La Tech, USU remain favorites in crumbling WAC
LAS VEGAS — Utah State football was picked to finish second in the WAC behind Louisiana Tech, the 2011 champion.
Louisiana Tech received six first place votes in the coaches poll to USU’s one and were overwhelming favorites in the media poll also, taking 25 of 28 first place votes.
“We’ll see how our players react to being the hunted instead of the hunters,” said Louisiana Tech head coach Sonny Dykes. “That’s going to be a little bit different role for us, being the favorite of the conference.”
La. Tech and Utah State are the only teams in the conference that played in bowl games last season. The Bulldogs went 8-5 overall, losing only one conference matchup and played in the San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl. The Aggies finished 7-6, ending on a five-game winning streak before falling to Ohio in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl.
Rampant Attrition
Five of the remaining WAC football-playing schools will be leaving the conference after this season.
Louisiana Tech and Texas State have accepted invitations to join Conference USA, San Jose State and Utah State are headed to the Mountain West beginning next season and Texas State is leaving for the Sun Belt.
WAC interim commissioner Jeff Hurd said he personally does not believe the WAC will continue as a football conference.
“As I look at the landscape, I don’t think you have to be a rocket scientist to see it,” Hurd said. “I mean, there are only so many options available.”
Idaho has accepted an invitation to the Big Sky for Olympic sports and will play independent football. New Mexico State will also play independent in the foreseeable future.
– tavin.stucki@aggiemail.usu.edu