The Wild, Wild West

The college football season begins in two weeks, but the biggest news continues to be made away from the practice fields, as the Mountain West Conference late last night adds Fresno State and Nevada to its ranks. The addition of the schools, which will occur within the next two academic years, comes just hours after BYU confirms it is looking to leave the conference in order for its football team to become independent. The fallout could have an impact on whether the MWC receives a coveted BCS bid in ’12. The recent performances of BYU, Utah and TCU -- not to mention incoming member Boise State -- had MWC officials seeking an automatic spot in one of the prestigious bowl games. However, BYU’s impending departure coupled with Utah’s defection to the Pac-10 could severely dampen those hopes.