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The hottest seat in the Mountain West Conference is bubbling like a volcano in Honolulu.

After five straight losses, which will more than likely lead to a fifth straight losing season, Hawaii coach Norm Chow is fighting to hold into his job.

A brutal schedule has not helped Chow's future employment, although he has one season remaining on a five-year contract and Hawaii's ability to pay a coach to go away is not clear.

The Rainbow Warriors have made four taxing trips to the mainland in the last six weeks. Among the opponents: No. 1-ranked Ohio State, Wisconsin and Boise State.

Injuries have been another factor.

According to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 14 of the 22 players who were projected as starters at the beginning of the season have missed games.

Last week at Nevada, Hawaii jumped to a 17-0 lead but fell apart when quarterback Max Witteck was sacked five times and threw three interceptions.

Chow's players know his job is in jeopardy.

"It kills me," said Dylan Collie. "I love that man."

Around the Mountain

• One week after Utah State beat Boise State, 52-26, San Diego State routed the Aggies, 48-14. How does it happen? Aztecs coach Rocky Long knows: "It's totally the turnovers. If they don't turn the ball over [four times], it's going to be a very close game, probably until the end. It might even go to an overtime or something. Turnovers give tremendous momentum shifts to the teams that get the turnover. The same thing happened to them against Boise. We were just lucky to be the ones on the receiving end. ... That's how you get a score like that. We're not that much better than Utah State."

• When it comes to predicting which Mountain West teams will be bowl-eligible by the end of the season, don't sleep on Colorado State. The Rams are only 3-4. They already have two division losses, but their schedule gives them a chance at a third straight bowl appearance. After playing San Diego State on Saturday, CSU closes with Wyoming, UNLV, New Mexico and Fresno State. Coach Mike Bob says his players "know how many wins you've got to get to get to a bowl. They know where everybody else is, as far as conference play. [But] we only talk about what we've got to do this week."

• New Mexico coach Bob Davie is no longer agonizing over who will start and get most of the snaps at quarterback, sophomore Lamar Jordon or junior Austin Apodaca. "For us, the reality is both quarterbacks really do have to play," Davie said. "… I think we just let it rip and kind of go with whoever we need to have in there at that particular time." Jordan is widely viewed as the Lobos' running quarterback. Apodaca is a better passer, although he struggled in last week's 31-21 loss at San Jose State. New Mexico has a bye this week prior to its home game against Utah State on Nov. 7.

Email: luhm@sltrib.com

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Tribune Power Rankings

Mountain West Conference

1. Boise State (6-2) • Broncos are 2-2 on the road

2. San Diego State (5-3) • Pumphrey 46 yards for 1,000

3. Utah State (4-3) • Third straight on Friday night

4. Colorado State (3-4) • Lost four straight to SDSU

5. Air Force (4-3) • Falcons winless on the road

6. San Jose State (4-4) • Bye before BYU on Nov. 6

7. Nevada (4-4) • Polian: Bye "badly needed"

8 New Mexico (4-4) • Needs two wins for a bowl

9. Fresno State (2-6) • Allows 40.9 points per game

10. UNLV (2-5) • Third in the MWC in rushing

11. Wyoming (1-7) • Down to No. 3 quarterback

12. Hawaii (2-6) • Dropped five straight games