The Mountain West is still searching for that signature win, and it is running out of time. Many teams in the conference have had their shot at a “power five,” and some of them have been ranked, but all have fallen short.
Boise State gave it a good effort versus #18 Ole Miss at the opening of Thursday night college football. Boise State trailed the Rebels 7-6 at the end of the third quarter, but a 28 point fourth quarter for Ole Miss made the game seem — at the surface — like a route. It looked as if the Broncos ran out of gas.
Boise State for years has been the bell cow for the Mountain West and the WAC. Boise’s notoriously upset Oklahoma, Oregon and Georgia, to name a few. But, in the last few years, Boise has fallen slightly. Just last year, it lost its long time coach Chris Petersen to Washington. Is Boise State even the favorite in the Mountain West anymore? Will Boise State pull off any more monumental upsets? If not, will anyone else in the Mountain West?
Fresno State, last year’s BCS buster for most of the year, has come up empty in a big way on two separate occasions. In week one, it was obliterated by #13 USC 52-13 and in week two, Fresno suffered a huge embarrassment by Utah, 59-27. I guess replacing Derek Carr will be harder than anticipated.
UNLV fell flat on its face in week one versus Arizona. The Rebels lost 58-13, while nearly giving up 800 total yards to the Wildcats.
Hawaii has come up short on two different occasions, both versus Pac-12 schools. In week one, it lost to Washington 17-16 after some suspect officiating late in the game. In week two, its comeback bid came up short, as they lost to Oregon State 38-30, after trailing 38-7 going into the fourth quarter. Based on the state of Hawaii, football the past couple of years these could be viewed as moral victories.
San Jose State was demolished by the national runner-up Auburn 59-13 in week two, and New Mexico did not even compete: at home versus #17 Arizona State, it lost 58-23.
Utah State surprisingly got blown-out 38-7 by Tennessee in Knoxville. Tennessee was breaking in a lot of new players and the Aggies welcomed back Heisman sleeper Chuckie Keeton from an ACL injury he sustained last year.
The closest Mountain West upset bid so far was San Diego State. The Aztecs had a lead for most of the game, but a late rally by #23 North Carolina and turnovers sealed San Diego State’s fate, as they fell 31-27.
Nevada actually clinched the conference’s first win of the year versus a “power five” team, as it knocked off the Cougars of Washington State at home 24-13. Now, while Wazzu is “power-five” it is one of the weaker teams from that distinguished group.
Opportunities are still out for the taking for the Mountain West. Wyoming plays #2 Oregon and then a few weeks after that, it plays #13 Michigan State. Nevada plays Arizona this upcoming weekend. Boise State, Utah State, UNLV and Nevada all play #25 BYU. San Diego State plays Oregon State. Colorado State plays Boston College. Fresno State takes on Nebraska. Utah State plays Wake Forest but — like Wazzu, — Wake is one of the worst “power-five” teams around.
The Mountain West, as a whole, would benefit greatly from a banner type victory. Who will get the victory remains to be seen.
