March 8, 2005

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - A new era gets underway for the Mountain West Conference as it begins its seventh season of football competition in 2005 with the addition of newest member Texas Christian University. TCU will make its MWC debut on Thursday, September 15 by hosting defending MWC and Tostitos Fiesta Bowl champion Utah in an ESPN/ESPN2 national telecast.

Conference play begins the opening weekend of the schedule, with New Mexico hosting UNLV. San Diego State will visit Air Force in week two. The first full weekend of MWC action will center around Saturday, October 1. For the second consecutive season, and the second time in league history, the MWC concludes its entire regular-season schedule before Thanksgiving.

The scheduling process proved particularly challenging in 2005 and, for the first time, the Conference utilized the services of an outside entity to help construct a workable format. The Sports Scheduling Group, which includes Major League Baseball and the Atlantic Coast Conference among its clients, utilized its world-class personnel and computer resources to assist the MWC in attempting to balance more than 130 variables generated by the member institutions, the league scheduling parameters and television.

A comprehensive conference-wide television schedule will be announced at a later date. Several games may still be moved to Thursday or Friday slots for television, while others will be chosen as six- or 12-day picks.

A complete listing of the 2005 Mountain West Conference football schedule is attached:

2005 Mountain West Conference Composite Football Schedule
(all dates subject to change)

Thursday, September 1
Arizona at Utah

Saturday, September 3
Washington at Air Force *
Boston College at BYU
Colorado State at Colorado
UNLV at New Mexico
UCLA at San Diego State
TCU at Oklahoma
Wyoming at Florida

Saturday, September 10
San Diego State at Air Force
Eastern Illinois at BYU
New Mexico at Missouri
TCU at SMU
Idaho at UNLV
Utah State at Utah
Louisiana-Monroe at Wyoming

Thursday, September 15
Utah at TCU

Saturday, September 17
Wyoming at Air Force
Colorado State at Minnesota
New Mexico State at New Mexico
San Diego State at Ohio State
UNLV at Nevada

Thursday, September 22
Air Force at Utah

Saturday, September 24
TCU at BYU
Nevada at Colorado State
New Mexico at UTEP
San Jose State at San Diego State
UNLV at Utah State
Wyoming at Ole Miss

Saturday, October 1
Air Force at Colorado State
BYU at San Diego State
New Mexico at TCU
UNLV at Wyoming
Utah at North Carolina

Saturday, October 8
Air Force at Navy
BYU at New Mexico
Utah at Colorado State
San Diego State at UNLV
TCU at Wyoming

Saturday, October 15
UNLV at Air Force
Colorado State at BYU
New Mexico at Wyoming
San Diego State at Utah
Army at TCU

Saturday, October 22
TCU at Air Force
BYU at Notre Dame
Wyoming at Colorado State
New Mexico at San Diego State
Utah at UNLV

Saturday, October 29
Air Force at BYU
Colorado State at New Mexico
TCU at San Diego State

Saturday, November 5
Army at Air Force
BYU at UNLV
Colorado State at TCU
Wyoming at Utah

Saturday, November 12
BYU at Wyoming
San Diego State at Colorado State
New Mexico at Utah
UNLV at TCU

Saturday, November 19
Air Force at New Mexico
Utah at BYU
Colorado State at UNLV
Wyoming at San Diego State

Saturday, December 3
San Diego State at Hawaii

* Seattle Seahawks Stadium