Mountain West Conference not dead yet

Maybe it's too early to write the Mountain West Conference's obituary.

Recent trends have raised hopes the conference will stay intact, though no one at the league office, aware that conference realignment developments can occur quickly and unexpectedly, is ready to start popping champagne corks.

Even those at schools looking elsewhere aren't sure what to expect.

"It seems to kind of flip each week a little bit," Boise State coach Chris Petersen said Tuesday. "I think the situation we're in is a good one, and if something's out there that's better, then so be it."

Boise State as well as Air Force and San Diego State have given the Big East Conference a close look because all three are interested in Bowl Championship Series automatic-qualifier (AQ) status and increased TV revenue.

But when the final BCS standings are released Sunday, the Mountain West is expected to have stronger numbers than the Big East, which has AQ status. The Mountain West will use those statistics in its argument for a two-year AQ waiver.

With the Big East losing members, there also is little guarantee it will retain its AQ status. Louisville reportedly is telling football recruits it is headed to the Big 12, and Connecticut and Rutgers have made it an open secret they prefer to leave.

And there is a growing movement to do away with AQ status and simply put the top 10 teams in the BCS standings in the five elite bowls.

The Big East, however, is promising more TV money.

A Mountain West school makes $1.5 million from TV, and the Big East is throwing around a $3.7 million figure. But indications are Big East football will end up on NBC Sports Network (currently known as Versus), where Mountain West teams already play. So a school that opts for the Big East should make a little more money, but probably not substantially more.

Those considering the Big East also would have to figure out what to do with their other sports because they couldn't stay in the Mountain West.

Those reasons might be why Boise State still hasn't said it's leaving for the Big East, though indications weeks ago were an announcement was imminent.

"It's not an easy issue," Petersen said. "There are a lot of little things that have got to be worked out."

So maybe the MWC stays intact.

Maybe.

"I think if you have a chance to get into a BCS league ... then it's good for your team and it's also good for your athletic programs," San Diego State coach Rocky Long said. "So if that's a possibility, that would be great."

Yep, the Mountain West should put any celebrations on hold.

AROUND THE MWC

ESPN broadcaster Craig James voted Boise State No. 24 on his Associated Press ballot. His ballot cost the No. 9 Broncos three places because seven points separate them from sixth-ranked Arkansas. AP sports editor Terry Taylor told The Idaho Statesman in an email that despite rules against voter bias the AP has "no reason to step in." ... UNLV went 2-11 last season and looks as if it will finish 2-10 in coach Bobby Hauck's second season. "I think we're night and day from where we were a year ago," Hauck said. "We were more veteran a year ago, but we're a lot tougher. We're a lot further along in terms of guys playing hard. We just need to grow them up a bit, I think." ... Texas Christian kicker Ross Evans' suspension for his arrest might remain in place when UNLV visits. Evans, who has returned to practice, has been charged with misdemeanor criminal mischief after allegedly kicking in an apartment door.

RANKING THE TEAMS

1. No. 18 TCU (9-2, 6-0 MWC) vs. UNLV (2-9, 1-5). A victory gives the Horned Frogs 10 wins for the fourth consecutive season and eighth time in 10 years.

2. No. 9 Boise State (10-1, 5-1) vs. New Mexico (1-10, 1-5). Petersen is tied for first in school history with Tony Knap with 71 victories. Knap also won a UNLV record 47 games.

3. Wyoming (7-4, 4-2) at Colorado State (3-8, 1-5). Quarterback Brett Smith's 2,859 yards of total offense broke the conference freshman record set by TCU's Andy Dalton, who had 2,691 yards in 2007.

4. San Diego State (7-4) vs. Fresno State (4-8). Ronnie Hillman's 1,478 yards is a Mountain West sophomore rushing record, beating the 1,450 accumulated by New Mexico's DonTrell Moore in 2003.

5. Air Force (7-5, 3-4), regular season over. Independence and Military bowls most likely destinations.

6. Colorado State (3-8, 1-5) vs. Wyoming (7-4, 4-2). Mychal Sisson's 10 career forced fumbles tied the conference record held by San Diego State's Heath Farwell and UNLV's Ryan Claridge.

7. UNLV (2-9, 1-5) at No. 18 TCU (9-2, 6-0). The Rebels opened the season against one team (Wisconsin) from last season's Rose Bowl, and they close by playing the other school in that game.

8. New Mexico (1-10, 1-5) at No. 9 Boise State (10-1, 5-1). The Lobos have lost three regular-season finales in a row.

GAME OF THE WEEK

Wyoming at Colorado State. This is the Mountain West's most intense rivalry now that Brigham Young and Utah are gone. No doubt the Rams remember last season's 44-0 beatdown at Wyoming.

ON THE HORIZON

It will be about the bowl bids Sunday. Will Boise State, and maybe even TCU, find a way into a BCS game? Air Force, San Diego State and Wyoming also will find out their destinations.