This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

The Utah State Aggies say they aren't concerned where they end up in a bowl game, they're just happy to be bowl eligible.

That is a good attitude to take, considering how unsettled the bowl picture looks with just one game left in the regular season.

Many bowl projections have the Aggies slotted for the Dec. 20 New Mexico Bowl with UTEP as the most likely opponent, but so much is at stake for the Aggies in their final game it is hard to predict where they could land.

In deciding the destinations for the MWC teams, the Las Vegas Bowl has the first pick. The match ups for the other five Mountain West bowls will be decided between the bowls and ESPN. Which teams fit best into the certain regions will be a top consideration.

A MWC team could go to the Jan. 2 Cactus Bowl against a Pac-12 opponent if the Big 12 can't fill its slots. However, that is an unlikely scenario because six Big 12 teams already are bowl eligible with Oklahoma State (5-6) needing a win at Oklahoma to join the group.

For a MWC team to go to the Cactus Bowl, Oklahoma State must lose to the Sooners and the Big 12 would have to have two teams play in the CFP/access bowls.

Additionally, there is a chance for the MWC to land a team in a New Year's Day bowl since the highest ranked champion from the Group of Five (American Athletic Conference, MAC, Mountain West, Conference-USA, Sun Belt) is guaranteed a spot in a New Year's bowl.

The Aggies are ranked No. 23 in the College Football Playoff's latest poll, one spot ahead of undefeated Marshall (11-0).

If the Broncos win out, they should stay ahead of Marshall in the rankings and be awarded the New Year's Day bowl slot.

If the Aggies get hot and win out and CSU loses to Air Force, they might be a good pick for the Las Vegas Bowl. So how about a date with the Utah Utes?

That possibility might be attractive to fans, but coach Matt Wells only offered a thin smile when asked about the possible scenario on Monday during his press conference.

"They're good," he said of the Utes. "I know that would create quite a stir in the state for you guys."

A loss to Boise State could make the Aggies a logical choice for New Mexico, with the assumption the Potato Bowl would want Boise State and Las Vegas took CSU if it wins out.

The only bowl likely out of contention is the Poinsettia Bowl, which wants to avoid having the Aggies for a second straight year and would like to have San Diego State to help sell tickets.

John Saccenti, the Las Vegas Bowl Executive Director, said things are just too unsettled to make any projections.

"You can sit around and have a lot of conversations and say you like this team and this team, but we can't do much right now," he said. "Step one is this weekend."

More than anything, just being in position to win 10, possibly 11, games this season is more important to Wells than where they Aggies play in December.

"Playing for 10 regular-season wins is a big thing," he said. "How many teams win 10 games? That's hard to do. To be getting to a bowl game, playing in four straight bowl games, you're talking about things that have never been done at Utah State before. To be a part of that is pretty cool, absolutely."

Twitter: @lyawodraska MWC Bowl Schedule

Dec. 20 - R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl - Sun Belt vs. Mountain West

Dec. 20 - Gildan New Mexico Bowl - Mountain West vs. C-USA

Dec. 20 - Royal Purple Las Vegas Bowl - Mountain West vs. Pac-12

Dec. 20 - Famous Idaho Potato Bowl - MAC vs. Mountain West

Dec. 23 - San Diego Co. Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl - Mountain West vs. Navy

Dec. 24 - Hawaii Bowl - C-USA vs. Mountain West