The Mountain West Connection extends a huge welcome to our newest conference members: Utah State University and San Jose State University. The Utah State Aggies will join the Mountain Division and the San Jose State Spartans will round out the West Division.

Utah State’s addition the Mountain Division will place them with fellow regional members Wyoming, Colorado State, Air Force, New Mexico and Boise State. The Aggies will also be able to continue rivalries with their old WAC foes now in the West Division: Hawaii, San Jose State, Nevada and Fresno State.

San Jose State’s new home in the West Division places them in proximity to fellow California programs San Diego State and Fresno State. Like Utah State, they will also be able to continue their rivalries with their former WAC foes.

San Jose State presently competes in 16 varsity sports and will be adding a 17th with women's outdoor track in 2013-14. Last year in football the Spartans closed out the 2012 season ranked #21 in the nation in both the AP Top 25 and the USA Today Polls.

Utah State also sponsors 16 varsity sports with the men's basketball program often touted as being their crown jewel. But last year’s football squad might be ready to challenge that claim. In 2012, the Aggies were ranked #16 by the AP Top-25 and #17 in the USA Today Poll.

Here’s a look at the 2013 alignment:

Mountain West Conference

MOUNTAIN DIVISION:

Air Force

Boise State

Colorado State

New Mexico

Utah State

Wyoming

WEST DIVISION:

Fresno State

Hawaii

Nevada

San Diego State

San Jose State

UNLV

So welcome aboard to the SJSU Spartans and the USU Aggies! With 12 teams and two divisions the conference is all ready more fun.