This year's edition of the Mountain West football title game has taken on a new kind of tenor, since two first-time entrants -- not to mention two of the conference's original members, another first -- will have the opportunity to end long-standing title droughts.
Air Force surprised by emerging from a very competitive Mountain division, riding their traditional triple-option offensive attack and a retooled defense to earn a trip to San Diego. Though the Falcons have often been competitive over the years, a constant thorn in the side of conference powers, today's game is the program's first opportunity at an outright conference title since the last season of the 16-team WAC in 1998.