Boise State a solid fill-in after Utah, BYU depart

Boise State's entry into the Mountain West Conference couldn't come at a better time for the league, which loses Utah to the Pac-12 Conference and Brigham Young to independence.

The shake-up continues next year with the shuffling of more schools in and out.

For this season, Boise State -- which previously ruled the Western Athletic Conference -- provides some stability, and the Broncos are the Mountain West's best hope to garner another Bowl Championship Series bid for the league.

Following is a look at each team in the MWC, in order of projected finish by the media:

1. Boise State

Last season: 12-1, 7-1 WAC (tied for first). No. 9 in AP, No. 7 in USA Today. Defeated Utah 26-3 in the MAACO Bowl Las Vegas.

Returning starters: 8 offense, 8 defense.

Key returning players: QB Kellen Moore, RB Doug Martin, DT Billy Winn, S George Iloka.

Key losses: WR Austin Pettis, WR Titus Young, S Jeron Johnson, NT Winston Venable.

Outlook: If Boise State beats Georgia before a "neutral" crowd at Atlanta in the season opener, the Broncos could put themselves in position to become the first team from outside the Bowl Championship Series conferences to play for the BCS title. Of course, there is the matter of that Nov. 12 home game against Texas Christian.

Coach Chris Petersen: "We're excited to be part of the Mountain West Conference. We think it's going to be really challenging. ... We are cautiously optimistic."

2. TEXAS CHRISTIAN

Last season: 13-0, 8-0 MWC (first). No. 2 in AP, No. 2 in USA Today. Defeated Wisconsin 21-19 in the Rose Bowl.

Returning starters: 5 offense, 6 defense.

Key returning players: WR Josh Boyce, G Kyle Dooley, LB Tank Carder, DE Stansly Maponga.

Key losses: QB Andy Dalton, WR/KR Jeremy Kerley, S Tejay Johnson, S Colin Jones.

Outlook: TCU figures to slip some, mostly because of the loss of Dalton, a four-year starter known just as much for his leadership as his ability to make plays. Casey Pachall is expected to replace Dalton, but opening at Baylor and Air Force won't allow him to ease into the position.

Coach Gary Patterson: "I'm probably more excited about the potential of this team because of the unknowns that we haven't had in more than three or four years. I think that's what makes the game what it is. It makes it special because we have a lot of young talent."

3. Air Force

Last season: 9-4, 5-3 MWC (tied for third). Not ranked. Defeated Georgia Tech 14-7 in the Independence Bowl.

Returning starters: 5 offense, 8 defense.

Key returning players: QB Tim Jefferson, RB Asher Clark, DB Anthony Wright, DB Jon Davis.

Key losses: FB Jared Tew, OL Chase Darden, DL Rick Ricketts, DB Reggie Rembert.

Outlook: The Mountain West had the Big Three in TCU, Brigham Young and Utah. BYU and Utah are gone, and Boise State arrives to take one of the spots. So there should be at least a Big Two. Air Force could have the team to again establish a Big Three, and the Sept. 10 home game against the Horned Frogs will tell a lot.

Coach Troy Calhoun: "There were stretches last year we played incredible defense. ... So it will help having eight guys back, no question."

4. San Diego State

Last season: 9-4, 5-3 MWC (tied for third). Not ranked. Defeated Navy 35-14 in the Poinsettia Bowl.

Returning starters: 7 offense, 5 defense.

Key returning players: QB Ryan Lindley, RB Ronnie Hillman, LB Miles Burris, DB Leon McFadden.

Key losses: WR Vincent Brown, WR DeMarco Sampson, DL Ernie Lawson, DB Jose Perez.

Outlook: Brady Hoke did a tremendous job turning around the Aztecs, and he was rewarded by getting hired at Michigan. Rocky Long, who had an impressive 11-year run as coach at New Mexico, was promoted from defensive coordinator. That move calmed an uncertain situation -- Long will continue to make the defensive calls -- but perhaps the bigger question is how the Aztecs will replace two 1,000-yard receivers.

Coach Rocky Long: "We have a tougher schedule than we had last year. We think we're going to have a better team."

5. Colorado State

Last season: 3-9, 2-6 MWC (tied for sixth).

Returning starters: 6 offense, 6 defense.

Key returning players: QB Pete Thomas, OL Paul Madsen, LB Mychal Sisson, S Ivory Herd.

Key losses: WR Tyson Liggett, FB Zac Pauga, NT Guy Miller, LB Ricky Brewer.

Outlook: Many observers believe the Rams will be the Mountain West's most improved team, but that's probably because the lower half of the conference is so dreadful. It's difficult to get too excited about a team that ended last season with a 44-0 loss at Wyoming -- the Cowboys' only conference victory.

Coach Steve Fairchild: "For the first time since I've been the head football coach (2008), we've got the majority of our starters back on both sides of the ball."

6. Wyoming

Last season: 3-9, 1-7 MWC (tied for eighth).

Returning starters: 7 offense, 8 defense.

Key returning players: RB Alvester Alexander, C Nick Carlson, DE Josh Biezuns, CB Tashaun Gipson.

Key losses: QB Austyn Carta-Samuels, G Sam Sterner, FS Chris Prosinski, SS Shamiel Gary.

Outlook: Though the Cowboys ended last season with a 44-0 victory over rival Colorado State, Wyoming spent the previous two weeks losing at Mountain West lightweights New Mexico and UNLV. Not much more is expected this year.

Coach Dave Christensen: "We went into our offseason with a very positive, upbeat, enthusiastic football team, and that's carried through the winter and spring, as well as the summer. Now we've got to see if that continues ... into next season."

7. UNLV

Last season: 2-11, 2-6 MWC (tied for sixth).

Returning starters: 6 offense, 4 defense.

Key returning players: WR Phillip Payne, RB Tim Cornett, CB Quinton Pointer, S Eric Tuiloma-Va'a.

Key losses: QB Omar Clayton, OT Matt Murphy, DT Isaako Aaitui, LB Starr Fuimaono.

Outlook: After seven years of enormous success at Montana, coach Bobby Hauck saw up close how difficult it is to win at UNLV. It didn't help that he faced the toughest schedule in school history and fielded one of the nation's youngest teams. The Rebels again will be young, and expectations again will be low.

Coach Bobby Hauck: "I think we'll get better almost every week this season. We'll be frustrating at times because of our youth and inexperience, but if we go out and work at it on a daily basis, I don't think we can help but improve and get better. That certainly has to be the goal for us."

8. New Mexico

Last season: 1-11, 1-7 MWC (tied for eighth).

Returning starters: 6 offense, 9 defense.

Key returning players: WR Ty Kirk, TE Lucas Reed, LB Carmen Messina, S Bubba Forrest.

Key losses: OT Byron Bell, G Karlin Givens, DE Johnathan Rainey, DT Peter Gardner.

Outlook: Coach Mike Locksley put tremendous pressure on himself by saying the Lobos expect to win six games and make a bowl. That's improbable, to say the least. But there already was enough pressure on Locksley before making that statement. In the offseason, he agreed to have the $1 million buyout clause in his contract cut roughly in half.

Coach Mike Locksley: "The adversity we have faced has brought us together as a team. I feel like there's a tremendous amount of trust, and with trust comes confidence. I really see the difference as we head into year three in just those little things."