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Big West overview

Three teams hold realistic hopes for grand finale

By Michael C. Lewis, Special to CNNSI.com

Idaho receiver Jeffrey Townsley looks to lift the Vandals to a title. Idaho sports information

Projected Order of Finish 1. Idaho 2. Boise State 3. New Mexico State 4. Arkansas State 5. Utah State 6. North Texas

Top Storylines

The Big West Conference is not dropping football until the end of the season, so the six teams that comprise one of the country's most unheralded conferences have one last chance at making people notice them. Only three have a realistic shot. Idaho, Boise State and New Mexico State are the top contenders for the final league title and berth to the Humanitarian Bowl. The Broncos are the defending league champions, and they are fairly well-stocked with quarterback Bart Hendricks and 13 other starters returning. But the rival Vandals have 17 starters back for new coach Tom Cable, including quarterback John Welsh and linebacker Chris Nofoaiga. And then there's NMSU, which has been rebuilding under coach Tony Samuel and could take another step toward respectability if the defense keeps improving. The Aggies won six games last season, the most in Las Cruces since 1992. If there is intrigue elsewhere, it probably resides mostly at Utah State, where former Montana coach Mick Dennehy becomes the third coach in the last four seasons. He takes over an Aggie team that will strain to find enough talent to adequately fill the roster.

Where They'll Be for the Holidays
BCS Blessed	Dot-Com Doomed	Confined to Couch
Yeah, right	Idaho	Boise State New Mexico State Utah State Arkansas State North Texas

Best of All Worlds

Quarterback

Boise State Bart Hendricks

Running Back

North Texas Ja'Quay Wilburn, Aaron Holley

Ends

Idaho Jeffrey Townsley, Ethan Jones, Chris Lacy

Offensive Line

Idaho Rick DeMulling, Jeremy Wallace, Patrick Venzke, Jake Scott, Brett Morton, Mike Roberg

Defensive Line

Idaho Wil Beck, Ryan Knowles, Dennis Taeatafa

Linebackers

Utah State (Brent Passey, Blake Eagal, Tony Newson

Secondary

New Mexico State Donald Malloy, Jascon Willis, Marsey Hawley, Robert Canidate

Special Teams

Utah State Brad Bohn, Steve Mullins, Emmett White

Coaching

New Mexico State Tony Samuel, Barney Cotton, Jeff Jamrog

Status Report

Set to Go Skygliding

New Mexico State Samuel seems to have Aggies and their power-I headed in the right direction.

Set to Go Cliffdiving

Utah State A few injuries could turn the shallow Ags into a junior-varsity team real fast.

About to Step Up

John Welsh, QB, Idaho Injury kept him from blossoming last season after a solid sophomore year in '98.

Hasn't Stepped Up Yet

Richard Bridges, QB, North Texas Started last six games in 1999, but five were losses and his job is tenuous.

Schedules

Brutal Schedule

Arkansas State Oh, nobody in particular. Just Oklahoma, TCU, N.C. State and Ole Miss.

Breather Schedule

New Mexico State There's no such thing as an easy schedule in the Big West, given the need for big-money games. The Aggies have the least painful non-conference slate: South Carolina, New Mexico, Georgia, UTEP, Army and Tulsa.

Mark Your Calendar

Boise State at Arkansas, Sept. 16 The Broncos get a shot at former coach Houston Nutt. Don't expect them to land it. New Mexico State at Boise State, Oct. 28 The Ags would have played their first bowl game since 1960 had they beaten BSU last year. Idaho at Boise State, Nov. 18 Rivalry always has title ramifications, and the Vandals have won eight of last nine at Bronco Stadium.

Michael C. Lewis covers college football for the Salt Lake (Utah) Tribune.

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