The Mountain West Conference is youngest college athletic conference that is affiliated with the Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). It formally began its operation in July, 1999. It covers a big part of the West United States with most of its members located in Colorado, California, Nevada, Idaho, Texas, New Mexico, and Wyoming. The Mountain West Conference has charter members, which included Air Force, BYU, New Mexico, Colorado State, UNLV, San Diego State, Wyoming, and Utah.

Current members of the Mountain West Conference are United States Air Force Academy (Falcons), Boise State University (Broncos), Colorado State University (Rams), University of Nevada, Las Vegas (Rebels), University of New Mexico (Lobos), San Diego State University (Aztecs), Texas Christian University (Horned Frogs), and University of Wyoming (Cowboys).

The Mountain West Conference sponsors championships in different sports, including baseball, basketball (men and women’s division), cross country (men and women’s division), football, golf (men and women’s division), soccer (women’s division), softball (women’s division), swimming and diving (women’s division), tennis (men and women’s division), indoor track and field (men and women’s division), outdoor track and field (men and women’s division), and volleyball (women’s division). Many members of the Mountain West Conference are included in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.