Much like Air Force’s dual Commander-in-Chief’s and Mountain West Conference goals, the league has its BCS season and the actual race.
The likeliest candidate to break into a BCS bowl game is Texas Christian with its nationally ranked defense and a decent supply of running backs. The Horned Frogs’ BCS dreams could end the second week of the season at Texas. Or in the aftermath of an upset victory. TCU has not done well in those situations, losing to Southern Methodist the week after upending Oklahoma in 2005 and dropping its first two MWC games last season after a 3-0 start.
Brigham Young likewise has a chance only if the Cougars can start 3-0 vs. Arizona, at UCLA and at Tulsa before opening MWC title defense at home against Air Force.
Both preseason favorites are breaking in new quarterbacks. At BYU, the QB is everything. At TCU, he only has to work within the system.
Oddly enough, the team predicted for last place, UNLV, is also going with a first-timer. One more TCU thought: The Horned Frogs have the best-timed bye week in the league, scheduled midway through the MWC slate. San Diego State and Air Force will play 12 weeks straight, with byes in the first and last weeks of the season, respectively.
KEY GAMES
SEPT. 1
Colorado vs. Colorado State (at Invesco Field at Mile High)
Rarely decided before final two minutes.
SEPT. 8
TCU at Texas
Horned Frogs are 3-0 vs. Big 12 and play Baylor the week before the Longhorns.
SEPT. 15
UCLA at Utah
Utes typically do well vs. Pac-10 teams but struggle against the Bruins, who lead the series 8-0.
SEPT. 22
AFA at BYU
Falcons get favorites out of the way early.
SEPT. 29
UNLV at Nevada
Fremont Cannon one of most unusual rivalry trophies.
OCT. 5
Utah at Louisville
Rare ESPN Friday night showcase for MWC vs. Big East power.
OCT. 13
AFA at CSU
Rare Saturday meeting for a Thursday series.
OCT. 20
Wyoming at AFA
Will the Cowboys have their offense together?
OCT. 27
Utah at CSU
Will be Rams’ chance to take control of conference.
NOV. 3
Army at AFA
If the Falcons’ losing streak against Navy is extended Sept. 29, this will be AFA’s chance to shine.
NOV. 8
TCU at BYU
Will the preseason favorites battle for MWC title in a Thursday night showdown?
NOV. 10
AFA at Notre Dame
Huge emotional toll on Falcons the week after Army.
NOV. 17
BYU at Wyoming
With a trip to Laramie, will there be a letdown for the Cougars?
NOV. 24
Utah at BYU
Year in, year out, the best game in the MWC.
FIVE PLAYERS TO WATCH
DE Tommy Blake, TCU, Sr.
Undisputed league headliner if he gets his head on straight. He’s on every preseason All-America list and defensive award “watch list.”
QB Brian Johnson, Utah, Jr.
With nearly two years to recover from ACL surgery, he is on the watch list for the Davey O’Brien Award. Remember, in 2005 he ranked fourth nationally in total offense (337 yards per game).
QB Max Hall, BYU, So.
The Arizona State transfer has yet to take a snap in a Division I game. He had an excellent spring and preseason camp.
TB Rodney Ferguson, New Mexico, Jr.
At 6-feet and 229 pounds, last year’s conference rushing leader (1,234 yards) proved he is hard to take down on the first hit.
LB Beau Bell, UNLV, Sr.
If he ever stays healthy, he will dominate tackles for loss category. Led the Rebels in tackles last season despite missing the last five games.
FIVE NEWCOMERS TO WATCH
QB Andy Dalton, TCU, Redshirt Fr.
Horned Frogs QB only has to work within the system, not carry the run-based team.
TB Frank Summers, UNLV, Jr.
A load at 240 pounds, he gives the Rebels a physical presence in the backfield
LB Ricky Brewer, CSU, Redshirt Fr.
Might be sharing time at first but has physical tools to become an impact player.
RB Harvey Unga, BYU, Redshirt Fr.
Second-generation Cougar could take advantage of suspensions and injuries to veterans.
RB Matt Asiata, Utah, Jr.
When he gets healthy, he could cure the Utes’ woeful running attack.
10 STORY LINES
1 – Can Tommy Blake live up to the hype? The strange saga of TCU DE Tommy Blake didn’t start with him bolting from camp just before classes began. Blake was a no-show at the Mountain West media kickoff in Las Vegas a month ago. Usually players are picked by their coaches as a reward for hard work and a chance for publicity. Blake has been named to four preseason All-America lists. Horned Frogs coach Gary Patterson, who regularly gripes about a lack of publicity in Texas, said Blake had to stay home to work on conditioning after a minor injury. Aren’t those summer workouts supposed to be voluntary?
2 – Will Brian Johnson get any help?While the Utes quarterback returns, Utah lost two-year starting offensive lineman Jason Boone to ACL surgery in preseason camp. Boone was expected to anchor the line. Meanwhile, junior college transfer Matt Asiata, recruited as the answer to Utah’s inconsistent ground game, suffered a setback with a foot injury in camp.
3 – Are these the glory days in Albuquerque? Before Rocky Long turned New Mexico into an annual contender, football was an afterthought in basketball-crazy Albuquerque. The Lobos opened their new $7 million indoor facility this month. The building has a fabric roof, somewhat resembling DIA. No one has ever tried to punt the ball in the airport. (Just think of the security reaction.)
4 – Will the Cougars’ defense survive? In BYU’s preseason camp, season-ending injuries knocked out three seniors – safeties David Tafuna (foot) and Dustin Gabriel (foot) and tackle Russell Tialavea (knee). Redshirt frosh Rick Wolfley (6-feet-3, 326) was moved from the offensive line to the defensive side and has been working with the first team.
5 – Will the league have record attendance? On the heels of the MWC championship, BYU has sold a record 35,000 season tickets. Meanwhile, Utah broke its season-ticket record with more than 24,000 sold by mid-August.
6 – Can Porterie avoid the sophomore slump? Lobos quarterback Donovan Porterie, who showed flashes of vast athletic potential mixed with the expected freshman flubs when he took over in midyear, still is not a finished product. He tossed four interceptions in a scrimmage. He is one of 20, yes 20, returning starters for the Lobos.
7 – Can UNLV do in Year 3 what the basketball team did? Lon Kruger had a better base to work with getting the Rebels to the Sweet 16 in his third season. Mike Sanford is going to feel more than the desert heat soon. It doesn’t help that QB Rocky Hinds is likely out for the year with more knee damage.
8 – Can Kyle Bell revive Colorado State’s fortunes? There’s no question the junior running back will return CSU to the days of a two-dimensional offense. The offensive line remains a bigger question, and the Rams have one of the more challenging September slates.
9 – Is QB Karsten Sween the real deal at Wyoming? He rescued the Cowboys from early disaster last season. He also has one of the league’s most underrated running backs in Wynel Seldon and Devin Moore.
10 – When will San Diego State live up to the program’s potential? The Aztecs have facilities equal to many Pac-10 teams, a big-name coach in his second year and a home that boasts some of the best year-round weather in the country. Look for big improvement on offense while the defense is still rebuilding.
BY THE NUMBERS
2 – TCU’s national ranking in total defense (234.92 yards) and rushing defense (60.85).
4 – TCU’s head count of players returning from the all-conference first team.
9 – Pac-10 foes vs. MWC. Includes UCLA vs. BYU, Utah; Arizona vs. BYU, Lobos.
20 – CSU and New Mexico tied with the most returning starters; both are coming off losing records.
76 – San Diego State has three receivers 6-feet-4 (76 inches) or taller: Darren Mougey (6-6), Chaz Schilens (6-4) and Roberto Wallace (6-4).
