By the close of business Sept. 13, the Mountain West Conference will know whether it has a candidate for a BCS game. That’s the day BYU, No. 16 in the preseason Associated Press poll, hosts Rick Neuheisel and rebuilding UCLA.
BYU finished 2007 with a 17-16 Las Vegas Bowl victory over the Bruins. If the Cougars conquer Washington and then make it two in a row over UCLA, they will have a weekly watch when the BCS standings are announced. And that’s if the MWC favorites make a third consecutive 8-0 run through their conference schedule.
New Mexico has the returning players to factor in the race, as usual. With two home games against BCS teams (Texas A&M and Arizona), the Lobos also could make some national noise. The biggest question is who will be this year’s Air Force, which came out of nowhere in 2007 and had nine wins.
10 story lines to watch
Achieving league balance?
Unlike the 1980s zenith of BYU’s quarterback dynasty, the rest of this league is better equipped to knock off the Cougars than the WAC of yore.
Bye week advantage?
Best-timed bye weeks: After no bye week a year ago, AFA gets a week off after Utah to prepare for Navy. Instead of a September open date, Wyoming takes off Oct. 18 to refuel for the second half of the season.
Will tempers flare at Utah vs. Wyoming?
Utah ran up the score, then tried an onside kick. Wyoming’s Joe Glenn responded with the universal road rage salute. The head coaches have admitted their errors and apologized, but Laramie fans will have a field day with this one.
Two-QB systems in vogue?
Utah had success last year with Brian Johnson and Corbin Louks and looks to do it again. AFA will use Eric Herbort and Shea Smith. UNLV, Wyoming and TCU also could see more than one QB.
Who is the hot coaching prospect?
BYU’s Bronco Mendenhall and AFA’s Troy Calhoun are perfect fits for their schools, but follow-up success could warrant bigger offers elsewhere.
Potential 1,000-yard rushers?
Despite the MWC’s historical roots as a passing league (minus AFA), six running backs return with 928 yards or more from last season. Add CSU’s Kyle Bell, a healthy Aaron Brown at TCU and whoever emerges as this year’s Chad Hall at AFA, and nearly every team has a potential 1,000-yard rusher.
What’s San Diego State’s excuse?
Chuck Long goes into his third year at the program. The school has every recruiting advantage in the world (weather, NFL stadium, facilities, NFL alums), but San Diego State is the only MWC school without a bowl bid in the league’s history. There are no more excuses.
Can you tune in to The Mtn.?
With the niche network now up on DirecTV (without a rate increase inside the MWC footprint), everyone can finally get a look. There’s plenty of midweek feature material and previews on Thursdays and Fridays. Sorry, no games in high-def yet.
This year’s Kevin O’Connell?
The Aztecs QB was a surprise third-round draft pick, and the most hyped 2007 player, TCU DE Tommy Blake, didn’t get a shot at a single camp. This year, Cougars DE Jan Jorgensen has the goods to go out a year early, and UNLV TB Frank “the Tank” Summers is a relatively unknown Sunday player.
On the hot seat?
UNLV’s Mike Sanford has been snakebitten by QB injuries. Basketball rules in Rebel Town, but some improvement is a must in season No. 4. Wyoming fans love Joe Glenn. He showed he’s serious about wanting to stay by making staff changes.
5 players to watch
QB Max Hall, BYU
Fourth all-time BYU showing by a first-year starting QB. Preseason MWC offensive player of the year.
CB DeAndre Wright, New Mexico
Ranked No. 5 CB nationally by one publication.
DE Jan Jorgensen, BYU
Just 1 1/2 sacks from MWC career record. On all the preseason watch lists.
LB Jason Phillips, TCU
Preseason MWC defensive player of the year.
QB Brian Johnson, Utah
Fragile playmaker can do it all when he’s healthy. Greatest asset is his poise.
5 newcomers to watch
QB Ryan Lindley, San Diego State
Redshirt freshman. San Diego product has taken over the Aztecs’ offense.
LB Gabe Knapton, Wyoming
All-MWC future expected for Colorado product.
DE Braylon Broughton, TCU
Named preseason MWC freshman of the year.
WR O’Neill Chambers, BYU
Recruit from Florida drawing raves in practice.
DT Dave Kruger, Utah
Highly rated recruit moves immediately into two-deep rotation.
By the numbers
$1.7 mil Cost of two new scoreboards at Wyoming’s War Memorial Stadium. The north end zone will feature an HD board.
13,000 Hours of league programming on The Mtn. in two years. MWC commissioner Craig Thompson said the league would have had only about 70 hours had it stayed with ESPN.
16 BYU’s preseason AP ranking and MWC winning streak.
10 BYU’s winning streak (nation’s longest). Last loss was 55-47 at Tulsa on Sept. 15.
7 Utah’s bowl game winning streak is the second longest in the nation. Three coaches have combined on the streak.
5 Bowl teams in 2007, a league record. MWC is locked into four this season.
3 Coaches who played QB at their alma maters — Air Force’s Troy Calhoun, CSU’s Steve Fairchild and New Mexico’s Rocky Long.
3 Returning 1,000-yard rushers — Darrell Mack, Utah (1,204); Rodney Ferguson, New Mexico (1,177); and Harvey Unga, BYU (1,227).
2 Top 25 BCS teams on MWC schedules — UNLV at No. 15 Arizona State on Sept. 13 and TCU at No. 4 Oklahoma on Sept. 27.
Key games
Aug. 30 Utah at Michigan
Big House as big as it gets.
Sept. 6 Air Force at Wyoming
MWC schedule starts with a big rivalry.
Sept. 13 UCLA at BYU
BYU beat Neuheisel-coached Washington in 1999.
Sept. 20 Wyoming at BYU
Cougars begin their title defense.
Sept. 27 TCU at Oklahoma
Horned Frogs pulled an upset a few years ago.
Oct. 4 UNLV at CSU
Bottom two teams in preseason poll.
Oct. 11 Utah at Wyoming
Watch out for onside kicks.
Oct. 16 BYU at TCU
One of two games that could determine the title.
Oct. 23 New Mexico at Air Force
Lively series with bowl implications.
Nov. 1 BYU at CSU
Will Cougars be distracted by BCS chatter?
Nov. 8 Wyoming at Tennessee
Will Vols pay attention to the break from the SEC?
Nov. 15 BYU at AFA
Cougars better not look ahead to Utah.
Nov. 22 BYU at Utah
Biggest stakes ever for best game of the year?
