Though this season promises nothing nearly as exciting as the "BYU for BCS" campaign that dominated last year's Mountain West race, the pieces are in place for several teams in the conference to have break-out years.
Colorado State has a schedule stacked with strong OOC foes including Virginia, Colorado, UCLA, Louisville, and Fresno State.
Utah follows the Rams lead picking up games against Indiana, Arizona, and Michigan.
And not to be outdone, both BYU and UNLV have OOC games against teams from the "Major Conferences." (BYU - Syracuse, Georgia Tech, UNLV - Wisconsin, Oregon State).
Fresno State Fans hope to have as much to cheer about this year - Photo by GoBulldogs.com
Three teams combine for 25 wins and get no bowl invite. This isn't the BigTen, it's WAC football. And unlike the "real" conferences, everything that these guys get, they must earn.
The conference looks poised to pull some solid upsets this year, but don't count on any team making the run that Fresno State did last year. Particularly exciting games on the schedule include the following:
August 23 Fresno St. at Wisconsin - Opening at Wiscy. should tell a great deal about where Fresno State is headed this year.
Sept. 7 Fresno State at Oregon - If they topple the Badgers they should enter this game 2-0 against the 1-0 Ducks. Boise State at Arkansas - Look for the Broncos to seek redemption in a game they should have won in 2000. Louisana Tech at Clemson - A rematch of the Humanitarian Bowl. Tech should be more competitive this time.
Returning 10 starters the Louisville D looks tough - Photo by AP
Aside from the MAC, no other conference puts greater fear in the hearts of the "big schools" than teams from C-USA. Florida State, Ohio State, Northwestern, Texas, and more will all get face-to-face with that fear this year as they meet a handful of schools from the unheralded C-USA.
QB Byron Leftwich looks to lead the Herd to a MAC title - Photo by LeftwichQB.com
As I write this analysis of the MAC, I feel strangely connected to those oft ignored small schools. In a nutshell, my connection is of my own making, having much to do with the fact that I write for a small sports site in a world dominated by ESPNs, CNNSIs, and a host of other huge sports conglomerates. I suppose I feel a bit like the player at a small school who is struggling to get a bit of recognition and to be considered on par with the "big boys." Regardles of this newfound comraderie, the MAC has still got several up on me...
While I am still attempting to get anyone to actually pay me for my writing, the MAC has taken great strides and has shown it can compete with almost all of the "big boys" on the division I-A playing field. Last year, MAC schools tumbled rivals from the Big Ten, the SEC, the Big East, and C-USA. Though not as "deep" as the big conferences, the MACs top talent (Marshall, Toledo, BGSU, and newcomer UCF) can play with all but the very best teams in college football today.
