So, the Boise State Broncos must declare their intentions to either leave or stay in the Mountain West Conference by Saturday.

Well, they actually don't have to do anything.

But if the Broncos do in fact decide to take their football program to the Big East and they don't announce it soon, such a move in the immediate future would become a much more expensive one, as departure fees would increase. In turn, staying in the MWC beyond the 2012-13 academic year would become a more realistic possibility.

Yes, to a degree New Mexico State University's fate rests in the Broncos' hands - if BSU stays in the MWC, it, for all intents and purposes, eliminates any chance the Aggies have at landing in the league - a move they covet. The Broncos would remain, which would also ensure San Diego State staying put, placing the Mountain West at a 12-team football membership that would be somewhat desirable.

If, however, BSU does in fact leave the Mountain West - which has long been the expectation - it could open a door for New Mexico State's inclusion into the league. Such a decision would provide NMSU with some level of hope - even if such hope is minimal, perhaps even false.

The Mountain West is going to exhaust other options before settling for the Aggies. And does the MWC have to move to a 12-team league? Only if such expansion would guarantee them better financial opportunity - such as a more lucrative TV deal. Yes, a 12-team league would ensure a football championship game, and surely retaining Boise State and San Diego State would help provide such financial backing. But bringing NMSU and Idaho on board? Such a move doesn't exactly have the same clout, it just expands the pool in which to disperse the pot of gold.

This is about providing assets - money-making opportunities - and what do the Aggies bring to the table at this point? Not a whole lot.

NMSU being an independent football program if and when the Western Athletic Conference football model folds following the 2012-13 school year is becoming more of a possibility. This is a scary thought, simply because outside of Notre Dame, being an independent team is close to impossible. In the long-term at least. The Aggies could hold it together for a year, two years tops. Then hope that another massive realignment shift comes, where the haves - the major BCS powers - really break away from the have-nots - the mid-majors of the world - which would possibly cause conferences to realign once again, more geographically this time, and make NMSU's search for a home easier, and more attainable. That, or the WAC could add some FCS programs to its membership, in an attempt to remain afloat as a football league - not a terribly appealing option, but a possible option nonetheless.

There are still concerns in the present. How are the Aggies even recruiting to their football program at the moment? There's this thing called negative recruiting, and certainly NMSU's competitors are taking the school to the wood shed concerning its predicament, when courting student athletes.

And, will the WAC hold together as an Olympic-sports league? One would think it will. But, as it's currently comprised for the 2013-14 campaign - NMSU, Boise State, Idaho, Seattle and Denver - it's not an ideal, or even feasible, model.

Questions, and issues, abound.

Unfortunately, not even the answers are very encouraging.
