There was loads of convention realignment in the previous few years. There are a number of groups becoming a member of the Mountain West in 2026. Right here is the brand new Mountain West workforce in 2026.
North Dakota State Bison
Earlier Convention: Missouri Valley Convention (FCS)
Metropolis: Fargo, North Dakota
North Dakota State has performed school soccer for the reason that 1800s, however is now making the soar to the FBS. They received small school nationwide championships within the Sixties. After succeeding, they received 5 Division II nationwide championships from 1983 to 1990. They moved as much as the FCS degree and have since received 10 nationwide championships at that degree from 2011 to 2024.
The Bison will play within the Mountain West Convention to start out their journey within the FBS. With a number of of the groups within the convention becoming a member of the brand new Pac-12 convention, they made the supply for North Dakota State to make the soar to the FBS.
Tim Polasek has been the coach for the previous two seasons and has solely misplaced three video games general. He received one nationwide championship on the FCS degree. Whereas that’s doubtless not going to occur on the FBS degree, the Bison ought to be aggressive within the Mountain West. They return eight starters, have added some transfers and have accomplished an excellent job of participant growth. With the Mountain West going by a transition interval, they will take benefit.
Northern Illinois Huskies
Earlier Convention: MAC
Metropolis: Dekalb, Illinois
Northern Illinois first competed in soccer in 1899. They joined the MAC in 1975, however bounced round conferences for some time earlier than going again to the MAC in 1997 and staying by the 2025 season. The Huskies will be part of the Mountain West in soccer solely this season.
With a number of of Mountain West groups becoming a member of the Pac-12, it opened up some availability within the convention and Northern Illinois benefitted from that and obtained the invite. Although they don’t match up too intently to different groups within the convention geographically, the Huskies determined to make the soar.
Thomas Hammock has a 35-47 report as head coach of Northern Illinois with a mixture of good and dangerous years. He has a really notable win over Notre Dame, which got here within the 2024 season. The Huskies solely retained three starters and should not have introduced in sufficient expertise to compete within the Mountain West this season.
UTEP Miners
Earlier Convention: C-USA
Metropolis: El Paso, Texas
UTEP began the soccer program in 1914. They have been a member of the Border Convention and Impartial earlier than becoming a member of the WAC in 1968. In 2005, they joined Convention-USA, the place they’ve performed since.
Whereas the Miners haven’t had teh biggest soccer success, they match significantly better geographically with a number of the groups within the Mountain West greater than they did with most of C-USA.
The Miners have 4 starters again, all on protection, from a workforce that received two video games final season. Scotty Walden has received simply 5 video games in his two seasons as head coach and now will face a soar in competitors. New expertise might help, however it could take a couple of years for UTEP to regulate to the competitors within the MWC.
Make certain to take a look at our school soccer web page
for extra content material like New Mountain West Groups in 2026!
You possibly can like The Recreation Haus on Fb and comply with us on Twitter for extra sports activities and esports articles from nice TGH writers!
