Mountain West Connection Football: Week 7 Players of the Week

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Mountain West Connection Football: Week 7 Players of the Week

SAN JOSE, CA - OCTOBER 09: Wyoming Cowboys quarterback Tyler Hughes (6) rolls out looking for a receiver during the game between the San Jose Spartans and the Wyoming Cowboys on Friday, October 09, 2026 at CEFCU Stadium in San Jose, California. (Photo by Douglas Stringer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Dominic Gutierrez · SB Nation

Mon, Oct 19, 2026 ·

7 min read

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Week 7 brought another wild weekend of Mountain West football, with explosive rushing performances, a record-setting defensive effort and one of the strangest special-teams plays of the season.

Air Force continued its rise as a conference contender by defeating UNLV 41-31, while Wyoming erupted for 41 points against Northern Illinois. North Dakota State bounced back from its first loss with a 31-17 victory over Nevada, and San José State's defense delivered an incredible performance in a 24-11 win at UTEP.

New Mexico also remained unbeaten in conference play, overcoming a halftime deficit to defeat Hawai'i 21-10.

With the Mountain West race becoming more competitive by the week, here are the Week 7 Players of the Week.

Offensive Player of the Week: Tyler Hughes, QB, Wyoming

Tyler Hughes put together one of the most impressive quarterback performances of the season, leading Wyoming to a 41-23 victory over Northern Illinois.

Hughes accounted for 379 yards of total offense and four touchdowns, all on the ground. He was nearly flawless through the air, completing all but three of his pass attempts while repeatedly punishing the Huskies with his legs.

Wyoming finished with 510 total yards and 25 first downs, controlling the game with a balanced attack that became increasingly difficult for Northern Illinois to stop. The Cowboys' offense consistently moved the chains and created explosive plays, turning what could have been a competitive game into a comfortable victory.

The performance was particularly important for a Wyoming team that entered the season looking to establish consistency. The Cowboys improved to 4-3 overall and 3-1 in Mountain West play, putting themselves firmly in the conference race.

Hughes' combination of efficiency, rushing production and scoring ability made him the standout offensive performer of Week 7.

Other offensive performances worth mentioning:

Jackson Arnold, UNLV:Accounted for 324 of the Rebels' 376 offensive yards and three touchdowns in the 41-31 loss to Air Force. Arnold continued to carry a large share of UNLV's offense even as the defense struggled to slow the Falcons.
Viliami Teu, San José State:Rushed for 156 yards and two touchdowns in the Spartans' 24-11 victory over UTEP, providing a major offensive spark while the team played without its usual starting quarterback and running back.
Evan Medders, Air Force:Helped the Falcons continue their dominant ground attack, contributing to a team performance that produced 430 rushing yards and five touchdowns against UNLV.

Defensive Player of the Week: Jayland McGlothen, DL, San José State

San José State's defense delivered the most disruptive performance of the weekend, and Jayland McGlothen was at the center of it.

The Spartans recorded a Mountain West season-high 11 sacks in their 24-11 win over UTEP. McGlothen accounted for 3.5 of those sacks, repeatedly putting pressure on the Miners and making it difficult for them to sustain drives.

The performance was especially impressive because San José State entered the game without starting quarterback Luke Weaver and running back Jabari Bates. With the offense dealing with key absences, the defense needed to create opportunities and keep UTEP from building momentum.

It did exactly that. The Spartans consistently collapsed the pocket, disrupted UTEP's passing game and forced the Miners to work for every yard. The final sack came on the game's last play, capping an outstanding defensive effort.

McGlothen now leads San José State with six sacks on the season. His 3.5-sack performance was the defining individual effort of a defense that helped the Spartans earn a critical conference road win.

Other defensive performances worth mentioning:

Air Force defense:Held UNLV to 31 points while the Falcons' offense did most of the heavy lifting. Air Force's ability to limit the Rebels' opportunities late helped turn a tight game into a 10-point victory.
North Dakota State defense:Allowed Nevada to score just six points after the Wolf Pack took an early 11-0 lead, helping the Bison recover from their loss to UNLV.
New Mexico defense:Shut out Hawai'i in the second half after trailing 10-0 at halftime, allowing the Lobos to remain unbeaten in Mountain West play.

Special Teams Player of the Week: Jackson Williams, WR, North Dakota State

Jackson Williams produced one of the most remarkable plays of the season in North Dakota State's 31-17 win over Nevada.

At the end of the first half, Nevada attempted a field goal that could have helped the Wolf Pack build momentum. Instead, Williams returned the missed kick 100 yards for a touchdown, turning a potentially positive moment for Nevada into a major swing in favor of the Bison.

The return was one of several costly moments for Nevada, which finished with two turnovers and struggled to recover after taking an early lead.

Williams' play helped NDSU regain control of a game in which the Bison had initially fallen behind 11-0. North Dakota State ultimately outgained Nevada 345-286 and improved to 6-1 overall and 3-1 in Mountain West play.

While Williams is primarily known for his work as a receiver, his special-teams contribution was arguably the biggest single play of the game. A 100-yard return on a missed field goal is an extraordinary way to change a game's momentum, and it earns Williams this week's special-teams honor.

Other special teams performances worth mentioning:

Erik Sandvik, Wyoming:Continued to provide reliability in the kicking game as the Cowboys improved to 3-1 in conference play.
San José State special teams:Helped the Spartans manage field position during a game in which the defense consistently gave the offense opportunities to pull away.

The Takeaway

Week 7 reinforced that the Mountain West title race is far from settled.

Air Force may be the conference's most dangerous team right now. The Falcons rushed for 430 yards and five touchdowns in their 41-31 win over UNLV, improving to 5-1 overall and 3-1 in conference play. Their ground game has become a serious problem for opposing defenses, and the upcoming matchup against Wyoming could have major implications for the standings.

New Mexico remains in an excellent position, too. The Lobos improved to 5-1 overall and 2-0 in conference play after rallying past Hawai'i. Their ability to recover from a 10-point halftime deficit demonstrated the importance of staying composed when things do not go according to plan.

North Dakota State responded well after losing to UNLV. The Bison overcame an early deficit against Nevada and improved to 6-1, earning bowl eligibility in their first season as a full FBS member. However, the Nevada game also showed that NDSU still has areas to clean up if it wants to compete for the conference title.

Wyoming deserves attention as well. At 4-3 overall and 3-1 in conference play, the Cowboys are no longer simply trying to get their season back on track. They have a genuine opportunity to remain in the race, particularly with Air Force coming up next.

Finally, San José State's defensive performance was a reminder that games can be won in different ways. The Spartans were missing key offensive players, but their pass rush more than made up for it.

The next round of games should provide even more clarity. Air Force and Wyoming will meet in a matchup between two of the conference's most productive rushing teams, while North Dakota State faces New Mexico in a game that could reshape the top of the standings.

At the halfway point of the season, the Mountain West has several legitimate contenders, and no team can afford to take a week off.

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