How wide open is the Fiesta Bowl when it comes to finding teams for this year’s game?

Consider that the bowl is not sending representatives to any football games this weekend. Part of the reason is because there are very few good games to attend. But uncertainty is the other reason.

“Things are up in the air. In this case probably more so than any other year,” said Fiesta Bowl spokesman Tony Alba. “It doesn’t make sense to go out and do anything. We’ll regroup on Sunday.”

The Fiesta Bowl is likely to need two at-large teams to fill its game because if undefeated Texas wins out, the Longhorns will be heading to the national championship game.

Alba said the Fiesta Bowl is considering Oklahoma State, TCU, Boise State, several teams from the Big Ten and a host of other possibilities.

Oklahoma State could be the biggest obstacle to Boise State getting selected for a BCS game. The Cowboys have made just one appearance in the Fiesta Bowl, a 16-6 victory against BYU in 1974 so their fans are no doubt itching to get to a BCS game.

EDIT: As an astute reader points out, the Fiesta Bowl was not a BCS game in 1974 as the BCS did not exist.

“They would be attractive. We have a relationship, a very strong relationship with the Big 12,” Alba said. “Any time there’s a Big 12 team, we certainly would take a look at them.”

Alba said the Broncos’ performance on the field and the fan support they received in 2007 would help Boise State in its quest for another BCS appearance.

“That put them on the map as a major player,” Alba said. “The support that they had was tremendous. … They have a proven track record.”

Fiesta Bowl reps have attended at least two Boise State games this year and could come to next week’s showdown with Nevada.

• If Texas were to lose one of its remaining regular-season games and then win the Big 12 championship game, I could see the Fiesta Bowl pitting TCU against the Longhorns, who the game would be obligated to take.

If Texas were to lose in the Big 12 title game then the Fiesta Bowl would be obligated to take the title game champion, likely Nebraska. In that case, I could also see the Fiesta Bowl grabbing TCU.

EDIT: TCU could very well be playing for the national championship in these cases.

Root for Colorado

Oklahoma State plays Colorado on Thursday night before ending its season with Oklahoma. A loss in either game would spell the end of the Cowboys’ BCS hopes.

Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy expects starting quarterback Zac Robinson to play Thursday night.

If Robinson can’t go, look for junior Alex Cate to get the nod.

Former Boise State coach Dan Hawkins’ job is in jeopardy, but athletic director Mike Bohn said he has yet to discuss the situation with Hawkins.

Hawkins said he is not concerned about his job security.

There have been reports that Bohn is already discussing the Colorado job with other candidates, while some have reported that the school lacks the money to buy out Hawkins’ contract.

What a mess.

LeBron the Brown?

Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini said he would give LeBron James a shot, if the basketball star wanted to try pro football.

UPDATE: 2:06 p.m. — From the WAC:

DENVER — Western Athletic Conference Commissioner Karl Benson today handed down a half-game suspension to Louisiana Tech football player Chad Boyd as a result of a flagrant foul he committed against an LSU receiver in last Saturday’s game played in Baton Rouge, La. that went undetected by the game officials.

“A flagrant personal foul should have been called by the game officials, and Boyd should have been ejected from the game at that time," said Benson.

The play occurred at the 13-minute mark of the third quarter.

Further Benson said, “By NCAA rules, I am required to review these types of situations and it was determined that the player clearly committed a flagrant foul, and thus will be suspended. Protecting a defenseless player from a hit to the head has been a point of emphasis for two years and cannot be tolerated even if it goes undetected by the game officials.”

Boyd will be suspended for the first half of Louisiana Tech's game at Fresno State this Saturday, Nov. 21.

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Brian Murphy is co-author of "Blue Magic: Boise State's Unlikely Journey to a Fiesta Bowl Win." You can click here to purchase the book.