Mountain West bolsters status after opening week

DENVER — If you can beat 'em, maybe you can join 'em.

While the rest of the country debates the merits of TCU and Boise State as potential BCS busters, Mountain West Conference commissioner Craig Thompson is simply relishing the early season successes of the Horned Frogs and Broncos as they pick off teams from power conferences.

All the more reason for the conference's inclusion in the BCS fray.

TCU, the defending league champion, is ranked fourth after defeating Oregon State in the opener, one spot behind Boise State, which buoyed its national title hopes by rallying past Virginia Tech, 33-30, on Monday night in Landover, Md.