Mountain West commissioner Craig Thompson looks at it more optimistically. He argues that with conference realignment finally done—he lost TCU and Utah—his conference can now start building toward getting into consideration for the playoff. With the selection made this year on Dec. 7, Mountain West officials point out that on that date in 2004, Utah was ranked No. 5; in 2009, TCU was No. 3; in 2010, TCU was No. 3 again.