The Wolf Pack were led by fourth–year head coach Brian Polian and played their home games at Mackay Stadium.

Polian later returned to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football as special teams coordinator under head coach Brian Kelly after previously serving under head coach Charlie Weis from 2005 to 2009.

The Mountain West media days were held on July 26–27, 2016, at the Cosmopolitan in Paradise, Nevada.

The Wolf Pack were predicted to finish in second place in the MW West Division.

[5] The Wolf Pack had one player selected to the preseason All–Mountain West Team; one from the defense.