ESPN Independents and Others Blog

Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

The WAC's conference competitiveness is a cause for concern for commissioner Karl Benson, which could be construed as odd considering the conference has produced the last two BCS busters. But from middle to bottom, the WAC is one of the weakest non-BCS conferences.

In each of the last three seasons -- the start of the reconstructed WAC -- the top three teams have each won seven or more games, but the bottom three teams have never combined for more wins than one of the top three teams have produced. For example, in 2005 Louisiana Tech finished third with seven total wins. The bottom three teams finished with five combined wins.

"We definitely need to get better in the bottom half of the league," Benson said. "From a football standpoint, we are ranked by all nine members. We have had teams ranked in the
100's and they have to get better. It has an effect on those teams in the top half in terms of BCS selection and BCS ranking. Our coaches know that and are striving to get better."

The result is criticism over whether a non-BCS team with such a soft schedule should be allowed in a BCS game. Boise State proved it belonged with an overtime win over Oklahoma in the 2006 Fiesta Bowl, which capped a 13-0 season. But Georgia walloped Hawaii 41-10 in last year's Sugar Bowl making some question whether Hawaii, despite its 12-0 record going into the game, had played a strong enough schedule to warrant a BCS spot.

Hawaii ranked 111th in strength of schedule at the end of the year, according to the NCAA, and five WAC teams had strength of schedules in the 100s. All of the WAC's nine members finished with a strength of schedule 90 or lower with Fresno State, who played two ranked BCS teams in the nonconference, leading the group.

The WAC knows the lower third of the conference is bringing the entire conference down and is starting to reach out to those struggling teams. It has increased resources to schools and recruiting is better. More WAC teams are starting to schedule difficult BCS non-conference opponents to make up for the strength of schedule lost during the conference season. And several coaches know their time is running short. Teams such as New Mexico State and Utah State have been in the bottom of the conference standings every year since 2005.

"We're seeing improvement," Benson said. "Our schools are investing more in their athletics programs. Since teams join the WAC, they get better, because of the recruiting standpoint. They get because of the television exposure. Programs are going to grow as they mature in the WAC."