Will Cougars root for Utes?

Brigham Young's Max Hall #15 scores a touchdown during the first half of the game at Qualcomm Stadium Saturday October 17, 2009. BYU is winning the game 21-14. (Photo by Chris Detrick / The Salt Lake Tribune )

Provo » Shortly after their noon game at New Mexico on Saturday, the BYU Cougars hope to be able to watch the all-important TCU-Utah game as they jet their way back to Provo that evening.

Who will they cheer for?

It's an interesting dilemma, because a win by undefeated TCU, which is No. 4 in the BCS rankings, would practically ensure the Frogs a berth in a BCS bowl game, and a big payday for the Mountain West Conference.

But if No. 16 Utah wins, the No. 22 Cougars will likely get a share of the conference title if they can win their next three games, including the Nov. 28 showdown with the Utes.

Last week, BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall seemed to be leaning toward preferring the latter, but at his news conference Monday he begged off on predicting a winner and disclosing a preference.

"Hard to answer that one," he said. "Rather than get to caught up in who I will be pulling for, I just am more interested in the strategy. I think it is going to be an interesting matchup. I will leave it at that."

Road warriors

BYU can go undefeated on the road against conference opponents (4-0) for the fifth time since the inception of the MWC in 1999 if it can beat New Mexico on Saturday. The Cougars also did that in 2001, 2006 and 2007.

Mendenhall said getting out on the road gives the Cougars a nice break from campus life, builds camaraderie

"Maybe even a break from just the local perspective on how our team is" could also be a helpful factor, he said, an obvious reference to criticism the team took following the 38-7 home loss to TCU.

No more jerk

Running back J.J. DiLuigi has shelved "The Jerk." That's the name of the end zone dance the sophomore did after scoring the first touchdown Saturday against Wyoming. The Cougars were penalized 15 yards for excessive celebration.

DiLuigi said coaches "got on me pretty good. They just told me, 'you get one more shot. Don't mess up again.' "

After going over 100 yards of total offense in the game, DiLuigi said, "I probably won't be doing that [dance] ever gain. Actually, I know I won't be doing that ever again."

Briefly

The Cougars continue to lead the nation in third-down conversion percentage (64 percent), having been successful on 69 of 116 attempts. ... RB Harvey Unga tweaked his ankle against Wyoming and will be limited in practices early in the week, Mendenhall said. ... BYU quarterback Max Hall is a Mountain West Conference co-Offensive Player of the Week along with TCU's Andy Dalton . Cougar defensive end Jan Jorgensen is the Defensive Player of the Week.

drew@sltrib.com