There is no smirk when Ted Tollner says the words. There is no hint of doubt in his delivery. There is nothing but seriousness.

"We have always felt we could play with them," Tollner said. "I've always felt the game is a tossup when we play them, but that's not how the results have gone."

That's not how at all.

	Sonny Lubick knows Colorado State's game against San Diego State is big for both teams.

Mountain West Conference football play begins on Saturday when San Diego State visits Colorado State, when the annual pretender meets the annual contender.

The Aztecs -- 0-2 after uninspiring losses to Arizona and Arizona State -- are trying to avoid a fourth losing season in five years.

The Rams -- 1-1 after appearing overmatched in losing to Colorado and decent in beating lowly Nevada -- have won two straight conference titles and five since 1994.

A more important number this week: SDSU is 1-5 against CSU under Tollner, outscored by an average of 25-17.

"Everything we have pointed to is conference," Tollner said. "It is always our No. 1 priority. This is our first step against the champion at their place. Your conference decides championships and bowl games. There is nothing more important."

It is a key game for both teams, but for much different reasons.

CSU is the preseason pick to win a third consecutive championship, but inexperience at quarterback and injuries at running back have others (BYU, SDSU, UNLV) thinking about unseating the Rams.

"I don't know if we have hit our stride yet, because I don't know what our stride is," said CSU coach Sonny Lubick. "I know this week's game is huge. If we can play well and beat San Diego State, our confidence could really take off. It could be like some previous seasons, when we won a few hard-fought games early and went from there."

Winning would also be huge for SDSU.

Of course, so would scoring more than one touchdown per game.

The Aztecs are averaging just 8.5 points, which ranks 109th nationally. In two games, they have scoring drives of 1, 44 and 72 yards. They are averaging 195.5 yards, which is 112th nationally.

"We haven't played like we have prepared each week," said senior running back Larry Ned, averaging 65.5 yards. "But the conference is what we worked for since last year. Everything is in front of us. This feels like a fresh start. That's how we have to look at it."

Translation: It can't get any worse.

Around the Mountain West

Air Force
The team's conference opener against visiting Utah was postponed until Dec. 1 in the wake of terrorist attacks. The Falcons (1-1) now take this week off before traveling to San Diego State on Sept. 29 for an ESPN2 telecast. "We're just sitting here twiddling our thumbs a bit," said Falcons coach Fisher DeBerry. "By the time we get to San Diego, we'll have had three weeks between games. That's a concern." ... It's obviously a different place, the Academy, one whose players experienced different emotions the past week than others in the MWC. Immediately following the attacks, all cadets were restricted to specific areas. "They still can't leave campus," DeBerry said. "They handled the code well last week, but if it remains in affect, I'm sure they'll really be looking forward to San Diego. Naturally, they have to approach (the attacks) different than most. But I applaud our players. They have reacted with empathy and open hearts to the victims. Our players know the No. 1 reason they are here is to serve their country. They were all ready to go and do that on the morning of the attacks."

BYU
The anticipated game at No. 17 Mississippi State was postponed. No new date has been scheduled, and it's likely one won't be. The earliest a makeup could be played is Dec. 8, the same day as the SEC championship. "I'd love to play Mississippi State," said BYU coach Gary Crowton. "But what we don't want to do is disrupt anything we do in conference. If we overlook anyone in conference, we'll be in trouble. We don't want to get so caught up in the Mississippi State thing that we lose our focus. If they're not in the (SEC championship), I think we'll play the game." BYU, ranked 25th, now takes this week off before opening conference play at UNLV on Sept. 29. "It's a long time to be off," Crowton said. "But we're pretty healthy and we'll organize our practices to where they're competitive. If we practice hard the next few weeks, we won't (lose momentum). But it's going to feel like we're going into our first game again." ... One of the reasons many wanted to see the Cougars play in Starkville: BYU (3-0) is averaging 55.3 points and 606.7 yards, but Mississippi State would have offered the first legitimate defensive side for Crowton's team to attack.

Colorado State
The Rams' conference opener at UNLV was postponed until Oct. 20, when each team had an off week. "We returned to practice on Monday and I saw a little better dedication and concentration from the layers than last week," said CSU coach Sonny Lubick. "In light of everything that happened, hopefully we'll keep moving forward and be ready to play against San Diego State." ... The quarterback duel between D.J. Busch and Bradlee Van Pelt appears over, especially after coaches approached Van Pelt about switching to running back. The former Michigan State transfer declined, telling reporters he can still offer the Rams a threat at quarterback and that he hasn't been afforded the same opportunity as the sophomore Busch.

UNLV
The game against CSU postponed, UNLV now plays at Arizona on Saturday night. Finally, the Rebels have settled into a normal practice routine. UNLV played its first two games -- losses to Arkansas and Northwestern -- on Thursday and Friday nights, respectively. "It's great to be back into a routine where we play on Saturday," said UNLV coach John Robinson. "Like everyone else, last week around here was a strain and drain on everyone." ... Arizona -- which is 2-0 after beating San Diego State and Idaho -- offers the Rebels their final regular-season chance at beating a BCS conference opponent. "I played against Arizona eight times while (coaching at USC) and four of those games were (in Tucson). It's a tough place to play. They have a great fans base and their defense is again very good." ... Success won't come unless UNLV improves its special teams play. The Rebels have suffered through poor snaps and kicks. They rank 101st nationally in net punting with a 30.09 average, and have made just 1-of-3 field-goal attempts.

New Mexico
The team's game against in-state rival New Mexico State was postponed until Nov. 24 in Las Cruces. Now, the Lobos (1-1) face three consecutive road games, beginning with Saturday's date at Baylor. That is followed by conference games at Utah and Wyoming, meaning five weeks will pass between home dates for the Lobos. "Hopefully, we'll play well enough over the next three weeks so the home games mean something when we get back," said New Mexico coach Rocky Long. "Right now, we just need to play someone and Baylor is a good opponent from the Big 12 Conference." If the Lobos can at least split the Utah and Wyoming meetings, they have the promise of five of their last six league games being in Albuquerque. The lone road contest during that stretch: At San Diego State on Nov. 3.

San Diego State
The team's game at Ohio State was postponed until Oct. 20, when each had a bye. What it means: SDSU no longer has an off week to prepare for its Oct. 27 home game against BYU ... Aztecs coach Ted Tollner knows how important the CSU game is, so his decision to stay with junior Lon Sheriff as starting quarterback this week isn't a surprise. Experience wins out again. "I feel this is the best way for us to start the game," said Tollner, who stuck with Sheriff over promoting sophomore Adam Hall. "We're going to get both of them ready to play without going in with a (specific rotation). The criterion I always use is what gives us the best chance to win." Neither quarterback has been stellar to date. Sheriff is 16-of-37 for 145 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions; Hall has completed 12-of-30 for 117 yards with no TDs and one pick.

Utah
The Utes, after having their game at Air Force postponed, return to non-conference play at Indiana on Saturday. It's the longest trip Utah will make this season. "I don't think there is any advantage to having a week off this early in the season, but it was the correct and appropriate thing to do under the circumstances," said Utah coach Ron McBride. "We prepared three days for Air Force, the game was postponed and we started in on Indiana. You hope to keep somewhat of an edge with your players. We've stayed on them pretty hard." ... One possible schedule scenario has the BYU-Mississippi State game being played Dec. 1, but that could offer a trickle-down affect that might switch the Utah-Air Force game to Nov. 24. Or would it? "We won't do that because I don't want to," McBride said. "The schedule is set. It's the one our players and coaches are expecting to play."

Wyoming
The Cowboys' game at Kansas was postponed and no makeup date is set. "We had some good practices and were prepared to play the game," said Wyoming coach Vic Koenning. "We were minutes away from getting on buses to head that way." ... The Cowboys (1-1) play at Utah State (0-2) on Saturday. The game renews a 58-year rivalry following a 23-year hiatus ... It was tough week everywhere. It was a brutal one in Laramie. After trying to deal with attacks on the country, tragedy hit home when eight members of the cross country team were killed early Sunday morning in a two-vehicle accident. "A very, very sad situation," Koenning said. "We're trying to deal with players on an individual basis and as a group. We have a lot of sorrow to overcome." The automobile accident happened on Highway 287, which most students travel regularly. Early reports of the crash listed no specific names, only that eight Wyoming athletes had been killed. "Right after practice, I told every player to go and call their parents and tell them they were safe and that they loved them," Koenning said.

Ed Graney covers the Mountain West for the San Diego Union-Tribune.