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By DOUG ALDEN AP Sports Writer
PROVO, Utah (AP) -- Before anyone plans a trophy presentation for No. 23 Brigham Young's first conference championship in five years, the Cougars would like to actually clinch it.
BYU has already won a share of the Mountain West Conference title, but can secure it outright Saturday at home against New Mexico (5-5, 3-3). It's also a chance for the Cougars (8-2, 6-0 MWC) to go unbeaten in LaVell Edwards Stadium for the first season since 2001.
"There's so much riding on this week," BYU linebacker Kayle Buchanan said.
The Cougars want it all -- the unbeaten home season, the MWC title and anything else that establishes that BYU is back after four straight years without a winning record.
"We want there to be absolutely no question in anybody's mind that we're the best team and that we deserve that championship," Buchanan said.
Just how long has it been? The five-year title drought is the longest stretch BYU hasn't won at least a share of a league championship since going without one from 1965 to 1974. The current streak will officially end with one more victory, either against the Lobos or at rival Utah next week. The Cougars, who have won seven in a row, can keep it from getting complicated by winning both.
"We don't want to have to go into next week saying 'Hey we have to win this game to win the conference championship,"' receiver Matt Allen said. "This is a championship football team and we know what to do."
BYU finished second in the Mountain West last season, the first under coach Bronco Mendenhall, who said restoring the Cougars' tradition was a priority after he was promoted to replace Gary Crowton.
It went a lot faster than expected, at least faster than anybody other than Mendenhall or his players envisioned.
"Since Coach Mendenhall took over, this is what we've been working toward," Allen said. "Last year we got second place in the conference. We decided as a team that that's not good enough. We want the trophy. To get to this point is really important, but we've got to finish."
This will be the final home game for BYU's seniors, including quarterback John Beck and running back Curtis Brown.
Beck became the second leading passer in BYU history with 313 yards last week in a 55-7 win over Wyoming. Curtis Brown is 39 yards away from becoming the Cougars' all-time rushing leader and needs 68 yards to become the first Cougar to run for 3,000 yards in his career.
Mendenhall was New Mexico's defensive coordinator before Crowton brought him to BYU following the 2002 season. He remembers telling New Mexico coach Rocky Long he was making the move and now as a head coach can sympathize with how it made Long feel.
Mendenhall said his friendship with Long has healed, but knows his former boss would probably get some extra satisfaction by spoiling the Cougars' celebration, or at least putting it off a week.
"This team we're playing is a good football team and they're capable of winning against any team in our conference -- including us," Mendenhall said. "Getting that point across hasn't been hard to our own team. I've found it more difficult when I'm asked to have it accepted by anybody else."
New Mexico, which has won three of four, is trying to get its sixth win and become eligible for a bowl. The Lobos had won three in a row before losing 27-21 last week to TCU. New Mexico also lost another quarterback when Donovan Porterie sprained his left ankle in the third quarter.
Porterie started the last four games, but isn't expected to play Saturday. Chris Nelson, who went 1-3 as the starter after senior Kole McKamey was lost for the season with a knee injury in the second game, will likely lead the Lobos against the top scoring defense in the conference.
BYU is allowing just 13.5 points per game.
"We're really like the little brother to their big brother," New Mexico running back Rodney Ferguson said. "We have to give it
everything we have because in every 10 chances there's usually one time when the little brother beats the big brother. We're going to try and take that chance this time."
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APTV-11-17-06 1629MST
