MOUNTAIN WEST FOOTBALL

The Mountain West from top to bottom:

Brigham Young (6-2, 4-0 Mountain West) vs. Texas Christian (5-4, 2-3), Thursday: Cougars have won 10 straight home games by a 30.3-point average margin.

Air Force (7-3, 5-2) at Notre Dame (1-8): Falcons have rushed for more than 200 yards in six straight games.

New Mexico (6-3, 3-2) vs. Colorado State (1-8, 1-5): John Sullivan has made 19 field goals this season, four short of the MWC record.

Utah (6-3, 3-2) vs. Wyoming (5-4, 2-3): Utes best in league in scoring defense (17.8-point average).

San Diego State (3-5, 2-2) at UNLV (2-7, 1-4): Aztecs made 15 tackles for loss against Wyoming.

TCU (5-4, 2-3) at BYU (6-2, 4-0), Thursday: Horned Frogs have won 55 games in a row when holding opponent to 17 points or fewer.

Wyoming (5-4, 2-3) at Utah (6-3, 3-2): Cowboys have allowed one 100-yard rusher over past 16 games.

UNLV (2-7, 1-4) vs. San Diego State (3-5, 2-2): Despite record, Rebels have six more first downs than opponents.

Colorado State (1-8, 1-5) at New Mexico (6-3, 3-2): Past seven meetings decided by 10 points or fewer.

FIVE BEST PLAYERS

1. Beau Bell, LB, UNLV: Needs six tackles to go from fifth to second on UNLV’s career chart.

2. Chad Hall, WR, Air Force: Had 333 all-purpose yards against Army, including a school-record 275 rushing yards.

3. Chase Ortiz, DE, TCU: MWC-leading 11 solo tackles for loss.

4. Brian Johnson, QB, Utah: Best in conference with 68.5 percent completion rate.

5. Carson Bird, CB, Air Force: Six interceptions and five pass breakups.

THEY WROTE IT …

San Diego Union-Tribune columnist Tim Sullivan, on San Diego State’s 27-24 victory over Wyoming: “Arrogance is attempting a quarterback sneak from your own 37-yard line on fourth down in the first quarter. Sweetness is stopping it. Arrogance is attacking when prudence is pleading for caution. It is sneering at field-position football in the reckless pursuit of points. This is the attitude the Wyoming Cowboys struck last night at Qualcomm Stadium; an attitude, frankly, that had been encouraged by San Diego State’s dismal run defense. It is an attitude, evidently, in need of adjusting.”

Deseret Morning News (Salt Lake City) columnist Brad Rock, on BYU’s 35-16 victory over Colorado State: “Thus, the Cougars (6-2, 4-0) stayed where they were before all the interruptions — in first place. Last week’s game at San Diego State was postponed due to fires, forcing them to take a two-week layoff. They also had a bye in early October. Going into Saturday’s game, the Cougs hadn’t played a Division I-A (Football Bowl Subdivision) opponent in 21 days. It could be argued they hadn’t played a Division I opponent in five weeks, considering their Oct. 13 game was against hapless UNLV.”

Fort Worth (Texas) Star-Telegram columnist Wendell Barnhouse, on TCU’s 37-0 victory over New Mexico: “In the first eight games, TCU had been beat up and beat down (four times). A season that has been such a struggle suddenly looked easy, simple and masterful. Beat, pummel — heck, shut out — the second-best team in your conference, and you look like the king of college football.”

THEY SAID IT …

San Diego State coach Chuck Long, on beating Wyoming: “These are the kind of wins you build your program on.”

Wyoming coach Joe Glenn, on blowing a 21-0 lead to the Aztecs: “It’s a meltdown. Every phase of the game.”

TCU coach Gary Patterson, on the rout over New Mexico: “We got our swagger back tonight.”

COMPILED BY MARK ANDERSON/REVIEW-JOURNAL