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BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall generally shies away from using the word “best” to describe anything. But he couldn’t help himself when asked about how his team fared this spring.

“If we’re looking for adjectives to describe who they are, this team loves to compete, they love to have fun they’re very talented and we have more depth in the six years that I’ve been the coach here,” Mendenhall said in a phone interview Thursday.

“I would say it’s been the best spring not only from the standpoint of what we got accomplished but possibly where our team is coming out of spring. I’m very optimistic.”

There is plenty of reason for optimism as BYU begins its first season as an independent. The Cougars return 19 starters and have a much more solid foundation today than at this time last season. They also have an identity, something that was missing going into 2010. Part of the reason is because Mendenhall was undecided on his starting quarterback, and played both Jake Heaps and Riley Nelson.

The team struggled to a 2-5 start before closing on a big-time tear and dominating UTEP in the New Mexico Bowl. Mendenhall revamped his coaching staff in the offseason, promoting Brandon Doman to offensive coordinator while deciding to stay on as defensive coordinator after assuming that role midway through last season.

Just as important, Heaps is the definitive starter at quarterback. He and his young teammates are simply more mature.

“We were all disappointed the season was over after our bowl game because we were making progress,” Mendenhall said. “I was hopeful to see that same thing happen in spring practice and that happened. We didn’t lose ground. We picked up where we left off. I was really happy they were so anxious to compete with each other and the fun they were having -- sometimes spring isn’t a time to bring out a heightened sense of competition but that’s the way it went.”

Indeed, the spring game last week went into overtime. After Nelson ran for a score and hit Bryan Sampson for the 2-point conversion, the winning White team carried its coach for the game, Paul Tidwell, off the field.

That speaks to the competitiveness, and BYU is going to need that as it faces a tough opening stretch with games against Ole Miss, Texas and Utah. The biggest holes to fill are on defense, where safety Andrew Rich is gone. Rich led the team in tackles, interceptions, pass breakups and forced fumbles last season and was named AllMWC first team.

But the Cougars feel they have somebody to step right in and make an impact. Daniel Sorensen has returned from his mission and had a nice spring. USC transfer Uona Kaveinga is penciled in to start at middle linebacker and also flashed during the spring.

The front seven is the unquestioned strength of the defense, with talent and depth. Defensive tackle Romney Fuga missed the spring as he rehabbed from a knee injury but is expected to return along with Eathyn Manumaleuna, Matt Putnam and Jordan Richardson.

Offensively, BYU got a boost when tackle Matt Reynolds decided to return to school instead of leaving for the NFL. The running back group is deep with Bryan Kariya, JJ DiLuigi and Josh Quezada, and so are the receivers with Cody Hoffman, McKay Jacobson and Ross Apo.

“As we finished last year’s season, that identity has formed the basis for what they see going forward,” Mendenhall said. “It took a lot of seasoning to get to that point. That’s why we’ll play with a clearer sense of resolve and identity than we had.”

My, oh, my what an end to the season for the Cougars. Back in October, many left them for dead after a 2-5 start, featuring an anemic offense and a shaky defense. But BYU (7-6, 5-3 MWC) played one of the most difficult stretches to open the season, and had to do it with a true freshman in Jake Heaps first rotating snaps and then taking over as the starter.

After losing to TCU on Oct. 16, the schedule lightened considerably and BYU responded. The Cougars closed out the season with wins in five of their final six games -- and probably should have beaten Utah to end the regular season. Heaps showed growth, coach Bronco Mendenhall proved to be a terrific defensive coordinator and BYU moves on to the land of independence with serious momentum after an all-around terrific performance against UTEP in the New Mexico Bowl.

This was not the best season in BYU history, but it was one that showed the true heart, soul and grit of a team clawing its way back to respectability. Mendenhall reiterated throughout the season that this was his most gratifying in six years as a coach. It is easy to see why after watching his team rise from the doldrums to become a bowl champion.

Offensive MVP: RB JJ Di Luigi. For a big stretch of the season, he was the only playmaker to step up for the Cougars. Because of him, Mendenhall decided to change his offensive identity to be more of a power run team. Di Luigi ended up leading the team with 917 yards rushing and eight touchdowns, and added 45 catches for 443 yards and another score.

Defensive MVP: S Andrew Rich. BYU could not ask for a better defensive leader than Rich, who ended up leading the team with 111 tackles and five interceptions.

Turning point: Losing 31-16 at Utah State. The loss dropped BYU to 1-4 and was an embarrassment. So much so that Mendenhall fired defensive coordinator Jamie Hill and took over duties himself. BYU won its next game against San Diego State -- a critical victory that made the difference in the Cougars becoming bowl-eligible.

What’s next: Independence. Anybody who watched the New Mexico Bowl saw some serious talent returning for next season as BYU leaves the Mountain West. Heaps played the best game of his career, throwing for 264 yards and four touchdowns. Cody Hoffman caught a career-high eight passes for 137 yards and three touchdowns in the New Mexico Bowl. Joshua Quezada, ran for 101 yards on 15 carries and one touchdown. The running back trio of Di Luigi, Bryan Kariya and Quezada all return next season. So does Ross Apo, a highly touted receiver who was limited this season after injuring his thumb. There will be some tough losses -- kicker Mitch Payne, Rich and linebacker Shane Hunter. Offensive tackle Matt Reynolds must also decide whether he wants to leave school for the NFL draft or return for his senior season. But BYU showed promise. Now the big question is how it will handle a difficult schedule that includes games at Ole Miss, Texas, Oregon State and Hawaii.

BYU and Utah have been joined together for over 90 years as conference members, establishing one of the fiercest, most bitter rivalries in the country.

The hatred among the fans has escalated so much that BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall asked for both fan bases to show sportsmanship headed into their big game Saturday in Salt Lake City. Of course, former BYU quarterback Max Hall did not help cool any of the heated tensions last year when he said he hated Utah, too.

But both teams are trying to take a tactful, respectful approach headed into their final game as conference members. Utah (9-2, 6-1) is leaving for the Pac-12 and BYU (6-5, 5-2) is going independent, marking the final time these teams will meet to close out the regular season.

Next year, Utah will travel to play BYU in Provo on Sept. 17 -- only the second time in the 86-year history of the rivalry that the game will be played in that month. The two have a game scheduled for Sept. 15, 2012, in Salt Lake City but nothing beyond that.

Still, both sides are hopeful to continue a rivalry and tradition that has spanned so many years and divided so many in the state of Utah. Nobody anticipates this game will have a different feel to it, but whether that changes next season remains to be seen.

“We always attack every game the same, but this one is a little more special,” Utah cornerback Lamar Chapman said. “We look forward to this game always, no matter what, we have it circled on the calendar. Everybody is going to be on top of their game, no matter if the records are 0-10, or 10-0.”

No question about that. Only two games in the last 13 years have been decided by more than a touchdown. BYU has won three of the last four meetings, including a 33-31 win in Salt Lake City in 2006 -- the Cougars’ only win in Rice-Eccles Stadium since 2000.

Utah is still smarting from a 26-23 overtime loss last season. The Utes erased a 20-9 fourth-quarter deficit to send the game into overtime, but Hall threw the winning touchdown pass to Andrew George to win it. Afterward, he unloaded on Utah, saying, “I don't like Utah. In fact, I hate them. I hate everything about them. I hate their program, their fans. I hate everything. It felt really good to send those guys home.”

Hall received a reprimand from the Mountain West Conference office, but his comments are what most fans in the rivalry feel.

As for the game this season, BYU heads into the contest with the momentum, having won four straight games and five of its last six to become bowl eligible after a 1-4 start. The offense has come to life, and the defense has improved under the direction of Mendenhall, who took over as coordinator after he fired Jamie Hill.

Mendenhall said Tuesday he will stay on as defensive coordinator next season. BYU safety Andrew Rich credits Mendenhall for helping right the ship because he took on a greater role with the entire team.

“We weren’t together enough, we didn’t believe in each other enough, we didn’t want to win together enough,” Rich said. “That was kind of why we struggled. It’s unfortunate but at the same time, I think those are valuable lessons we learned during those tough times, and I hope it’s more than beneficial to the younger guys that they won’t let this happen again.

“It’s been hard for me because it’s been under my watch as a senior and as a captain that we’ve struggled. I feel responsible for that. Some of my darkest, hardest times have been trying to figure out how we were going to get this thing rolling.”

BYU won’t have a 10-win season for the first time since Mendenhall became coach in 2005, but getting his team turned around has been one of his most gratifying moments.

As for Utah, the Utes were riding high three weeks ago, ranked No. 5 with an outside shot at a BCS game. Back-to-back losses to TCU and Notre Dame sent them into a tailspin, but they got a huge 38-34 win over San Diego State last week. After scoring a combined 10 points in the two losses, the Utah offense returned to form behind Jordan Wynn.

“That win was a relief off everyone’s shoulders,” Chapman said. “We needed it real bad just for our confidence level, to get our swagger back going into the BYU game.”

Utah has it back, and BYU has confidence, too. This has all the makings off another classic as the two programs prepare to go their separate ways.

Here are your non-AQ players of the week, as announced by each conference:

Conference USA

Offense: Tulsa QB G.J. Kinne. Had 344 yards of total offense and three touchdowns in a 28-25 win over Houston. He had the fourth-highest rushing game in Conference USA this year and the third-highest total ever by a quarterback with 190 yards and one touchdown on 31 carries. Kinne also completed 65 percent of his passes for 154 yards and two scores.

Defense: Tulsa DB Marco Nelson. Starting his ninth game as a true freshman, Nelson had seven tackles and tied single-game school and conference records with three interceptions at Houston.

Special teams: Rice KR Charles Ross. Broke the school record with 261 yards on seven kickoff returns against Tulane. His effort sparked the Owls to a conference record total of 344 yards on 10 kickoff returns, bettering the mark of 303 set by East Carolina earlier this year.

MAC

East Division

Offense: Miami WR Nick Harwell. Caught 10 passes for 125 yards and one touchdown in a 24-21 win over Bowling Green. He has 43 receptions for 600 yards over the last five games, after making just two catches (15 yards) in his first five games.

Defense: Bowling Green LB Dwayne Woods. Had 13 tackles in a loss to Miami. The 13 tackle effort marked his fifth double digit tackle performance this season.

Special teams: Miami K Trevor Cook. Came back from a knee injury to kick the 33-yard game-winning field goal at Bowling Green.

West Division

Offense: Northern Illinois QB Chandler Harnish. Had 311 yards of total offense in a 65-30 victory over Toledo. Harnish completed 11 of 16 passes for 162 yards and one touchdown, and ran for 149 yards on 13 carries with a rushing touchdown.

Defense: Ball State S Sean Baker. Intercepted two passes and returned a fumble 26 yards for a touchdown in Ball State's 20-3 win at Buffalo.Baker is now the school's career interceptions leader with 16.

Special teams: Ball State K Ian McGarvey. Became the school's all-time leading scorer at Buffalo with 284 points. McGarvey made field goals of 40 and 32 yards and made two extra point attempts.

Mountain West

Co-Offense: BYU WR Luke Ashworth, UNLV RB Tim Cornett. Ashworth had four receptions for a career-high 113 receiving yards and four touchdowns in BYU's 49-10 win at Colorado State. All four scores came in the first half, making Ashworth the first player in BYU history to tally four touchdowns in the first 30 minutes of action. Cornett had 82 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns in a a 42-16 victory over Wyoming. He was him the first Rebel to score four touchdowns in a game since 1994.

Defense: BYU S Andrew Rich. Had a team-high nine tackles (three solo stops), an interception and a forced fumble in the win over Colorado State.

Special teams: BYU K Mitch Payne. Made all seven of his point-after attempts, tying his season high.

Sun Belt

Offense: North Texas RB Lance Dunbar. Had the best rushing performance in the nation this week, with 226 yards on 36 carries with one touchdown in a 23-17 win at Middle Tennessee. Dunbar had a total of 272 all-purpose yards. He went over the 1,000-yard rushing mark, making him the second back in school history to have back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing seasons.

Defense: FIU DB Anthony Gaitor. Limited top Sun Belt all-purpose player Jerrel Jernigan to 32 receiving yards in a win over Troy. Also had eight tackles.

Special teams: North Texas K Zach Olen. Went 3-for-3 on field goal attempts and 2-for-2 on PAT attempts for a total of 11 points in the victory.

WAC

Offense: Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Had 324 yards and two touchdowns in a 35-34 win at Fresno State. Kaepernick completed 16-of-26 passes for 171 yards and rushed for 153 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries.

Defense: Louisiana Tech safety Javontay Crowe. Had a team-high nine tackles, including six solo, and his first career interception in a win at New Mexico State.

Special teams: Boise State punt returner Chris Potter. Returned a punt 76 yards for a touchdown within the first minutes of the game at Idaho. He ended the night with four punt returns for a total of 106 yards.

BYU has struggled to a 2-4 record this season, but is coming off a big 24-21 win over San Diego State. Now they get a big test against No. 4 TCU. I had a chance to interview BYU safety Andrew Rich, who leads the team with 59 tackles this season. Here is a little of what he had to say:

How much did it help to have coach Bronco Mendenhall calling the plays as your new defensive coordinator?

Andrew Rich: Coach has always been a guy with great influence and him being able to work more hands on helped a lot of us. I think we got better and played harder, and I think each guy made the individual decision to give everything they had back. It was one of the toughest weeks of practice I’ve had since I’ve been here. I think it was more than necessary for the team with the growth and progress we want to make.

What was the biggest key to the way you were able to stop the run, allowing San Diego State only 53 yards on the ground?

AR: I think we gave a lot of different looks. We emphasized all week stopping the run, that’s what coach talked about all practice long -- if we were going to have a chance to win it was going to be because we stopped the run. The guys up front did a great job of controlling their gaps and playing hard and being assignment-sound. The emphasis Coach Mendenhall put on stopping the run has bled to us as players. Guys have taken it personally. We won’t have a chance if we can’t stop the run.

What was the mood like in the locker room after the win?

AR: Guys finally saw some fruits of their labor and I think that was the hard part. When you lose four straight games and you still feel like you’re working hard, there’s no reward at the end of it. To be able to win on Saturday, guys were excited. It felt as good as any win I’ve had here, knowing the struggles and the challenges we’ve had this year as a team.

How can you carry that momentum forward?

AR: You have to always remember what helped you be successful. We made a lot of mistakes, a lot of assignment mistakes, and we have a lot of room for improvement. We can’t think we’ve arrived. We’re 2-4 and going down to Texas to play one of the best teams in the country. Guys are pretty grounded and know we’re going to have to work hard to play to the best of our abilities. Guys are hungry, guys are working hard and the coaches aren’t going to let us lose sight or focus of what we have to do.

What are your thoughts on being 29-point underdogs?

AR: My dad mentioned it to me, but it hasn’t been discussed in the locker room. I just chuckled. I think we’re a better team than that, but at the same time I don’t really value the opinion of whoever says how many points we’re underdogs by. I don’t put too much stock in it. I just want to be a good teammate, go down there and play as hard as we can.

Have you thought about this being the final game against TCU as members of the Mountain West?

AR: Guys understand that this could be one of the last opportunities of their career to play TCU. I know I’ve thought about it because I’m a senior so by default it’s my last game. For the university and the BYU organization, guys are aware of that and definitely want to play their best. I don’t know what’s going to happen in the future, but it’s definitely been a great rivalry. It’s been exciting. TCU the last couple of years has been one of the best teams in the conference and has beaten us two times a row. We want to end on a sweeter note.

When word began to spread that BYU wanted to go independent, there was no one more outspoken about the move than TCU coach Gary Patterson.

In a memorable discussion during the dog days of training camp, Patterson wondered out loud whether this would be the best move for BYU, saying ominously:

“You better be careful what you wish for. It's not my job to worry about what Utah does, what BYU does, but I can tell you this: If you think being an independent is an easier way to get to a national championship, you're kidding yourself.”

The two teams meet Saturday for the final time as Mountain West Conference rivals in what figures to be an intense game. It stands to reason No. 4 TCU (6-0) will not let BYU (2-4) off lightly.

When asked this week whether he had changed his mind about the comments he made about BYU, Patterson seemed to soften a bit, praising coach Bronco Mendenhall and what the Cougars added to the conference.

“All I said is you’ve got to be careful what you wish for,” Patterson said. “It’s been a great rivalry. It’s great football. … I just know how the landscape in this profession is, and I just worry for their sake. I hope it all works out for them.”

The games between the two schools have been memorable in the five previous times they have met as Mountain West members. In 2005, TCU rallied for a 51-50 overtime victory in Provo, the largest come-from-behind win in Patterson’s 10 years as head coach. The Horned Frogs trailed by 18 points with less than two minutes to play in the third quarter before making the comeback.

Then in 2006, BYU went to TCU and upset the No. 17 Horned Frogs 31-17. In 2007, TCU gave favorite BYU a fight, nearly pulling off the upset before falling short 27-22. Only the last two years have resulted in big TCU wins.

Patterson said there was no chance the two would schedule each other once BYU goes independent next season. BYU safety Andrew Rich said he was sorry to see the rivalry end.

“The last couple of years it’s heated up because of the quality team they are,” Rich said. “The conference championship has gone through them and Utah. Anytime you’re trying to contend for a conference championship and you have a team like TCU, it’s going to be an emotional game.”

BYU is coming off an emotional win over San Diego State, ending a four-game losing streak. The Cougars had their way on the ground, rushing for 271 yards to take pressure off true freshman quarterback Jake Heaps. Meanwhile, the defense showed its feisty side, holding the Aztecs to 53 yards on the ground. The new mentality comes straight from Mendenhall, who has taken over as defensive coordinator since firing Jamie Hill.

Mendenhall said the last week was tough, but the most fun he has had in the six years since he became head coach, and was seriously thinking about making the move permanent.

"Probably from the minute I gave up coaching the defense a number of years ago, and the play calling just a year ago, I have struggled to find my place, particularly in how to help our team most, not only on a daily basis, but on a game day," Mendenhall said. "And I finally just reached a point where I thought I could be more effective in helping our program and helping these young men to be involved."

Rich said it was having Mendenhall more involved that made the difference.

“Coach has always been a guy with great influence and him being able to work more hands-on helped a lot of us,” Rich said. “Each guy made the individual decision to give everything they had. It was one of the toughest weeks of practice I’ve had since I’ve been here, but it was more than necessary for the team with the growth and progress we want to make.”

The offense still ranks No. 91 in the country and is going to find tough going against the No. 1 ranked TCU defense, a group that has posted back-to-back shutouts for the first time since 1955.

Patterson says the shutouts are beside the point. All he cares about is getting a win.

Something says a win over BYU on Saturday might mean just a little bit more.

Brigham Young Cougars

Record: 2-4 (1-1, MWC)

There was no question BYU had a lot to replace when the season started. Getting new talent in for veteran performers like Max Hall, Dennis Pitta and Harvey Unga is no easy task, but the Cougars have always found a way to reload. Not this season. Coach Bronco Mendenhall waffled when it came to his starting quarterbacks, alternating between Riley Nelson and true freshman Jake Heaps. Though they won the season opener against Washington, they dropped their next four, and looked totally discombobulated on offense and defense. Heaps is now the full-time starter with Nelson out for the season because of a shoulder injury. BYU ranks an uncharacteristic 91^st in the country in total offense, and 86^th in passing offense. The Cougars are only averaging 4.98 yards a pass attempt, third-worst in the country behind Akron and UCLA. The defense was equally as disappointing, and Mendenhall fired coordinator Jamie Hill last week and took over his duties. The team played better in a win over San Diego State last week, but the Cougars are in a fight to make it to a bowl game.

Offensive MVP, RB JJ Di Luigi: The most consistent player on offense, Di Luigi leads the team in both rushing and receiving. He has 508 yards and four touchdowns on the ground, and 285 yards and one touchdown receiving. The fact that the leading receiver on the team has just 285 yards through six games should tell you about the few offensive highlights so far.

Defensive MVP, FS Andrew Rich: There haven’t been many standout performance. Two other nominees – DT Romney Fuga (knee) and LB Jordan Pendleton (knee) are out. Rich has provided veteran leadership and leads the team with 59 tackles and two forced fumbles. He also has three tackles for loss, and played last week despite being hurt.

Seven players from the nonautomatic qualifying schools have been named to the watch list for the Lott Trophy, an award that recognizes both on-field and off-field characteristics.

The Lott Trophy winner will be announced Dec. 12 in Newport Beach, Calif. The recipient receives $25,000 for his school's general scholarship fund, while three runners-up each receive $5,000 for their schools' scholarship funds.

Last season, TCU defensive end Jerry Hughes became the first player from a nonautomatic qualifying school to win the award.

Here’s a look at the non-AQs honored:

2010 Lott Trophy Watch List

Jeron Johnson, S, Boise State, 5-11, 194, Compton, Ca.
Tejay Johnson, S, TCU, 6-1, 212, Garland, Tx.
Josh McNary, DE, Army, 6-1, 225, Houston
Wyatt Middleton, S, Navy, 6-2, 208, Norcross, Ga.
Dontay Moch, DE, Nevada, 6-1, 245, Chandler, Az.
Andrew Rich, S, BYU, 6-3, 223, Ogden, Utah
Anthony Wright, CB, Air Force, 5-10, 190, Cleveland

Last season, BYU watched as Boise State and Mountain West Conference champion TCU both finished the regular season with undefeated records and played each other in the Fiesta Bowl.

Two years ago, the Cougars watched MWC rival Utah finished unbeaten and upset Alabama, 31-17, in the Sugar Bowl.

“I think it’s motivating for us, and I think it’s fantastic for the league that those teams have been able to do it,” BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said. “We’ve won the most games, but we don’t have the signature season those teams have had.”

BYU hasn’t been perfect over the past four seasons, but the Cougars have been about as consistent as any team in the country. Since finishing 6-6 in Mendenhall’s first season in 2005, the Cougars are 43-9 and have won at least 10 games in each of the past four seasons. Only four NCAA FBS teams -- Boise State, Florida, Ohio State and Texas -- have won more games than BYU since 2006.

“It’s about as close as you can get,” Mendenhall said. “I’m very pleased with the progress and consistency. Until we have that signature season, we’ll just keep rattling off as many wins as we can. I don’t really view us as one of those teams looking from the outside in. I view us as one of those teams that are waiting to be recognized.”

The Cougars’ good work has hardly gone unnoticed. Among Boise State, BYU, TCU and Utah, the Cougars are the only team that finished each of the past four seasons ranked in the coaches’ Top 25 poll. BYU was the only school from a non-BCS conference to accomplish that feat the past four seasons.

Still, the Cougars’ accomplishments have largely been overlooked by Boise State’s undefeated seasons in 2006 and ’09; Utah’s perfect season in 2008; and TCU’s breakthrough performance last year.

“It’s a credit to those teams,” BYU running back Harvey Unga said. “They’ve got great teams and deserve credit for the seasons they’ve had. I don’t think we’re far away from doing it. There are things to work on, but I don’t think we’re too far away.”

If the Cougars are going to break though during the 2010 season, they’ll have to replace record-setting quarterback Max Hall and star tight end Dennis Pitta. Six starters must be replaced on defense, including All-MWC defensive end Jan Jorgensen.

A year ago, BYU replaced seven offensive starters, including All-America receiver Austin Collie, and four defensive starters. The Cougars finished 11-2 and were ranked No. 12 in the country at season’s end.

“I think every year we’re getting better and closer,” BYU safety Andrew Rich said. “We’ve been close the last couple of years. I think it’s one or two games where we’ve stumbled. But it’s hard when you play teams like TCU and Utah. It’s not so much what we’re doing as what other teams are doing. TCU and Utah have put together really good teams.”

So have the Cougars, who open the 2010 season against Washington at LaVell Edwards Stadium on Sept. 4. BYU also plays at Florida State on Sept. 18, at TCU on Oct. 16 and at Utah on Nov. 27.

“We have to get back to winning our conference before we start worrying about the other stuff,” Rich said. “We have a lot of great teams in our conference. I guess the perception of the Mountain West has been elevated over the last couple of years because of what Utah has done and what TCU has done. We can’t worry about that. We have to worry about what we’re doing.”

Posted by ESPN.com’s Graham Watson

At the end of Mountain West media days in July, TCU's Andy Dalton and Jerry Hughes and BYU’s Dennis Pitta and Andrew Rich shook hands, hugged and exchanged phone numbers.

The four had spent a lot of time together during their few days in Las Vegas, got to know each other and even got to like one another. But even as they were laughing and talking about seeing each other in October, they had to know that when they met again, it wouldn’t be nearly as cordial.

TCU will travel to BYU this week in what is the biggest game in the Mountain West season so far. The winner not only will have a jumpstart on the race for the Mountain West title, but also in the BCS standings. At No 8 and undefeated, TCU has the best chance of reaching a BCS bowl should it stay undefeated, but it needs to boost its strength of schedule and voter confidence by beating a ranked team. BYU is No. 16 in the standings, but with one loss, it has only an outside chance of earning a BCS bowl berth.

“I think the only way that our conference will end up having the BCS bid is if someone’s able to remain undefeated,” BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said. “So, TCU has the best chance of that bid. Again, I don’t think our league has the respect yet of a one-loss team, however, our conference is stronger than the WAC and I don’t think there’s any argument about that. The teams that the top three teams have lost to or might lose to should all be good football teams. So, it might be the year and I could be surprised, but I’m still of the opinion you’re probably going to have to go undefeated to get in.”

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