TCU-Boise State likely battle of exiting teams

It has to be an odd week at the Mountain West Conference offices in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Saturday's game between Texas Christian and fifth-ranked Boise State probably will decide the Mountain West championship, but it's between schools that might not be in the league much longer.

TCU will join the Big 12 next year, and Boise State is all but certain to join the Big East Conference in 2013.

This otherwise should be a joyous week for the Mountain West. If Boise State wins, it takes another step toward getting robbed of an appearance in the Bowl Championship Series championship game, thus keeping the Broncos in the national spotlight. If TCU wins, it most likely breaks back into The Associated Press Top 25.

"I don't know how big (the game) is for the Mountain West, but it's a big game for us," Broncos coach Chris Petersen said. "It's probably the best team we've seen so far. They don't give you anything on defense. You've got to earn every single thing."

TCU coach Gary Patterson was equally complimentary, noting his defense fooled Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore only once in the two bowl games they've played, resulting in a sack.

"We feel like we can play pretty decent defense around here, and he's one of those who has an answer for all of those things," Patterson said.

It could have been an outstanding rivalry, one that might have carried the Mountain West into automatic BCS status. So as much as the conference would like to celebrate this game, no one in Colorado Springs wants to rejoice a future without Boise State and TCU.

AROUND THE MWC

The Mountain West finally received some positive realignment news. Air Force, sources told The Gazette in Colorado Springs, is thinking seriously about staying rather than heading off to the Big East. Boise State insists on a partner to join the Broncos in the Big East to form a Western division, and Brigham Young appears to be the next candidate after Air Force. If neither go, San Diego State is the next likely choice. The San Diego Union-Tribune reported the Aztecs have reached out to Boise State. ...

So where is UNLV in all this realignment talk? The Rebels have been careful not to link themselves with other conferences, and unless they turn around their football program, there probably is no reason to even try. Athletic director Jim Livengood said he and university president Neal Smatresk are focused on "doing the very best we can for UNLV. We're in the Mountain West Conference and we're excited to be in the Mountain West Conference, but we want to do what's best for UNLV."

RANKING THE TEAMS

1. No. 5 Boise State (8-0, 3-0 MWC) vs. TCU (7-2, 4-0). The Broncos' 35-game home winning streak leads the country. Oregon is next with 21.

2. TCU (7-2, 4-0) at No. 5 Boise State (8-0, 3-0). Horned Frogs kicker Ross Evans has scored a Mountain West-record 380 career points. Former New Mexico running back DonTrell Moore scored 356 points from 2002 to 2005.

3. Wyoming (5-3, 2-1) at Air Force (5-4, 1-3). Quarterback Brett Smith has thrown at least two touchdown passes in each of the past three games.

4. San Diego State (5-3, 2-2) at Colorado State (3-5, 1-2). Ryan Lindley has thrown for 11,340 yards, just 25 behind Max Hall's conference record. Hall played from 2007 to 2009 for BYU.

5. Air Force (5-4, 1-3) vs. Wyoming (5-3, 2-1). The Falcons' rally from 14-0 down to beat Army 24-14 on Saturday matched the biggest comeback under fifth-year coach Troy Calhoun. Air Force rallied from a 17-3 deficit in 2007 to defeat TCU 20-17 in overtime.

6. UNLV (2-6, 1-2) at New Mexico (0-9, 0-4). The Rebels have rushed for more than 150 yards in each of the past three games.

7. Colorado State (3-5, 1-2) vs. San Diego State (5-3, 2-2). Defensive lineman Nordly Capi has six forced fumbles, tied for the national lead.

8. New Mexico (0-9, 0-4) vs. UNLV (2-6, 1-2). Linebacker Carmen Messina has consecutive 15-tackle games, putting him fourth on the school's career list with 408. He has totaled double digits in tackles in six of the past seven games.

GAME OF THE WEEK

TCU at Boise State. This game was originally scheduled to be in Fort Worth, Texas, but the Mountain West switched locations after the Horned Frogs made it known they were leaving. That was before the conference realized it also could lose Boise State. Now the teams will meet with the probable Mountain West championship on the line.

ON THE HORIZON

If Boise State wins out, the Mountain West will have five bowl opportunities because the Broncos will be in a BCS game. The Broncos and Frogs are bowl eligible, and Air Force and San Diego State each need just one victory. Wyoming, because it has played two Football Championship Subdivision teams, needs two wins.