Mountain West Faces Potential Single NCAA Tournament Bid

Utah State leads the conference, but New Mexico and San Diego State are on the bubble for at-large consideration.

Published on Mar. 5, 2026

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The Mountain West Conference is in danger of sending just one men's basketball team to the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Utah State currently leads the conference, but New Mexico and San Diego State are on the bubble for at-large bids. Several other MWC teams, including Boise State, Colorado State, Grand Canyon, and Nevada, are also on the fringes of the NCAA Tournament bubble.

Why it matters

The Mountain West has typically been a multi-bid conference for the NCAA Tournament, so the prospect of just a single bid would be a significant setback for the league. It could impact the conference's national reputation and make it more difficult for MWC teams to earn at-large bids in future seasons.

The details

Utah State (24-6, 14-5) leads the Mountain West by one game over New Mexico (22-8, 13-6) and San Diego State (19-10, 13-6). However, Utah State has dropped three of its last four games, while New Mexico and San Diego State have both struggled recently. New Mexico suffered an 82-74 home loss to Colorado State on Wednesday, and San Diego State has lost four of its last five games. Boise State, Colorado State, Grand Canyon, and Nevada are also on the bubble but have work to do to earn at-large consideration.

  • The Mountain West regular season concludes on Saturday, March 7.
  • The 2026 Mountain West Tournament will run from Wednesday, March 11 through Saturday, March 14 in Las Vegas.

The players

Utah State

The current leader in the Mountain West Conference with a 24-6 overall record and 14-5 conference mark.

New Mexico

Currently tied for second place in the Mountain West with a 22-8 overall record and 13-6 conference record.

San Diego State

Also tied for second place in the Mountain West with a 19-10 overall record and 13-6 conference record.

Boise State

One of several Mountain West teams on the NCAA Tournament bubble, currently tied for fifth place in the conference.

Colorado State

A Mountain West team on the fringes of the NCAA Tournament bubble, recently defeating New Mexico 82-74.

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What’s next

The top four seeds in the 2026 Mountain West Tournament will receive a first-round bye. Boise State's clearest path to the NCAA Tournament is to win the conference tournament championship.

The takeaway

The potential for just a single NCAA Tournament bid from the Mountain West Conference this season would be a significant setback for the league, impacting its national reputation and making it more difficult for MWC teams to earn at-large bids in the future. Several teams, including New Mexico and San Diego State, will need strong finishes to their regular seasons and conference tournament runs to secure an at-large bid.