NCAA Mountain West Conference: Power Ranking The New Realignment

With the NCAA Mountain West Conference set to expand in the next one to two years to 10 teams (Utah and BYU are leaving), it's time that we start grouping these teams together. Soon enough they will be going head-to-head year in and year out on Saturdays.

The conference's biggest addition will be Boise St, which is joining in 2011. Nevada and Fresno St. will be joining next year or the year after. Officials of the Mountain West will be rooting for all three of these teams to have successful seasons knowing it will only bring more credibility to the conference. 

Even though they aren't in the same conference this season, let's take a look at how each team stacks up. 

BCS Bowl Contenders

Boise St. 

The Broncos come into the 2010 season with hopes of competing for a national championship. They will find out right away whether or not that dream has a chance of coming true. Virginia Tech will give the Broncos all they can handle, in what could end up being one of the best games of the season. 

TCU

After a disappointing loss to Boise St. in the Fiesta Bowl, the Horned Frogs and their ferocious defense will look to rebound. Another BCS bowl appearance is quite possible, if they are able to run the table. Like the Broncos, TCU opens up with a tough home game against an Oregon St. team that could spoil the Horned Frogs' BCS bowl game hopes.

Good, but Not Elite

Utah

In what will be the Utes' last hurrah in the MWC, they will be looking to spoil TCU's title hopes and take the conference title one last time. It will be bittersweet for Utah to leave the conference that they helped put on the map. The Utes have a tough non-conference schedule, which features Big East favorite Pittsburgh, Notre Dame, and Iowa St. It will be a schedule that will give them a chance to make some noise and, if all goes well, possibly find themselves in a BCS bowl game.

BYU

The Cougars are being slated to finish third in the MWC behind Utah and TCU. They are replacing their quarterback and both running backs, but are returning four starters to their offensive line. BYU opens up with a tough game at home against Washington and then is on the road for their next two games against Air Force and Florida St. The Cougars will find themselves near the top of the MWC again and in another bowl game. 

Nevada

Nevada poses the biggest threat in conference to Boise St. The Wolf Pack has an explosive offense led by quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Whether or not their defense will be able to hang with opponents this season is unknown. Nevada will get a shot at taking down future conference opponent BYU, September 25th. 

Solid, but Nothing Special

Fresno St.

Without Ryan Matthews, who is now set to tear it up for the San Diego Chargers, the Bulldogs rushing attack isn't as fearful as it was a year ago. Fresno St. still boasts a solid ground game and it doesn't hurt that they are returning all five starters on the offensive line. The Bulldogs' true test will be when they face Nevada and Boise St. in consecutive weeks.

Air Force

Troy Calhoun is in his fourth season with the Falcons and will be looking to improve on back-to-back 8-5 seasons. It will be a tough task with new faces on the offensive line and a passing attack that isn't anything special. Air Force starts off the season with an easy game against Northwestern St., but it gets much harder with BYU and a road trip to Oklahoma on the schedule. 

Wyoming

A young team combined with a tough schedule makes it hard to believe the Cowboys will be able to improve on last season's 6-6 mark. Their non-conference schedule features Boise St. and Texas. Not to mention that they will have to face conference powers Utah, TCU, and BYU in a three week span. The Cowboys aren't a bad team, they just don't have the experience to compete with their tough schedule.

The Not So Good

UNLV

The Rebels have been disappointing over the past few years and have gone through numerous coaching changes. Bobby Hauck will hope to change that, but it may not be this season that he gets it done. UNLV is in a transition year with a new coach and it is likely they will struggle early on. A tough schedule isn't exactly the cure for a program that has one bowl berth in its last 15 years.

San Diego State

It was 1998 when the Aztecs last made a bowl game and they will need their signal caller, junior Ryan Lindley, to have a big season if they want to improve on their 4-8 mark from a year ago. The Aztecs non-conference schedule isn't too difficult, but the biggest question is, can they compete against other MWC opponents? 

The Bad

Colorado State

The Rams are going to be starting a freshman quarterback and there is a good chance it won't end up pretty. Colorado St. will likely drop from a four win team down to a two or three win team. Right now the Rams are playing for a few years down the road.

New Mexico

New Mexico is simply in a rebuilding stage. A few years ago they were a nine win team, but after last season's 1-11 campaign it is likely it will be another long season for the Lobos. Head Coach Mike Locksley knows he has a tough road ahead and a tough schedule, which isn't good news for New Mexico.