It's unlikely such a system will be instituted for several seasons because ESPN recently signed a deal, reportedly for $125 million annually, to televise BCS games through 2014. However, the banter hasn't slowed since the agreement was announced, and you can include Utah coach Kyle Whittingham in those who would like a playoff.

"I've always been a proponent," he said. "I think it's the most equitable way of doing it."

The idea of an eight-team format is gaining popularity, but Whittingham would like to see 12 teams make the cut.

If non-BCS teams had to go through a play-in system for a spot, he'd be all right with that format, too.

"I could see that, to get that one slot available," he said.

Sakoda a good student, too

Utah kicker Louie Sakoda is not only a good athlete, but he's also a good student. Sakoda was named a first-team ESPN The Magazine Academic All-American on Wednesday. Sakoda is a business marketing major who carries a 3.73 GPA. Earlier this season, he was named a National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete and a three-time Mountain West Conference Scholar-Athlete.

He was named a finalist Monday for the Lou Groza (kicking) and Ray Guy (punting) awards, becoming only the second player to be a finalist in both. He's a finalist for the Draddy Trophy, Lowe's Senior Class Award and the Wuerffel Trophy.

Lacking Louks

Missing from Utah's romp over BYU was backup quarterback Corbin Louks, who had played in the last eight games after missing the UNLV and Utah State games with a shoulder injury.

Louks, who has 27 carries for 218 yards and three touchdowns, isn't hurt and isn't in the coaches' doghouse, Whittingham said. He simply wasn't in the plans for the Cougars.

"We wanted to go with just Brian [Johnson] from start to finish," he said.

Johnson was 30-for-36 for 303 yards and four TDs.

Coaching carousel

Even the most successful MWC regular season couldn't prevent the coaching carousel from spinning as New Mexico coach Rocky Long resigned and Wyoming's Joe Glenn and San Diego State's Chuck Long were fired.

TCU coach Gary Patterson is now the dean of MWC coaches, completing his eighth season, while Whittingham, BYU's Bronco Mendenhall and UNLV's Mike Sanford are all at the end of their fourth seasons. Troy Calhoun has been with Air Force two seasons, and Steve Fairchild is completing his first season at Colorado State. Whittingham said he didn't have an opinion on whether the instability was bad for the league.

"I'm not a guy who follows that stuff closely," he said.

lwodraska@sltrib.com