Mountain West Conference Realignment: Boise State...then who?

Nicholas Pardini wrote an excellent article about Mountain West Conference realignment that could propel the conference into the ranks of "BCS" conferences and grant the MWC the "automatic bid" status. Here's the link:

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/55435-mountain-west-a-bcs-conference-only-if-it-absorbs-wacs-top-teams

Pardini's arguments for removing SDSU and Wyoming and adding Boise State, Fresno State, and Hawaii are sound. However, because the Mountain West Conference charter prohibits the conference from removing teams from the conference without that team's permission (to which SDSU and Wyoming would be silly to consent), the most viable option may be to form a 12-team conference with two divisions.

But first, are Boise State, Fresno State, and Hawaii the best options for conference expansion?

For the past 5 years, there is little argument that Boise State has been the most competitive non-BCS football program outside of the Mountain West in the western United States. I think most Mountain West fans will agree that Boise State is a logical pick, so I will make the assumption that Boise State is in and that there are just two available spots left.

Are Fresno State and Hawaii the next best alternatives? If you’re looking only at national prominence of football programs, then the answer is a resounding: Yes! However, TV market, stadium facilities, and contributions in other sports are crucial considerations.

Fresno State and Hawaii have shown that they would strengthen Mountain West football. The recent national attention on the Warriors and the Bulldogs would benefit the MWC. But Mountain West fans should not ignore a short list of Conference USA teams that could benefit the conference in other ways.

First, the University of Houston could bring the top-10 Houston market into the Mountain West’s footprint. Houston has a good football program and a good basketball program. It would be really nice to improve MWC presence in the great state of Texas! The small confines of Houston’s stadium (32,000) would hurt the Cougar’s chances of an MWC invite.

Tulsa brings a competitive football program and a decent basketball tradition to the table. Its 35K-seat stadium isn’t great, but at least it would compete with bottom-tier MWC schools, like Wyoming (32,580). Tulsa’s market (#61) isn’t great, but it could expand the Mountain West’s image in the Mid-West.

Memphis boasts a top-50 market and a tremendous basketball tradition! Its decent football program also has potential with a 62K+ football stadium. But would a team in Tennessee stretch the Mountain West’s footprint too thin? Probably.

Fresno State has consistently shown that its football program would strengthen the Mountain West. Its central location in the heart of California could solidify MWC presence among California recruits. Fresno’s TV market is near the nation’s top-50 and could potentially increase the Mountain West’s exposure in the top California markets of Los Angeles and the Bay area. FSU doesn’t have a huge stadium, but at least its size (41K+ seats) competes with most lower-tier MWC stadiums. Its 2008 College Baseball World Series title doesn’t hurt either.

Hawaii brings a good football tradition (especially recently), a top-70 or so market, and a decent 50,000-seat stadium. Hawaii’s connection to the Aloha Bowl could also bring a new, exotic bowl site to the MWC. And don’t forget that conference opponents would get an extra home game (13 total) to offset the costs of the trip to Honolulu every other year.

The Finalists

In addition to Boise State, I think the front-runners have to be Fresno State and either Hawaii or Houston.

Fresno State would fit so nicely in the Mountain West’s footprint and give MWC schools exposure and even-better recruiting access in California. The Bulldogs get my vote.

It would be fun to have a Hawaii road trip every other year. And Hawaii seems to offer some nice recruiting grounds year in and year out. Houston, however, has such a nice market. And like FSU in California, Mountain West games at the University of Houston and TCU could strengthen the MWC exposure and recruiting activities in fertile Texas. It would also be nice to give TCU some geographical back-up so they don’t feel lonely out on the outer-rim of the MWC.

So, without further fanfare, here’s a look at a possible 12-team Mountain West Conference, with the addition of Boise State, Fresno State, and Houston:

Alternative 1: East/West Split

MOUNTAIN DIVISION
TCU
New Mexico
Houston
Air Force
Colorado State
Wyoming

WEST DIVISION
Boise State
BYU
Utah
Fresno State
San Diego State
UNLV

Alternative 2: North/South Split

MOUNTAIN DIVISION
Boise State
BYU
Utah
Air Force
Colorado State
Wyoming

WEST DIVISION
TCU
Fresno State
New Mexico
Houston
San Diego State
UNLV

Alternative 3: Rivalry Split
[Each team is matched-up with a “Rival,” based mostly on geography or history. Each team plays its out-of-division “Rival” to conclude the season every year: “Rivals” = BYU-Utah, TCU-Houston, Boise State-Fresno State, Air Force-New Mexico, Wyoming-Colorado State, San Diego State-UNLV]

MOUNTAIN DIVISION
Boise State
BYU
Houston
Air Force
Colorado State
UNLV

WEST DIVISION
TCU
Utah
Fresno State
New Mexico
San Diego State
Wyoming

Here’s what the Mountain West’s bowl lineup could look like:

Fiesta Bowl: MWC #1 v. BCS
Las Vegas Bowl: MWC #2 v. PAC 10 #4
Armed Forces Bowl (Ft. Worth): MWC #3 v. C-USA #2
Poinsettia Bowl (San Diego): MWC #4 v. PAC 10 #5/6
Texas Bowl (Houston): MWC #5 v. Big XII
New Mexico Bowl: MWC #6 v. WAC
Humanitarian Bowl (Boise): MWC #7 v. ACC