MWC football: Mountain West coaches weigh in on conference's success

The Mountain West Conference is up.

It is one of three conferences with at least three teams ranked in the BCS top 15, along with the Big 12, which has five, and the Southeastern Conference with three.

"Right now, we're riding the high," said MWC commissioner Craig Thompson. "We have three teams ranked in the top 15 for the first time ever. It's a heckuva season, with three very strong teams."

A month ago, BYU was receiving most of the national attention, but that was before the Cougars fell at TCU, 32-7. Now the spotlight has shifted on Utah and TCU. who play tonight.

BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall said he isn't bothered by that.

"I think over the next three weeks, the rest of it will sort out. I think the two teams playing on Thursday night deserve that attention and then it will shift to another story after Thursday."

So how will tonight's game turn out?

"I think Utah has an advantage in that TCU traveled (to Las Vegas) last week, then will travel to Salt Lake," said UNLV coach Mike Sanford, whose team lost to both Utah (42-21) and TCU (44-14).

"In my mind, TCU is a very good football team. I think special teams are going to have a lot to do with the game. It's going to be a matter of if Utah can move the ball running and passing against TCU's defense, and how much Utah's defense can hold TCU's offense in check."

100-YARD CLUB: Eight MWC players achieved 100-yard rushing or receiving games last Saturday. Amazingly, those eight performances happened in only two games.

In BYU's 45-42 victory over Colorado State, the Cougars had three — Dennis Pitta (175 receiving yards), Austin Collie (156 receiving yards), and Harvey Unga (133 rushing yards).

The Rams produced two with wide receiver Dion Morton (129 receiving yards) and running back Gartrell Johnson (102 rushing yards).

Meanwhile, in Wyoming's 35-10 win over San Diego State, Devin Moore (234 rushing yards), Wynel Seldon (124 rushing yards) and Brandon Stewart (132 receiving yards) each gained at least 100 yards.

CLAYTON OUT: UNLV quarterback Omar Clayton, who is No. 2 in the MWC in total offense (228.6 yards per game), is out 2-6 weeks after suffering a right knee injury — a torn MCL — last weekend against TCU.