Here's a quick look at the 16 Western Athletic Conference football teams as the WAC goes into its second season after expansion. Overall and conference records are included in parentheses.
Next week: Mountain Division previewPacific Division
Air Force (6-5 overall, 5-3 WAC): The Falcons beat Notre Dame in OT, but they suffered three losses by a total of seven points and a fourth by five. Air Force ranked second nationally in rushing (328.9 yards a game), and coach Fisher DeBerry has retooled the line, flip-flopping the larger tackles inside and the quicker guards outside. QB candidate is Blane Morgan - younger brother of graduated standout Beau Morgan.
Colorado State (7-5, 6-2): The Rams join BYU in the lower levels of many preseason Top 25 lists - and they were picked by the WAC media to not only face the Cougars in the conference's Dec. 6 championship game but to beat them. A tough non-league schedule includes Colorado, Oregon and Nebraska. QB Moses Moreno and 1,000-yard rusher Damon Washington return. Key will be if coach Sonny Lubick can return the CSU defense to its former glory.
Fresno State (4-7, 3-5): Longtime coach Jim Sweeney is gone, replaced by one-time assistant Pat Hill, who comes from the NFL's Baltimore Ravens. Headlining the offense is running back Michael Pittman, who gained 1,132 yards last year and is one of three 1,000-yard rushers returning to the WAC.
Hawaii (2-10, 1-7): The retooling of the Rainbow Warriors has the defense switching to a 3-4 alignment from its 4-3 front. On offense, coach Fred vonAppen brought in ex-BYU assistant Wally English as his new offensive coordinator. A top returnee is DB Eddie Klaneski.
Nevada-Las Vegas (1-11, 1-7): Second-year coach Jeff Horton's frosh-heavy team from 1996 is a year older and wiser. Back is sophomore QB Jon Denton, the WAC's top-ranked passer (302.4 yards a game) and the nation's leading returning passer (3,591 total yards). The Rebels boast former Dixie College star Rodrick Johnson, the NJCAA MVP who rushed for 2,338 yards last season.
San Diego State (8-3, 6-2): The Aztecs need to learn to finish a season strong. SDSU was leading the division last year with a win over previously unbeaten Wyoming, only to lose the next week to winless UNLV. Provo native Kyle Turley (6-6, 305) is All-America material at tackle. Tough road schedule includes Washington, Wisconsin and Arizona.
San Jose State (3-9, 3-5): Former Spartan assistant and Cal State Northridge coach Dave Baldwin replaces John Ralston. SJSU is excited to have another former BYU quarterback at the reins. Ex-Cougar Ralph Martini led the Spartans to a 9-2-1 1990 record and the Big West title. Junior QB Brian Vye knows his way to San Jose from Provo through LSU and Gavilan Community College.
Wyoming (10-2, 7-1): New coach Dana Dimel got a taste of WAC football in the Cotton Bowl, facing BYU as Kansas State's offensive coordinator. The Cowboys were tops in the nation last year in passing offense and have had the country's leading receiver four of the past six seasons. Kicker Cory Wedel was fifth in the nation in FGs (1.7 a game) and 16th in scoring (nine points a game).
Projected finish: CSU claims the Pacific Division crown, with San Diego State mired in another close-but-not-quite finish at second, just ahead of resurgent Air Force. Surprising UNLV makes strides and edges Wyoming and Fresno State for fourth. Battling to stay out of last place will be Hawaii and San Jose State.