Boise State: Different Conference, Same Results
There was a time when it seemed exciting that Boise State was headed to the Mountain West. The MWC is certainly a better conference than the WAC. They were last year, they will be this year and they certainly will be next year when much of the WAC will join Boise State in the MWC.
But what does this really add for this season? Instead of a big Boise State and Nevada matchup, we get one good game when Boise State plays TCU. Been there, done that. The Broncos and Horned Frogs faced off in bowl games in 2008 and 2009. And that is not a rivalry that will last long as TCU is headed off to the Big East after this season anyway. That just leaves a whole lot of nothing. Am I supposed to be more excited that Boise State plays New Mexico instead of New Mexico State? Some years maybe, but not this year. Top to bottom, the Mountain West will get much, much better in 2012 and Boise State will not have as many easy games, but they will still beat up on teams like UNLV and Wyoming just as they did with Idaho and Utah State.
In the long run, the Mountain West will be a great conference to watch. But right now Boise State pretty much just takes over Utah or BYU’s spot as the good team to match up with TCU for one game a year that has national interest. Boise State will be tested in conference play, most likely on the road against Colorado State and of course against TCU. Fans will watch anyway, but it will take a few more years before the Mountain West catches up with Boise State and the conference as a whole improves along with the new talented teams they are bringing in. For now, it’s like watching a slightly better WAC.
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