SI.com's Stewart Mandel breaks down the 2003 conference race and predicts the final standings.
The top of the WAC standings has become extremely competitive. Boise State finished among the top 15 in the polls last season. Fresno State is just two years removed from the David Carr era. And Hawaii has won at least nine games three of the past four seasons.
Any of the three could be deemed this year's favorite, the most intriguing of which is the Warriors. Record-setting quarterback Timmy Chang, who threw for 4,474 yards as a sophomore, returns to lead what should be coach June Jones' most talented team yet.
Fresno State potentially could start 0-3 and still win the conference -- Pat Hill's ever-fearless Bulldogs open with Tennessee, Oregon State and Oklahoma. Nine starters return on offense, plus star receiver Bernard Berrian, who missed most of last season with a knee injury.
Boise State, last year's WAC champion in just its second year in the league, returns just three starters from an offense that led the nation scoring 45.6 points per game, but one of them is accomplished quarterback Ryan Dinwiddie.
Nevada loses All-America receiver Nate Burleson but regains the services of running back Chance Kretschmer, sidelined by a knee injury last season after leading the nation in rushing as a freshman in 2001. Louisiana Tech quarterback Luke McCown is the nation's leading returning career passer (9,748 yards), but the Bulldogs need to improve significantly on defense.
Of the remaining five teams, SMU appears headed in the right direction under second-year coach Phil Bennett, and San Jose State managed to win six games last year despite having to play nine road games. Rice and UTEP could both be brutal on defense, and Tulsa, 1-11 a year ago, is starting over under ex-Buffalo Bills assistant Steve Kragthorpe.
