State at Notre Dame (October 4)
The skinny: Boise State has never been bashful with recruiting top out-of-conference opponents. This is their next opportunity to make a big splash nationally. With both teams playing in the 2024 College Football Playoffs, a win in South Bend would be huge for the program but also give the Broncos an important resume builder in their chase to return to the playoffs in 2025.
UCLA at UNLV (September 6)
The skinny: A unique opportunity for a MWC school to host a P4 school at home. On top of that, the Rebels should be favored as long as they can successfully navigate their season-opener at Sam Houston. There is plenty to prove for UNLV. Can they continue their upward trend without head coach Barry Odom who is now at Purdue? Will Dan Mullen quickly prove himself as an elite G5 head coach? It will all be on the table against a UCLA team that went 5-7 in 2024.
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Utah State at Vanderbilt (September 27)
The skinny: After finishing 7-6 last season, this isn’t your normal Vanderbilt, but it is still a golden opportunity for the Aggies against a lower-level SEC opponent. By the time this game rolls around, a great deal more will be known about a Utah State team that only went 4-8 last season. This will be their fifth game in five weeks, which includes a much more daunting SEC opponent, Texas A&M.
Wyoming at Colorado (September 20)
The skinny: While these states neighbor, this is only their seventh meeting since 1947 and the first since 2009. The Cowboys have plenty of questions entering this season, but so does Colorado, who will still be adjusting to playing without both Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter. The game was recently announced as a sellout, so if the Cowboys can deal with the atmosphere and their opponent, it would be a huge victory for the program.
Fresno State at Kansas (August 23)
The skinny: What better way for the conference to kickoff the 2025 season than a victory at a Big 12 program during Week 0. And they have history on their side, as another MWC team, UNLV, won at Kansas last season. Obviously, this will also serve as motivation for the Jayhawks, but during a season-opener, no one really knows what will happen.
