Scores, fixtures and picks
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The Mountain West Conference officially mapped out its redesigned landscape on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, releasing the 2026-27 men’s basketball league slate amidst a sweeping realignment shift. Following the departures of Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, San Diego State, and Utah State to the relaunching Pac-12, the Mountain West enters a new era defined by fresh entrants, reshuffled broadcast windows, and revived historical rivalries. Headlighting the league’s rollout is inaugural member UTEP, whose 18-game conference schedule locks into an aggressive 31-game overall campaign, and New Mexico, navigating Eric Olen’s second year as head coach with a slate packed with emotional homecomings and high-profile non-conference tune-ups.
Restructured Horizon: UTEP's Arrival and Conference Realignment
For UTEP head coach Joe Golding, entering the Mountain West requires clearing a high operational bar immediately. The Miners finalized a schedule featuring up to 13 games against 20-win teams from a year ago and seven contests against 2025-26 postseason participants. UTEP will open its regular season in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, taking on Horizon League semifinalist Northern Kentucky on Nov. 2 as part of the Field of 68 24-Hour Marathon. From there, the Miners host UIW on Nov. 8 to open their 50th full season inside GECU Arena at the Don Haskins Center, before embarking on an intense non-conference path that includes an I-10 home-and-home series against NM State (Nov. 12 at home, Nov. 19 away at the Pan-American Center), a trip to Mexico for the Cancun Challenge against College of Charleston and either Eastern Michigan or Kennesaw State (Nov. 24–25), and a Big 12 road test at Colorado on Dec. 1.
Golding’s squad will also stage a seven-game stretch in El Paso anchored by the 65th Annual WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational on Dec. 20–21, which features NCAA Tournament participant Howard, NIT team Kent State, and Summit League semifinalist Omaha. To prepare for this slate, Golding completely overhauled UTEP's 15-man roster, bringing in exceptional physical size—featuring five players standing 6-10 or taller—and a blend of transfer and prep talent. Division I transfers Reid Cason (East Carolina), Augusto Cassia (Ole Miss), Ryan Jackson Jr. (William & Mary), Mikey Kelvin III (FIU), Reese Miller (William & Mary), Leif Moeller (Evansville), Janusz Ratowski (Stetson), and Jace Whiting (Weber State) are joined by JUCO second-team All-American Cam McDaniels, international additions Ivan Perasovic and Youssouf Traore, and a San Antonio prep trio from state runner-up William J. Brennan High School (Donovan Criss, Delano Tarpley, and Isaiah Ward) alongside Kaleb Jackson.
Historic Friction and Pit Reunions for New Mexico
While UTEP integrates 15 new faces, New Mexico presents one of the most compelling narratives in the revamped conference. The Lobos' 18-game conference framework reunites them with UTEP as league foes for the first time since Feb. 20, 1999, when Kenny Thomas dominated with 31 points and 10 rebounds in an 81-65 WAC victory for UNM in the Pit. The programs have split ten non-conference meetings since, a stretch marked by intensity—including a heated practice-ramp dispute between Steve Alford and Tim Floyd at the Pit during the 2011 NIT.
Alford returns to Albuquerque on Jan. 5 alongside fellow former UNM head coach Craig Neal as Nevada visits the Pit, setting up a drama-filled dynamic that concludes on the final day of the regular season in Reno. Adding further intrigue to UNM's home calendar is a Feb. 13 visit from UNLV head coach Josh Pastner. Pastner, who played under Lute Olson at Arizona when Olson swore off scheduling games at the Pit due to home clock disputes, openly invited hostility from the New Mexico fanbase. With 29 of UNM's 32 regular-season games confirmed—including 11 of 14 non-conference dates and an expected matchup against regional Division II foes like Eastern New Mexico or Western New Mexico—Olen’s program faces a crucial balancing act between emotional rivalries and tactical execution.
National Broadcast Package and Showcase Dates
Network partners FS1, CBS Sports Network, and The CW have secured key Mountain West showcase windows, though exact game dates remain fluid to accommodate network broadcast adjustments (allowing Tuesday-Wednesday and Friday-Saturday flex shifts). UTEP secured eight nationally televised conference broadcasts split evenly between El Paso and the road.
| Game Date | Opponent | Venue / Location | Broadcast Network |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan. 2, 2027 | New Mexico | GECU Arena (El Paso, TX) | FS1 |
| Jan. 12, 2027 | Nevada | GECU Arena (El Paso, TX) | The CW |
| Jan. 15, 2027 | at UNLV | Thomas & Mack Center (Las Vegas, NV) | CBS Sports Network |
| Jan. 26, 2027 | at Nevada | Reno, NV | CBS Sports Network |
| Feb. 9, 2027 | Grand Canyon | GECU Arena (El Paso, TX) | CBS Sports Network |
| Feb. 17, 2027 | UNLV | GECU Arena (El Paso, TX) | CBS Sports Network |
| Feb. 20, 2027 | at New Mexico | The Pit (Albuquerque, NM) | CBS Sports Network |
| Feb. 23, 2027 | at Grand Canyon | Phoenix, AZ | The CW |
Evidence-Led Forecast: New Mexico at UTEP (Jan. 2)
When UTEP hosts New Mexico on Jan. 2 at GECU Arena to open Mountain West play on FS1, the matchup will serve as an immediate test of contrasting roster philosophies in the new-look conference.
Likely Tactical Pattern: UTEP head coach Joe Golding will lean heavily on his newly constructed frontcourt size—anchored by five players measuring 6-10 or taller, including Stetson transfer Janusz Ratowski, East Carolina transfer Reid Cason, and prep center Delano Tarpley—to clog the paint and control defensive rebounding. UTEP will aim to slow the pace, force UNM into half-court execution, and exploit high-low interior combinations. Conversely, Eric Olen’s Lobos will look to push transition off defensive rebounds, utilizing perimeter speed to run past UTEP's massive front line before their half-court shell settles.
Decisive Matchup: UTEP’s backcourt cohesion versus New Mexico’s perimeter pressure. With Golding integrating eight Division I transfers and a JUCO All-American in Cam McDaniels, UTEP’s guards (Jace Whiting, Reese Miller, Leif Moeller, Ryan Jackson Jr.) must handle UNM's backcourt ball pressure without turning the ball over. If UTEP's new guards fail to initiate set plays cleanly, New Mexico’s transition offense will invalidate UTEP’s size advantage.
Strongest Counter-Case: The primary vulnerability for UTEP lies in roster chemistry and early-season continuity. Assembling a completely revamped 15-man unit with players coming from high-major, mid-major, JUCO, international, and prep ranks creates real friction against an established conference opponent. If New Mexico extracts early turnovers and hits perimeter shots in transition, UTEP's height will become a defensive liability in space.
What Would Change the Read: Rotation adjustments or injuries during UTEP’s grueling non-conference stretch—specifically the multi-game swings at the Cancun Challenge and the WestStar Don Haskins Sun Bowl Invitational—could alter lineups or force Golding to rely heavily on inexperienced freshman options early in MW action.
Sources
These sources formed the evidence pack for this article. Links open the original publisher; inclusion does not imply endorsement.
- kvia.com original
- ncaa.com original
- sports.yahoo.com original
- cbssports.com original
