Four years ago, Utah and the Mountain West Conference made history when the Utes became the first team from a non-BCS league to earn a berth to a BCS bowl game.
Could the conference make history again by sending one of its teams to the BCS national championship game?
Some in the national media are saying it could happen. They point out that BYU, unbeaten and ranked No. 8 in The Associated Press poll and No. 7 in the USA Today coaches' poll, already has a national championship on its resume. Observers theorize that should the Cougars post a perfect season and continue rising in the polls, they could be in position to reach the BCS title game.
Meanwhile, should No. 15 Utah go undefeated and keep moving up in the rankings, it also could make a case for playing for the BCS championship.
But how realistic is that scenario?
"It would be a stretch," said conference commissioner Craig Thompson. "But it is potentially possible if BYU or Utah run the table. If there are two (BCS) teams ahead of them that are also undefeated, they probably would not have a chance at playing for the national championship. But if there's only one undefeated team and everybody else has one loss, again, it's a stretch, but it's a possibility."
BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall is skeptical.
"I'm not sure the perception of our program and our league is strong enough yet, even if we go undefeated, that we might be considered that way," he said. "Really, those thoughts are ones I can't control, nor do I have much influence over, other than just trying to help our team win and play to the best of their ability."
BACK TO EARTH: After flying high most of the season, the MWC was humbled last week.
The league, which posted a 4-0 record against the Pac-10 a few weeks ago, suffered its fair share of blowout losses last Saturday. Wyoming fell at home to Bowling Green (45-16), Colorado State was blasted by California (42-7), UNLV lost to Nevada (49-27) and TCU was pummeled at then-No. 2 Oklahoma (35-10). With the loss, the Horned Frogs dropped out of the polls.
The league's only wins? Utah defeated Weber State (37-21), previously winless San Diego State blasted lowly Idaho (45-17) and New Mexico downed in-state rival New Mexico State (35-24).
AZTEC QB MAKES SPLASH: SDSU quarterback Ryan Lindley threw for a career-high 433 yards and four touchdowns in the Aztecs' victory over Idaho, setting a new MWC freshman record in both categories. The previous freshman passing record was held by BYU's Matt Berry, who threw for 360 yards against Wyoming in 2002. For his efforts, Lindley earned MWC offensive player of the week honors.
FERGUSON MOVING UP: New Mexico running back Rodney Ferguson jumped into second place on the league's all-time list for career rushing attempts with 659. The MWC record of 1,028 attempts is held by former Lobo standout DonTrell Moore (2002-05).
Ferguson is also ranked among MWC career leaders in rushing yards (2,982, No. 3), rushing touchdowns (27, seventh), overall touchdowns (30, tied for seventh) and all-purpose yards (3,577, tied for ninth).
E-mail: jeffc@desnews.com