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Posted 11/23/2009 at 02:49 AM
Nothing changed this weekend at the top of the college football heap. That means there’s still lots of angst for one of the unbeaten entries, namely Boise State. The Broncos are #6 in both the poll that counts and the BCS standings, so if the invites were handed out today, Boise State would get one of the major bids. But they’re far from a lock, and that may not change even if if they were to beat Nevada by 50 this coming Friday.
Boise State is still going to have to sweat several games involving other teams. The Broncos need Texas to avoid getting upset. A loss by the Longhorns might knock them out of the “title” game. But they would still garner a BCS bowl bid, and that would be at Boise’s expense. I think that’s the only definite disaster for the Broncos. But it’s not inconceivable that the wrong result in the ACC title game could create a problem. My guess is that the Big East automatic will be that league’s only BCS bowl bid, but if Pittsburgh happens to defeat Cincinnati for the conference crown, there’s at least a small possibility both could get bids.
The bottom line is that, thanks to the unexpected collapse on the part of USC, Boise State is probably going to get the major bowl opportunity. That’s assuming they don’t get stunned this weekend by UNR, of course.
Nevertheless, just the threat of Boise State getting excluded has once again fueled rumors that the Broncos would love to escape the mediocre WAC for the greener pastures of the Mountain West. And the fact is, if Boise is willing to jump, the MWC should send out an engraved invitation right now.
The Mountain West clearly needs to expand to at least 12 schools and force their way into the BCS. It’s a decent enough league right now. But adding the right 3-5 schools and creating a 12-14 team league would be something the big conferences could not ignore. Plus, there is no question in my mind that this would enable the MWC to get a much better TV contract down the road.
Boise State would be an automatic. So would Houston. The Cougars are a major market entity, they are severely limited in the mid-level CUSA, and there’s already a major Texas presence in the MWC with TCU. I believe adding UTEP would also be a big plus. Despite struggling on the gridiron the last couple of years, it’s a very well supported program and the Miners also have a stellar basketball legacy. As for the fourth school, that would be Nevada. UNR has been very successful in both football and basketball, and the Reno/Lake Tahoe market would definitely not hurt the league’s visibilility. Finally, there’s Fresno State, which reportedly wanted to join the original MWC but got shot down.
I really see expansion as a win/win for the schools mentioned as well as the Mountain West Conference. The question is whether BYU will allow it to happen. Make no mistake, that school is the power in the conference, and they may not be excited about the prospect of losing the big bully role they’ve enjoyed since the MWC was formed. And if you think I’m grasping at straws with that assessment, ask the folks at UTEP and Fresno State. I’ve talked with people in the know at both institutions, and they leave no doubt that it was BYU that kept them out of the MWC when it was originally formed.
Right now, everything is just a rumor, and it’s actually just a rehashing of past speculation that hasn’t gone beyond that stage. But with the BCS still refusing to budge, and in fact now going so far as to hire an expensive P.R. firm to try and sell us on the concept that the current system works, it’s time for the Mountain West to take the bull by the horns and kick the BCS door down. And if Boise State happens to somehow get screwed this year, those wheels should be in motion the very next day.
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