By Lance Tominaga, ESPN Honolulu Web Editor.

The college football season is still in its early stages, but it’s already becoming clear who the top teams are. This is certainly true for the Mountain West Conference’s West Division, of which the University of Hawaii is a member. San Diego State and Fresno State have been impressive thus far, and both Nevada and defending conference champion San Jose State are viable contenders as well. As for UH, the Rainbow Warriors and UNLV have work to do if they have any chance of climbing up the division ladder.

Interesting note: The division is 4-7 against Power 5 opponents so far in 2021.

Here are my current MW West Power Rankings:

1. SAN DIEGO STATE (3-0)

Sept. 4 – Beat New Mexico State, 28-10

Sept. 11 – Beat Arizona, 38-14

Sept. 18 – Beat Utah, 33-31

This Saturday: hosts Towson

2. FRESNO STATE (3-1)

Aug. 28 – Beat Connecticut, 45-0

Sept. 4 – Lost to Oregon, 31-24

Sept. 11 – Beat Cal Poly, 63-10

Sept. 18 – Beat UCLA, 40-7

This Friday: hosts UNLV

3. NEVADA (2-1)

Sept. 4 – Beat Cal, 22-17

Sept. 11 – Beat Idaho State, 49-10

Sept. 18 – Lost to Kansas State, 38-17

This Saturday: BYE

4. SAN JOSE STATE (2-1 overall, 1-0 in MW)

Aug. 28 – Beat Southern Utah, 45-14 

Sept. 4 – Lost to USC, 30-7

Sept. 11 – BYE

Sept. 18 – Beat Hawaii, 17-13

This Saturday: @ Western Michigan 

5. HAWAII (1-3 overall, 0-1 in MW)

Aug. 28 – Lost to UCLA, 44-10

Sept. 4 – Beat Portland State, 49-35

Sept. 11 – Lost to Oregon State, 45-27

Sept. 18 – Lost to San Jose State, 17-13

This Saturday: @ New Mexico State

6. UNLV (0-3)

Sept. 2 – Lost to Eastern Washington, 35-31

Sept. 11 – Lost to Arizona State, 37-10

Sept. 18 – Lost to Iowa State, 48-3

This Friday: @ Fresno State

PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Fresno State QB Jake Haener put on one of the most memorable and gutsy performances in school history on Saturday, practically willing his Bulldogs to a stirring 40-37 upset over No. 13 UCLA. Haener was 39 for 53 for 455 yards and, clearly playing in pain, threw for 2 TDS in the game’s final three minutes to shock the Bruins at the Rose Bowl.

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