It’s the rule: Some team must win the MW’s West Division

The unfortunate part is some team will have to win the West Division.

Then that team will actually play for the Mountain West championship.

It’s a game that certainly should be won by whichever team comes out of the Mountain Division, which is so good that two schools should play for the title and forget the West. But those aren’t the rules.

The conference’s four best football teams reside in the Mountain Division, and No. 22 Colorado State, Boise State, Utah State and Air Force all have at least eight victories. The first three of those teams are tied atop the division with 5-1 records in league play, and Air Force is fourth at 4-2.

The race should come down to the regular season’s final weekend when Utah State plays at Boise State and Colorado State visits Air Force.

Boise State has the inside track to winning the division and hosting the conference championship on Dec. 6, and if the Broncos win out, they could put themselves in position to play in one of the big-money bowls on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day. The fact the College Football Playoff committee keeps excluding undefeated Marshall from the rankings should give the Broncos hope to be the representative from a nonpower conference.

Colorado State, however, remains the Mountain West’s best hope if the Rams can figure out a way to win the conference title.

At least in the Mountain Division, those competing for the title own real resumes. It’s a mess in the West, a division that no team seems to want to win.

UNR, San Diego State and Fresno State are tied for first, each with 3-3 conference records. Only UNR (6-4) owns a winning overall record, San Diego State (5-5) is .500, and Fresno State (4-6) not only has a losing mark but also is the only Mountain West school to lose to UNLV.

The division should come down to Saturday’s game in Reno, where UNR hosts Fresno State. Because both teams defeated San Diego State, the winner is on track to win the division title.

San Diego State’s only hope is to beat visiting Air Force and San Jose State the next two weeks and hope the UNR-Fresno State winner loses on the final weekend. Good luck with that. Fresno State hosts Hawaii on Nov. 29, and UNR is at UNLV that day.

When it’s all done, expect UNR to play at Boise State for the conference championship.

AROUND THE MOUNTAIN WEST

Air Force is on its first four-game winning streak since 2000. The Falcons also have won seven of their past eight games. … Boise State running back Jay Ajayi has rushed for multiple touchdowns in the past five games. … Hawaii shut out San Jose State 13-0 on Saturday to end a 17-game away losing streak. The Warriors won despite being outgained 462 yards to 240 and giving up 24 first downs and picking up only 11. But Hawaii converted all three trips to the red zone into points, and San Jose State went 0-for-5. According to STATS Inc., the Spartans became the first team since the data was first tracked in 1996 to get shut out and not attempt a punt. … San Diego State is 4-0 at home with two games remaining at Qualcomm Stadium. The Aztecs have not gone undefeated at home since going 7-0 in 1977.

POWER RANKINGS

1. Boise State (8-2, 5-1 MW). Last game: Defeated San Diego State 38-29. Next game: at Wyoming, Saturday. Last meeting: Won 48-7 in 2013. Line: Boise State -13½.

2. No. 22 Colorado State (9-1, 5-1). Last game: Defeated Hawaii 49-22. Next game: vs. New Mexico, Saturday. Last meeting: Won 66-42 in 2013. Line: Colorado State -21½.

3. Utah State (8-3, 5-1). Last game: Defeated New Mexico 28-21. Next game: vs. San Jose State, Friday. Last meeting: Won 40-12 in 2013. Line: Utah State -12½.

4. Air Force (8-2, 4-2). Last game: Defeated UNR 45-38. Next game: at San Diego State, Friday. Last meeting: Lost 27-20 in 2013. Line: San Diego State -4½.

5. UNR (6-4, 3-3). Last game: Lost to Air Force 45-38. Next game: vs. Fresno State, Saturday. Last meeting: Lost 41-23 in 2013. Line: UNR -8.

6. San Diego State (5-5, 3-3). Last game: Lost to Boise State 38-29. Next game: vs. Air Force, Friday. Last meeting: Won 27-20 in 2013. Line: San Diego State -4½.

7. Fresno State (4-6, 3-3). Last game: Defeated San Jose State 38-24. Next game: at UNR, Saturday. Last meeting: Won 41-23 in 2013. Line: UNR -8.

8. Hawaii (3-8, 2-4). Last game: Defeated San Jose State 13-0. Next game: vs. UNLV, Saturday. Last meeting: Lost 39-37 in 2013. Line: Hawaii -9½.

9. San Jose State (3-7, 2-4). Last game: Lost to Hawaii 13-0. Next game: at Utah State, Friday. Last meeting: Lost 40-12 in 2013. Line: Utah State -12½.

10. Wyoming (4-6, 2-4). Last game: Lost to Utah State 20-3. Next game: vs. Boise State, Saturday. Last meeting: Lost 48-7 in 2013. Line: Boise State -13½.

11. New Mexico (3-7, 1-5). Last game: Lost to Utah State 28-21. Next game: at Colorado State, Saturday. Last meeting: Lost 66-42 in 2013. Line: Colorado State -21½.

12. UNLV (2-9, 1-5). Last game: Lost to Brigham Young 42-23. Next game: at Hawaii, Saturday. Last meeting: Won 39-37 in 2013. Line: Hawaii -9½.

GAME OF THE WEEK

Fresno State at UNR. The winner takes a major step toward winning the West Division. That team will control its destiny to get into the conference title game and then lose to the Mountain Division winner.

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914. Follow @markanderson65 on Twitter.