MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE: Air Force could join exodus, go to Big East
The Mountain West Conference already lost Brigham Young and Utah, and Texas Christian leaves next year.
Now Air Force could join the exodus and head to the Big East Conference in football, with its other sports entering the Missouri Valley Conference.
That's far from a sure thing because Army turned down the Big East on Tuesday, but if the Falcons can work a deal with Navy to join that league, there's still a chance Air Force will make the leap.
If not, Air Force could remain in the Mountain West as a football-only member and still send its other sports to the Missouri Valley.
The Falcons previously turned down the Big 12 Conference because they didn't believe they could compete, and their sports outside of football are overmatched in the Mountain West.
In the Big East, Air Force would get the heavy dollars that come with being an automatic Bowl Championship Series member, in a league not quite as daunting as the Big 12.
The Academy also likes the idea of exposing itself to the population-dense East Coast.
"Our interest is high in the Big East," Air Force athletic director Hans Mueh told The Denver Post.
Boise State also has been the subject of speculation regarding a potential move to the Big East, but that's all it appears to be at this moment, despite a New York Post article to the contrary.
Broncos coach Chris Petersen indicated Monday he would be open to joining the Big East, but on Tuesday he sounded more interested in remaining in the Mountain West.
"I was just stating facts on maybe some merits to go or not," Petersen said. "I think that's a long ways off. I think our president and athletic director are looking at every situation. I think the conference we're in is great. If something happens down the road, they'll make that call."
UNLV almost certainly wouldn't turn down an opportunity if the Pac-12 or Big 12 called but isn't taking steps to join an automatic BCS league.
"Are we trying to align with another conference? The answer is no," UNLV athletic director Jim Livengood said. "We're committed to being the best Mountain West Conference we can be."
The Mountain West is moving toward a football-only working agreement with Conference USA, and momentum continues in that direction.
"I don't know if the total (number of schools) will be 18, 20, 22 or 24," a Mountain West official said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the topic. "I think we're better served being together than separate."
AROUND THE MWC
UNLV running back Tim Cornett is questionable for Saturday's game at Wyoming because of a hip injury. ... Wyoming defensive tackle Mike Purcell is doubtful because of an undisclosed injury. He has 17 tackles, including 1½ for loss and a sack. ... Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore has completed passes to at least eight receivers in every game this season. He also has thrown multiple touchdown passes in 18 consecutive games.
RANKING THE TEAMS
1. No. 5 Boise State (5-0, 0-0 MWC) at Colorado State (3-2, 1-0). The Broncos have scored at least 40 points three times this season.
2. Texas Christian (4-2, 2-0), off. TCU has won a conference-record 19 consecutive Mountain West games, beating the previous mark held by Brigham Young from 2006 to 2008.
3. San Diego State (3-2, 0-1) at Air Force (3-2, 0-1), Thursday. The Aztecs have scored at least one touchdown in 56 consecutive games.
4. Air Force (3-2, 0-1) vs. San Diego State (3-2, 0-1), Thursday. Air Force tries to avoid its first 0-2 start in Mountain West play.
5. Colorado State (3-2, 1-0) vs. No. 5 Boise State (5-0, 0-0). The Rams haven't started 2-0 in league play since 2005.
6. Wyoming (3-2, 0-0) vs. UNLV (1-4, 0-0). The Cowboys made several position changes to try to improve a defense that gave up 548 yards in a 63-19 loss to Utah State.
7. UNLV (1-4, 0-0) at Wyoming (3-2, 0-0). The Rebels open conference play on the road for the fourth year in a row.
8. New Mexico (0-5) at UNR (2-3). Their last meeting was in the 2007 New Mexico Bowl, which the Lobos won, 23-0.
GAME OF THE WEEK
San Diego State at Air Force. The Falcons have been the Mountain West's most disappointing team, and this is their chance to establish momentum in the other direction. It's also important in that respect for San Diego State, which lost 27-14 to TCU on Saturday.
TRENDING
Moore gets most of the attention at Boise State, but much of the Broncos' success is due to possessing one of the nation's finest defensive lines. Boise State leads the Mountain West in total, scoring and rushing defense, and is just behind first-place San Diego State in pass defense.
ON THE HORIZON
Despite its awful start, UNLV plays opponents it can beat in three of its next four games. Only one of those, however, is at home -- Colorado State on Oct. 29. Wyoming on Saturday and New Mexico on Nov. 12 are on the road, and the Rebels have lost 12 in a row outside of Las Vegas. But if the Rebels don't take advantage of this stretch, they have almost no hope, with a closing stretch at Air Force, against San Diego State and at TCU, not to mention Boise State on Nov. 5.
