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San Diego State president Stephen Weber doesn’t know if the league is in favor of expansion, but he has a feeling that more of his colleagues support it more now than before.

Salt Lake Tribune columnist Kurt Kragthorpe weighs in on BYU's decision to keep Harvey Unga out of school for two semesters, effectively ending his collegiate football career.

Could finding Boise State on TV be more difficult if the Broncos join the Mountain West?

Louisiana-Lafayette is the next stop on the Orlando Sentinel’s breakdown of each college football team.

Want to know what the MWC presidents are thinking? Former Boise State president Dr. John Keiser provides a pretty good idea.

Central Florida tries to remain patient as expansion continues to be a vague subject.

BYU running back Harvey Unga will not return this fall, according to a story in the Deseret News.

Unga, the Cougars top running back, was told at the end of the school year that the earliest he could return to BYU was during the winter semester in January 2011.

Unga and his girlfriend Keilani Moeaki, a member of the women’s basketball team, voluntarily withdrew from BYU in April after violating the school’s honor code. Coach Bronco Mendenhall said late last month that Unga was trying to show remorse for his violation, but was hoping to return to school in the fall.

“Harvey’s first choice, and what he’s fighting diligently for and trying to express to the administration at BYU, is that he wants to be back,” Mendenhall said during the Mountain West coaches conference call. “This goes back to the decision he made to not declare for the [NFL] draft early and to stay at BYU. He’ll be the first in his family to graduate and receive a college degree. He’s matured in so many areas during his time here at BYU and he loves our program and he wants to be here in the most desperate way. So that is his hope, that is his intent and that’s what he’d like to do.”

Unga’s next step, should he choose to pursue football, is to enter the NFL’s supplemental draft in the summer or sign with an NFL team as a college free agent.

Unga, who became the school’s all-time leading rusher last season, has rushed for 3,455 yards in his career and has three consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. With him gone, BYU will turn to a slew of backs to try and fill the void. Among those competing are juniors Bryan Kariya, J.J. DiLuigi and Mike Hague and true freshman Joshua Quezada, who made an impression during spring drills.

The 12 teams profiled from the nonautomatic qualifying conferences all are expected to be at the top of their respective conferences. Here's a look at some of the superlatives for those teams:

Best position battle: The BYU quarterback battle probably is the most watched, not only among the non-AQs, but also around the country. The competition likely will come down to last season's backup, Riley Nelson, and highly touted true freshman Jake Heaps, and will determine whether the Cougars can make yet another appearance in the Top 25.

Best recovery from injury: Northern Illinois quarterback Chandler Harnish was supposed to miss spring ball because of knee surgery, which prompted coach Jerry Kill to reopen the quarterbacking competition. But Harnish made a miraculous recovery, didn't have surgery and participated in the back half of spring drills, including the spring game, in which he threw for 161 yards and two touchdowns.

Biggest surprise: One of the biggest surprises of the spring was the way Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore struggled. Moore has been one of the most consistent quarterbacks in country throughout his short career, so his faltering during spring ball was a bit of a surprise. The Boise State coaches didn't seem too worried, though, and were fairly confident the issue wouldn't slip into fall camp.

Biggest drama: This honor belongs to BYU running back Harvey Unga, who voluntarily withdrew from school after violating the honor code. About a week later, coach Bronco Mendenhall told the media that Unga wanted back in, but now his fate rests with the BYU Honor Code Office, which could decide his infraction was enough to warrant expulsion.

Biggest surprise: Fresno State went into this spring looking for a replacement for All-American running back Ryan Mathews and found an unexpected leader in sophomore Robbie Rouse. Rouse, who rushed for 479 yards and four touchdowns last year, spent the offseason adding bulk to become an every-down back.

Best newcomer: Other than some of the young quarterbacks who have emerged this spring, Utah receiver Griffin McNabb could have the biggest impact among these 12 teams in 2010. McNabb, a walk-on, had five catches for 100 yards, including a 61-yard touchdown reception, during the Utes' spring game.

Every year it seems like the pressure is ratcheted up on the top teams from the nonautomatic qualifying conferences, but the stakes have never been as high as they are going into the 2010 season.

This past season, for the first time, two nonautomatic qualifying schools played in a BCS bowl -- albeit against each other -- laying the foundation for what could be the most pivotal season in the leveling of the playing field between the haves and have-nots.

Boise State, which has finished the past two regular seasons undefeated and is 26-1 overall in that span, likely will start the season ranked in the top three nationally, placing the Broncos higher in the national standings than any non-AQ has ever started. Should the Broncos continue their trend of undefeated campaigns, they could be the first non-AQ team to play for a BCS national championship.

But we're getting way ahead of ourselves.

As we've seen in the past, non-AQ teams often sneak into the BCS standings to make things interesting. TCU, which returns most of its Fiesta Bowl team, will start the year in the top 10, and BYU, Utah and Houston all have the schedules and players to keep the race close.

While the landscape of college football is changing, so is the profile of the nonautomatic qualifying team. This spring showed us the depth the top teams in the nonautomatic qualifying conferences truly have. Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore struggled this spring, but freshman backup Joe Southwick showed he could be just as capable in the pocket.

Utah was looking for a go-to receiver this spring and found an unlikely candidate in walk-on Griffin McNabb.

BYU's quarterbacking competition took center stage this spring, but it's the running back quandary that will be the focus in the fall. Freshman Joshua Quezada gave Cougars fans encouragement that losing Harvey Unga might not be such a tough hit.

And the defenses of teams such as Nevada and Houston, which have taken much of the criticism for the teams' failures in the past, spent the last few months showing the country that they're not going to be what's holding their teams back.

Boise State, TCU, BYU and Utah might get the bulk of the national attention, but there are several teams across the nonautomatic qualifying conferences that deserve to be noticed. I've profiled 12 of those teams here, and each will either win or be in the race for its conference title. Some rely on their offense, others their defense, but the one common trait among all 12 is that they've consistently gone out and shown they can compete with any team on any stage. And with several high-profile games on this year's docket, the non-AQs will once again make the college football season very interesting.

2009 overall record: 11-2

2009 conference record: 7-1, 2nd MWC

Returning starters
Offense: 6, defense: 6, punter/kicker: 2

Top returners
OL Matt Reynolds, DB Andrew Rich, WR McKay Jacobson, LB Jordan Pendleton

Key losses
TE Dennis Pitta, QB Max Hall, DL Jan Jorgensen, RB Harvey Unga

2009 statistical leaders (* denotes returners)

Rushing: Harvey Unga (1,087 yards)
Passing: Max Hall (3,560 yards)
Receiving: Dennis Pitta (829 yards)
Tackles: Andrew Rich* (85 tackles)
Sacks: Jan Jorgensen (6 sacks)
Interceptions: Andrew Rich*, Scott Johnson (4 interceptions)

Spring answers

1. Quarterbacks showing promise: While the Cougars have not decided on a starting quarterback, coach Bronco Mendenhall said he feels confident that any of the three who participated in spring ball -- Riley Nelson, Jake Heaps and James Lark -- could start.

2. Freshman running back emerges: Freshman running back Joshua Quezada won’t replace Harvey Unga, who voluntarily left the program last month after violating the school’s honor code, but his play this spring gives the Cougars much-needed depth at a position that’s now in flux with Unga out of school.

3. Defensive line rebounding: Yeah, the defensive line took some hits with the loss of Jan Jorgensen, Russell Tialavea and Brett Denney, but the players stepping into those starting roles did well in the spring and there shouldn’t be much of a drop-off. Vic So'oto and Matt Putnam have experience and Romney Fuga is a returning part-time starter.

Fall questions

1. Who will replace Max Hall? While Mendenhall is happy with the play of his quarterbacks this spring, he still couldn’t decide which of the three was going to be his starter in the fall. He noted that Nelson and Heaps are probably ahead, but that could change as Lark progresses during the summer and Jason Munns joins the competition in the fall.

2. Tight at tight end: At the beginning of spring football, the Cougars had four tight ends competing for playing time, but that competition was dropped to just freshmen Mike Muehlmann and Devin Mahina, who are “dead even” according to Mendenhall. Austin Holt will join the race this fall when he returns from his mission.

3. Light at linebacker: BYU is still trying to replace departed seniors Matt Bauman, Terrance Hooks and Shawn Doman at inside linebacker. Junior college transfer Aveni Leung-Wai took the most reps this spring, and sophomore Brandon Ogletree emerged on the first team after sitting out the first couple of weeks with a groin injury. It will be interesting to see what kind of waves highly touted recruit Zac Stout makes when he arrives on campus in the fall. Stout and freshman Collin Keoshian will be in the linebacking mix.

BYU coach Broncos Mendenhall said during the Mountain West coaches teleconference Wednesday that star running back Harvey Unga wants to come back to BYU and to the football team.

Unga announced last Friday that he was voluntarily withdrawing from school after violating BYU’s honor code.

“Harvey’s first choice, and what he’s fighting diligently for and trying to express to the administration at BYU, is that he wants to be back,” Mendenhall said. “This goes back to the decision he made to not declare for the [NFL] draft early and to stay at BYU. He’ll be the first in his family to graduate and receive a college degree. He’s matured in so many areas during his time here at BYU and he loves our program and he wants to be here in the most desperate way. So that is his hope, that is his intent and that’s what he’d like to do.”

Mendenhall said the process of Harvey and women’s basketball player Keilani Moeaki, Unga’s girlfriend who also withdrew from school, returning is ongoing and that he doesn’t have a timeframe for a resolution. According to BYU’s Honor Code Office, the university has the right to review any honor code violations and dole out any punishment it deems necessary as related to the infraction.

Mendenhall said Unga’s decision to voluntarily withdraw from the university might have been a preemptive strike to show his remorse.

“I think it was just taking accountability for his actions,” Mendenhall said of Unga’s decision to voluntarily withdraw from BYU. “Harvey knows and embraces the standards here. He wants the standards here and is in full support of the things the university asks. And quite frankly it comes down to just choosing and acting kind of boldly and bluntly that you know what, I think this is the best thing to do. And I think it’s a sign or a token that would make the administration know that I’m going to act before I’m asked to act in this particular case.”

After the Honor Code Office reviews the infraction, it can levy a punishment from a warning to prohibiting the student to graduate with a BYU degree. Unga’s violation was not disclosed, though honor code violations range anywhere from foul language to premarital sex to growing a beard without a waiver from the school.

Mendenhall said Unga also is looking into alternatives such as finishing his schooling elsewhere to get his degree and entering the NFL’s supplemental draft, which occurs in the summer. Unga was only three classes short of graduation.

If Unga can’t return, Mendenhall said he feels good about the running backs he has remaining and that one or several of them will carry the load for the Cougars in the fall.

“Any time you lose the school’s leading rusher and someone’s who’s been in the system and been part of so many wins, that’s going to be very difficult for us and nor can we replace that spot in one given year,” Mendenhall said. “We have some younger players that we liked a lot in the spring with Josh Quezada being one of them. And we also liked the way J.J. Di Luigi and Bryan Kariya performed in the spring. So I think we have depth and I think we have capable players. Basically, very similar players that we beat Oklahoma with this past year. But again, when you lose Harvey that changes your football team.”

BYU star running back Harvey Unga has voluntarily withdrawn from school because of an undisclosed honor code violation.

Women’s basketball player Keilani Moeaki, reportedly Unga’s girlfriend of three years, also has withdrawn from school.

Unga is the school’s all-time leading rusher with 3,455 yards. He led the Mountain West Conference in rushing last year in his third consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season. Unga actually flirted with leaving school for the NFL, but decided to return to help his team and his draft stock.

“I fully support Harvey and his decision regarding his personal situation,” BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said in a statement. “The possibility of not having Harvey on the field in the fall would certainly have an impact on our team, but my main concern right now is in supporting Harvey.”

Now, I’m not going to speculate on what happened here, but BYU’s honor code is very specific and very strict. According to the school’s Honor Code Office, each student must obey these policies:

Be honest
Live a chaste and virtuous life
Obey the law and all campus policies
Use clean language
Respect others
Abstain from alcoholic beverages, tobacco, tea, coffee, and substance abuse
Participate regularly in church services
Observe the Dress and Grooming Standards (including no beards without a waiver)
Encourage others in their commitment to comply with the Honor Code

The fact that Unga and Moeaki decided to withdraw together will create more than a few whispers, but the important thing to remember is that Unga voluntarily withdrew and that he could come back. Mendenhall seemed very supportive, and while there will likely be punishment levied by the school, maybe Unga’s decision to withdraw will gain some leniency should he decide to return.

As for the BYU backfield, there are several competent players to take Unga’s place, but it’s probably going to take a committee. Few (if any) runners in the Mountain West possess the speed, hard-hitting ability and versatility that Unga does. He was not only a threat as a runner, but also a passer. And he did have a legitimate shot at going to the NFL. It’s a shame that something like this might derail that opportunity.

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.”

Army coach Rich Ellerson thinks his team made progress this spring and is eager to see if it can carry through to the fall.

BYU running back Harvey Unga is working toward sharpening his blocking skills.

UNLV coach Bobby Hauck still remembers the lessons he learned while visiting troops in Iraq.

Former BYU quarterback Max Hall disputes claims that Tim Tebow never offered a prayer before the Wonderlic test at the NFL Combine.

UTEP’s new linebackers coach Robert Rodriguez helps the new defensive scheme take shape.

Finding a replacement for four-year center Jake Seitz has not been an easy task for UAB.

The Sporting News did a nice Q&A with Houston quarterback Case Keenum.

Receiver Tyler Mason tries to make a name for himself at Middle Tennessee.

National signing day is just about a week away and there are several non-AQ teams that will be looking for the next great player to help their team to a conference championship or even a BCS bowl. The non-AQs are notorious for finding diamonds in the rough, but most teams are just looking to plug holes for positions depleted by graduation and the NFL Draft. Here’s a quick look at the non-AQ’s top areas of concern for this year’s class:

BYU

Defensive line: The Cougars took some big hits on the defensive line this year with the graduation of star end Jan Jorgensen and nose tackle Russell Tialavea. There’s some depth there for the Cougars, but it didn’t contribute much this season.

Linebackers: BYU graduates all of its starting linebackers from 2009 and the Cougars will have three seniors starting in that unit next year. The linebacking corps was a great strength for BYU in 2009 and building it back up will be the highest priority.

Running back: Star running back Harvey Unga is returning for his senior year and the Cougars will have two talented juniors in JJ Di Luigi and Bryan Kariya, but beyond that there isn’t much help. The Cougars have gotten used to rotating a few guys in the backfield, so adding some young talent will allow that trend to continue.

TCU

Wide receiver: The Horned Frogs had a lot of success spreading the ball around to several different receivers this past season, but enter 2010 with six seniors on the wide receiver depth chart, including playmaker Jeremy Kerley.

Secondary: The secondary loses both of its corners this season and will have three seniors starting next year. The secondary has been one of the few weak spots of the defense in the past, so shoring that up will be a major priority.


HOUSTON

Offensive line: The O-line loses senior center Carl Bennett, but will have three senior starters in 2010 and many of the players on the depth will be seniors as well. With as potent as the Houston offense is, finding players to step in right away is a must.

Quarterback: Star Case Keenum is a senior and backup Cotton Turner is a junior. It would be good to get a couple young quarterbacks in to learn the system and have the benefit of learning from Keenum, who has essentially become the offensive coordinator on the field.

Athletes: In Houston’s offense, guys with great hands will be rewarded. The Cougars need athletes at both receiver and in the secondary and that should be a big focus in this class.

FRESNO STATE

Wide receiver: All of Fresno State’s starting receivers are gone, including leader Seyi Ajirotutu. Ajirotutu was a dynamic player and finding someone to replace him, especially with a couple young quarterbacks waiting in the wings, should be the top priority in this class.

Secondary: The Bulldogs lose four seniors from the secondary and will lose two more in 2010. The secondary actually was the strength of an otherwise poor defense and the Bulldogs will want to continue to build on that momentum.

Running back: With Lonyae Miller lost to graduation and Ryan Mathews leaving early for the draft, Fresno State was left scrambling for some depth at the running back position. Running back has long been the strongest position for the Bulldogs and finding a back to complement sophomore Robbie Rouse would be key.

SAN DIEGO STATE

Linebackers: The linebacking corps was the strength of the Aztecs last season and with defensive coordinator Rocky Long’s 3-3-5 scheme, it probably will be the strength for some time. SDSU graduated three linebackers and will have two seniors on the depth chart next year.

Hybrid: The SDSU 3-3-5 defense uses a Warrior and Aztec position as its hybrids and finding the right athletes to play those spots will be key. Long used what he had last year, but with a full recruiting year under his belt, he should be able to find players that are specifically tailored to fit that hybrid role.

SMU

Running back: With Shawnbrey McNeal opting to leave early for the draft, the Mustangs will need a couple running backs to keep that a viable position on the team. McNeal was coach June Jones’ first 1,000-yard rusher and his presence took a lot of the pressure of the young quarterbacks.

Athletes: All-everything player Emmanuel Sanders is gone and the Mustangs don’t really have anyone to fill his role immediately. The run-and-shoot offense is successful because of playmakers and finding some of those players in this class will help SMU continue its winning ways.

SOUTHERN MISS

Running back: The Golden Eagles picked up running back Kendrick Hardy in the last recruiting class, but he didn’t do enough to unseat the guys who were already on the two-deep. Coach Larry Fedora has gotten a big-name kid each season he’s been with Southern Miss, and with his top two running backs lost to graduation, that could be where he strikes next.

Offensive line: Southern Miss lost four starters off the offensive line and could lose three more after 2010. There are some competent guys waiting in the wings, but they need to start building that depth now.


UCF

Offensive line: The Knights lose two offensive linemen this year and will lose three next year, so adding more players to that unit in this class has become a priority. The O-line struggled mightily last season with 2.54 sacks allowed and the rushing offense ranked 82^nd in the country.

Defensive line: Similar to the offensive line, the Knights defensive line also will need some fresh faces. The defensive line was a major strength in 2009 and should be again in 2010. After that, the Knights will need the youth to start contributing.

Playmakers: The UCF offense was better this year than it was a year ago, but it still wasn’t good enough to be a consistent threat in Conference USA. The Knights need to find some offensive playmakers to really push this team to the forefront of the conference again.


UTAH

Quarterback: Sophomore Jordan Wynn is the future of Utah, but he doesn’t have a lot of depth behind him. Terrance Cain will be a senior in 2010, so the Utes will need a couple more bodies to provide a push for Wynn and some much-needed depth.

Secondary: The Utes lose five seniors off the secondary two-deep and while there is some young talent there, the secondary has consistently been the Utes best unit and much of that has been because of the ability to develop young players.

Running back: This position has consistently been riddled with injuries for the Utes and so stockpiling a few running backs, especially with both Eddie Wide and Shaky Smithson entering their final seasons, wouldn’t be a bad idea.


BOISE STATE

Athlete: Boise State lost one senior starter this year, so the Broncos needs aren’t as great as most other teams around the FBS. However, this squad can never have too many athletes. The secondary could use a little help, as could the receiving corps, which is riddled with young players.

Quarterback: Kellen Moore will be a junior next season and backup Michael Coughlin will be a senior. With Joe Southwick still a freshman, the need for a new quarterback isn’t pressing, but it might be good to get someone in to learn the ropes and give Southwick a challenge in a couple years.

MARSHALL

Quarterback: The quarterback position hasn’t been the strong point of Marshall’s offense in quite some time, so finding a guy who can be a difference maker is key. Both Brian Anderson and Press Taylor will be seniors in 2010, so finding a young quarterback to challenge in this class would be the right move.

Wide receiver: Marshall’s leading receiver for most of last season was its now graduated tight end. While there is a lot of freshman talent on the two-deep, Antavious Willson was the only one that really made a lasting impression. If new coach Doc Holliday could get some high-level receiving talent, it would make his quarterbacks look better than they are.

Defensive line: The Herd lost three seniors this season and will have four on the depth in 2010. Marshall’s defense was one of the best in conference play and the reason why it was able to play in and win a bowl game.

Should BYU running back Harvey Unga stay or should he go?

That’s the question the BYU media is debating today as the Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune have published conflicting reports about Unga’s future with the Cougars.

The Deseret News reported that Unga was staying and quoted Unga’s father, Jackson.

"This is a decision he made on his own after gathering as much information as he could," Jackson Unga told the Deseret News. "He believes he should return, get his degree, put all he can into his senior season in extending his record and helping the football team achieve its goals. He loves BYU and his coaching staff and believes it is in his best interest to take this path at this time in his career."

About an hour later, Salt Lake Tribune writer Jay Drew wrote on his blog that he had texted Unga and that the decision was still up in the air.

“I am not sure yet,” Unga told Drew. “I’ll most likely meet with coach when he gets back and talk to him.”

Unga staying would be a big boost to a BYU offense that is losing several key starters this season, including quarterback Max Hall and top tight end Dennis Pitta. However, Unga has struggled with injuries throughout his career and he might not want to chance his draft potential. Unga has the talent to play in the NFL, but his durability has been questionable.

Unga rushed for 1,087 yards and 11 touchdowns this season -- his third consecutive 1,000-yard season -- despite missing the season opener and playing sparingly in three games this season.

Unga did note that he wanted to finish school and that might be enough of a reason to stay one more year.

Experience at quarterback, coaches will tell you, is about as important as anything, and both BYU and Oregon State have that well covered heading into the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas tonight.

Experience? BYU's Max Hall has won 31 games, more than any other previous BYU quarterback. And there have been a lot of good ones.

Oregon State's Sean Canfield isn't exactly a rookie. He'll be making his 24th start against the Cougars.

That experience probably means neither figures to get rattled.

"The chances of rattling [Hall] are tough," Beavers coach Mike Riley said. "You're talking about a guy who has been through a lot in his career and played a lot and has been productive as heck. It's just like we said with Sean. The best thing that happened for Sean is to play for a long time in one stretch and grow and gain the confidence."

Quarterbacks -- duh -- are always important, but these two are their offenses' engine, though Hall is probably a bit more critical to the Cougars.

Who has the edge?

Consider:

• Hall finished ranked third in the nation in passing efficiency. Canfield ranked 15th. It's fair to counter, however, that Canfield faced more talented secondaries in the Pac-10.
• Canfield completed 70 percent of his passes for 3,103 yards and 21 touchdowns with six interceptions. Hall completed 68 percent of his passes for 3,368 yards with 30 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Those interceptions might catch your eye, but Hall only threw four in the final seven games.
• Both pass defenses are questionable. Oregon State ranked 60th in the nation in pass efficiency defense; BYU was 40th. The Beavers will be missing starting cornerback Tim Clark, while the Cougars will have a speed disadvantage in the secondary.
• Canfield is a higher-rated NFL prospect, in large part because Hall lacks ideal size. Mel Kiper rates Canfield the fifth-best senior quarterback.
• Neither defense had a lot of sacks in 2009. BYU ranked 53rd in the nation with 24; Oregon State 106th with just 15. BYU's offense gave up 21 sacks, which ranked 54th in the nation. Oregon State surrendered 29, which is 87th.
• Both quarterbacks have help. Canfield has the Rodgers brothers, receiver James and running back Jacquizz. Hall has All-American tight end Dennis Pitta and running back Harvey Unga.

So, who has the edge?

Too close to call. The game sets up as though both offenses will move the ball well and both quarterbacks will have time to distribute the ball to their playmakers.

Canfield's key is to get the ball to the Rodgers brothers in space so they can stress the Cougars with their speed and elusiveness.

Hall didn't play terribly well in the Cougars rivalry-game victory over Utah to conclude the season -- he completed just 12 of 32 passes -- but he kept his cool and threw the game-winner in overtime. He needs to stay in rhythm and take what the defense gives him.

Both veteran quarterbacks figure to play well. The one who plays better, however, likely will lead the winning team.

Breaking down Tuesday evening's Las Vegas Bowl between No. 18 Oregon State (8-4) and No. 14 BYU (10-2).

WHO TO WATCH: This is a primetime matchup of skill players. BYU will offer up quarterback Max Hall, tight end Dennis Pitta and running back Harvey Unga. The Beavers will counter with quarterback Sean Canfield and the Rodgers brothers, running back Jacquizz and receiver James. The difference for the Beavers is speed. The Rodgers brothers have it, while the Cougars are mostly about power. Canfield has been accurate all season, and if he can distribute the ball in space to the Rodgers brothers, all three could have a star turn.

WHAT TO WATCH: The Beavers pass defense. Starting cornerback Tim Clark broke his leg in the season-finale vs. Oregon, so an already thin crew is even thinner -- said coach Mike Riley, "We're thin. We're absolutely thin.'' Even with Clark, the Beavers ranked sixth in the Pac-10 in pass defense and pass efficiency defense. They surrendered 20 TD passes -- only Washington State surrendered more -- and their eight interceptions were tied for second fewest in the conference. Moreover, they only recorded 15 sacks, which ranked ninth in the conference, six fewer than No. 7 Stanford. Hall and BYU rank 12th in the nation in passing and have accounted for 31 TD passes.

WHY TO WATCH: It's the first matchup of ranked teams in the bowl seasons, and it's always interesting when the Pac-10 and Mountain West square off. The MWC annually wants to prove itself vs. BCS conferences -- perhaps paving the way for it to become one? -- while the Pac-10 doesn't want to endure dismissive sniffs from its BCS conference brethren. As for the game itself, there will be a lot of playmakers on both sides of the field. Jacquizz Rodgers, for one, could make a statement for the 2010 Heisman Trophy race, while Canfield could improve his already blossoming NFL draft prospects.

PREDICTION: BYU 33, Oregon State 30. So much of a bowl game is about which team is more motivated. Last year, Oregon State also lost a Civil War rivalry game with Oregon that knocked it out of the Rose Bowl, but the Beavers got blown out and embarrassed and wanted to exorcise that memory -- particularly the defense -- in the Sun Bowl. They were motivated. This time? They lost a heartbreaker. That's a different sort of touchstone. As for BYU, sure the Cougars are playing in their fifth consecutive Las Vegas Bowl. But they are riding high after a win over Utah in their rivalry game and surely will recall that they were out-hustled by Arizona in the bowl last year. That will be a lesson, and they will be plenty motivated this time to take a Pac-10 scalp.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Graham Watson

BRIGHAM YOUNG COUGARS (6-1, 3-0 MWC)

With the exception of an unexpected loss to Florida State at home earlier this year, BYU has been as strong as many expected when the season started. However, that loss continues to overshadow BYU’s other accomplishments and hurt the Cougars in the BCS standings. BYU does play in a tough conference and has two games against ranked opponents remaining, including this week’s tilt against TCU, which could end up being the signature win that BYU though it earned earlier in the season in a victory over Oklahoma.

Offensive MVP

Harvey Unga, RB: Unga has been plagued by injuries throughout his career and even missed games this season because of nagging ailments. However, he’s come back with a vengeance to lead the Cougars in rushing with 95.83 ypg. He has three 100-yard rushing games this season and has rushed for more than 80 yards in every game he’s started.

Defensive MVP

Scott Johnson, DB: Johnson has suffered two concussions this season -- one that kept him out of BYU’s 54-28 loss to Florida State -- but has still been one of BYU’s most valuable players on defense. Johnson leads the team with three interceptions, all in the last two games, and ranks second on the team with 37 tackles. The interceptions are the first of his career.

Posted by ESPN.com’s Graham Watson

BYU running back Harvey Unga played most of last week’s game against Colorado State with a broken pinkie finger on his right hand, and now he’ll play the rest of the season with it.

Unga suffered the injury during the second play of last week’s game, but still rushed for 113 yards and three touchdowns. He wore a soft cast during Tuesday’s practice, but expects to play this week against Utah State.

"It hurts like any other broken finger, I'm assuming," Unga told reporters after Tuesday’s practice. "I've got four other good ones. That helps out.”

BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said the team ruled out surgery because it would likely keep Unga from playing. The surgery would require pins placed in the pinkie to allow the bones to reconnect and grow back in place.

"The injury doesn't seem to bother him, so it's not going to bother us," Mendenhall said. "He would like to play."

If the injury is not healed or is still bothering Unga at the end of the season, he could still undergo surgery in the offseason.