MWC: Proving it Belongs With the Big Boys

Fans of the Mountain West Conference have always beleived their conference to be the best non-BCS conference in College Football. After all, since the induction of the current BCS bowl system, the first non-BCS team to crash the party was the MWC's own Utah Utes in 2004. And it was largely BYU who helped pave the way for that to happen, after controversy arose after they were denied BCS consideration in 2001, when they were 12-0 at the time.

This year the MWC has laid down further proof to solidify those claims. In fact, they have even submitted some evidence that they belong among the ranks of the BCS conferences.

Exhibit 1: 3 weeks into the College Football Season, the MWC boasts the second highest percentage of 3-0 teams at 44%, barely behind the 45% of the Big 10, slightly ahead of the 42% of the Big 12 and the SEC, and WAY ahead of the 10% of the PAC-10, and 0% of the ACC. The next highest percentage a non-BCS conference has is Conference USA with 8%.

Exhibit 2: The MWC has fewer losses to current ranked teams than ANY other conference, having only lost 1, and that was UNLV's loss to conference opponent, Utah. The MWC has beaten every non-conference ranked team it has faced. Utah beat Michigan, BYU beat UCLA, and UNLV beat Arizona State.

Exhibit 3: The MWC is 7-2 against teams from BCS conferences this year, with W's over Michigan, Washington, UCLA, Arizona State, Arizona, Stanford, and Ohio, and losses coming to Texas A&M and Colorado. In fact, after going 4-0 against PAC-10 teams just this week, the MWC is now 5-0 against PAC-10 teams this year.

Exhibit 4: The MWC is the only non-BCS conference to have a player listed on ESPN or Sports Illustrated's Heisman Watch Lists. BYU's quarterback, Max Hall, is currently listed No. 6 on each list, after setting a MWC record for touchdown passes in a game, with 7 against UCLA (in 2 1/2 quarters!) Max Hall also has the second most passing touchdowns in the nation, and the third most passing yards. Another BYU player, Dennis Pitta, is number two in the nation in receiving yards.

As you can see from the evidence presented, the MWC is showing that they belong, and putting themselves in the national spotlight. If BYU and Utah can both go undefeated until they meet the last week of the season on Nov. 22nd, that game will indeed be in the national spotlight, as the winner will be contending for a BCS bowl invitation.

NEWS FLASH TO THE REST OF THE COUNTRY: THE MWC HAS ARRIVED.