Mountain West power ratings: Wyoming is the new No. 1 after toppling Fresno State

Last season, the Hotline published weekly ‘Best of the West’ power ratings that considered not only Pac-12 teams but those in the Mountain West and Brigham Young. The exercise was so popular that we’re adding a MW-specific column to our array of offerings this season.

(All times Pacific)

1. Wyoming (5-1/2-0)

Last week: 3
Result: beat Fresno State 24-19
Next up: at Air Force (4 p.m. on CBS Sports Network)
Comment: Perhaps it was Machiavelli, or maybe Nietzsche or Spinoza. But we’re pretty sure someone once scripted the following dictum: “He who deposes the king shall become the king … until encountering the triple option on hostile ground.”

2. Fresno State (5-1/1-1)

Last week: 1
Result: lost at Wyoming 24-19
Next up: at Utah State (Friday, 5 p.m. on CBS Sports Network)
Comment: Mikey Keene’s fourth-quarter injury wasn’t the reason FSU finally lost. The 24-7 halftime deficit and Mikey Keene’s fourth-quarter injury are the reasons FSU finally lost.

3. Air Force (5-0/3-0)

Last week: 2
Result: did not play
Next up: vs. Wyoming (4 p.m. on CBS Sports Network)
Comment: The Falcons have two weeks to prepare while the Cowboys are fresh off a breakthrough win over the Mountain West’s only ranked team. Tactical advantage: Air Force. Emotional advantage: Air Force. Overall advantage: Obviously.

4. Boise State (3-3/2-0)

Last week: 4
Result: beat San Jose State 35-27
Next up: at Colorado State (6:45 p.m. on FS1)
Comment: Had it all the way.

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

Last week: 6
Result: beat Colorado State 44-24
Next up: vs. Fresno State (Friday, 5 p.m. on CBS Sports Network)
Comment: Major opportunity for the Aggies, who are at home on a short week and could get Fresno State without Keene. Win this, and the bowl math shifts from algebra to basic division.

6. Colorado State (2-3/0-1)

Last week: 5
Result: lost at Utah State 44-24
Next up: vs. Boise State (6:45 p.m. on FS1)
Comment: In case there was any doubt, CSU is dead last in the country in penalties per game (9.6) and nobody’s close. At their current pace, the Rams will finish the season with 115 yellow flags. That takes skill.

7. San Jose State (1-5/0-2)

Last week: 8
Result: lost at Boise State 35-27
Next up: at New Mexico (3 p.m. on MW Network)
Comment: One play didn’t cause the Spartans to blow a 20-point lead, but their failure to stop Boise State on fourth-and-six late in the first half was a killer. BSU’s subsequent touchdown, which narrowed the gap to 27-14, changed everything.

8. UNLV (4-1/1-0)

Last week: 7
Result: did not play
Next up: at Nevada (2 p.m. on MW Network)
Comment: Somewhere in the Book of Revelation, there must be a verse about UNLV becoming bowl-eligible before San Diego State.