It’s Friday again and it couldn’t have come soon enough. The weekend is here and football is on the horizon, so let’s get you up to speed on news from around the MWC!

UNLV coach has football roots in NM

It is a homecoming of sorts for UNLV head coach Tony Sanchez. He is no stranger to New Mexico and has deep roots in the state. Sanchez played two season for NMSU as a wide receiver and became a mainstay in their offense. After his playing days where done, he transitioned into coaching and was the defensive coordinator for Onate High School until 2003. In his time at Onate, he was apart of a state championship under head coach Kelly McKee in 2002. But he would return home to become the head coach of California High School in San Ramon. A bold move that would pay off for Tony, as he would soon take over as head man in Las Vegas. He now looks to get his first win against UNM. He went 0-2 against the Lobos as a player, but looks to flip that script against UNM as his 2-2 Rebels meet the 2-2 Lobos this weekend in Sin City.

A loss to San Jose State would forever tarnish Bobo’s legacy at CSU

Saying that there is pressure for Colorado State to win their game this weekend would be an understatement. The Rams are off to a terrible 1-4 start this season and head coach Mike Bobo is feeling the heat from all sides. Their game against San Jose State holds important meaning due to the fact that SJSU is considered one of the worst D-1 football program in the nation. A loss to the 0-4 Spartans would definitely put Mike Bobo on the hot seat, with a majority of the CSU fans already upset with the performance of the team so far this season. It is definitely not an understand to say that it’s all on the line this weekend for Mike Bobo and the Rams.

The keys behind Nevada’s massive run defense improvement

It’s a new look Wolf Pack defense this year. Nevada used to be one of the worst run defenses in college football. Just two years ago, they were giving up an average of 298 rushing yards a game. But what a difference two years make. So far this season, Nevada is only surrendering an average of 154 yards rushing per game, their lowest total since 2008. They attribute this to players being able to get off blocks and playing more physical. There is definitely a change happening at Nevada.

Replacing Leighton by committee: Boise State seeks more linebacker production

How do you replace a great linebacker? Simple if you ask Boise State. Not by replacing him with a single player, but with multiple players. The “next man” philosophy has worked to perfection for the Broncos. More players are getting on the field for their defense and it has given vital playing time to those who need it most. It seems like everyday, there is a new name on the depth chart. Defensive coordinator Andy Avalos says that it’s all about match ups and putting players on the field that give the defense the best possible opportunity to make a play.

On The Horizon

Friday: A Breakdown of UNM’s Offense, Week 6: What to Watch, What to Look For, and Game Thread, and MWC Week Six Games & Game of the Week Prediction

Saturday: Games!