I suspect Mountain West conference teams have to go undefeated for at least 2 or 3 consecutive seasons to have a chance at even being considered for a national title. It's just the way it is in far and away worst system in major sports, pro or college. NCAA football could be great (by integrating the major Bowls into an 8-team playoff system -- not a particularly difficult task), but as it stands they're both a laughing stock and a source of endless frustration.
I think that the bowl and BCS system functions better than most understand.
The football lasts for 4 months and the second-guessing and whining lasts for the 8 months in between seasons. The conversation never ends about college football like it does in the playoff sports. Frikken’ evil geniuses.
The Mountain West would have to play real teams for a whole season to be considered.
I noted on another thread that Utah looked very good, however it would be interesting to see them play an SEC schedule, and not just a depleted team on the way down at the end of the season.