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LAS VEGAS, Nevada 鈥� Remember Year One of the Danny Gonzales era?

It was a little different. For starters, there was a global pandemic. The transfer portal was just kicking into the clip that鈥檚 made it a polarizing subject among college coaches, administrators and fans. Names, Imabe and Likeness (NIL), perhaps the most intriguing and impactful force upon the future of college athletics, wasn鈥檛 even legal.

The portal and NIL, among a bevy of new rules and new structures? These days, they鈥檙e a fact of life.

鈥�(It鈥檚 been) very challenging,鈥� Gonzales, New Mexico鈥檚 head football coach said on Thursday at the Mountain West football media days. 鈥淏ut I think it was the adjustment we had to make to be competitive for everybody. They made new rules. You can sit back and cry about it and complain and say it鈥檚 not fair.

鈥淥r you can do the best you can to be successful by adjusting your plan.鈥�

Entering Year Four, Gonzales discussed some of the changes that have defined the last few years and proposals around the Mountain West and college football as a whole:

鈥� When asked for any updates on his program鈥檚 partnership with UNM collective 505 sa国际传媒官网网页入口 Venture Foundation, Gonzales didn鈥檛 have any. He knows a number of his players 鈥� quarterback Dylan Hopkins and running back Andrew Henry, to name a couple 鈥� are under contract, but doesn鈥檛 and can鈥檛 dabble in the business or setup.

But he did echo 505 SVF director Kurt Roth鈥檚 previously reported thoughts.

鈥淓verybody needs to be on the same playing rules,鈥� Gonzales said. 鈥淚 think having (different) state laws, state-to-state, and then having the NCAA say, 鈥榳ell, we鈥檝e got our parameters but your state can do this,鈥欌�� they鈥檙e just opening (themselves) up for lawsuits.

鈥�(SEC commissioner) Greg Sankey said it, (Mountain West commissioner) Gloria Nevarez said it: we need somebody, whether it be Congress or the federal government, to establish guidelines (to get) everybody on the same playing field.鈥�

鈥� Among the most popular topics in Vegas? The Mountain West鈥檚 impending transition away from divisions. For the first time since the implementation of two divisions in 2013, league standings will run from 1-12 with the top two teams at season鈥檚 end meeting for the league championship.

In talking through the change, nearly every coach said he was in favor of the adjustment. Gonzales was no different.

鈥淚t鈥檚 more positive than negative,鈥� Gonzales said. 鈥�(The) Mountain West is a great league. I think we鈥檙e one of the top six leagues (and) we need to give ourselves the best chance to continue having our champion be an automatic qualifier in the new (expanded playoff, set to begin in 2024) and have our champion be an automatic qualifier in next year鈥檚 New Year鈥檚 Six bowl.鈥�

鈥� When New Mexico travels to Texas A&M to start its season, the Lobos will experience three new rule changes. Clocks now run following first downs, consecutive timeouts are no more and if the first or third quarter ends with a defensive penalty, it鈥檒l carry over as opposed to extending the quarter.

At least one rule, approved by the NCAA Playing Rules Panel in May, has caught Gonzales鈥� eye.

鈥淵ou鈥檙e asking the defensive guy if he doesn鈥檛 like the clock running,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 outstanding, those little changes. Let that clock run as long as they want 鈥� if it鈥檚 running, they ain鈥檛 scoring points.

鈥淚t鈥檒l be an adjustment. If you鈥檙e behind, you鈥檙e gonna definitely have to keep an eye on that. It鈥檚 a pretty significant change, but TV kind of controls our world right now and that鈥檚 what it鈥檚 all based for.鈥�

鈥� This spring, Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze became the newest proponent for an idea that鈥檚 rattled around in college football the past few years: in-state intrasquad spring games. Freeze鈥檚 proposal hinges on the potential for reduced injuries, increased fan interest and more competitive exhibitions.

When asked about the idea, Gonzales said he found it interesting but maybe not perfect. He pointed out how it would detract from what he largely enjoys about spring ball, the process of seeing and nurturing improvement without having to worry about beating another opponent.

鈥淚t鈥檇 change your focus,鈥� he said, 鈥�(But) your guys get tired of running into each other. So I鈥檇 be for it.鈥�

Which leads to another question 鈥� who would Gonzales want New Mexico to play in a spring game? An FCS team? FBS?

鈥淚鈥檇 play anybody,鈥� Gonzales said.

Like New Mexico State?

鈥淚 would rather not play them,鈥� he answered. 鈥淚鈥檇 like to save that for the season.鈥�

Rivalry aside, Gonzales did mull over a 鈥渏amboree鈥� of sorts, where the state鈥檚 five college football programs in UNM, NMSU, Eastern New Mexico, Western New Mexico and New Mexico Highlands could pair up teams against each other for a quarter or so before rotating onto the next.