From the Associated Press:

EUGENE, Ore. — Sports Illustrated's annual college football preview features the Oregon Ducks on one of its four regional covers.

A Sports Illustrated photographer came to Eugene last month to shoot the photo of Masoli and Holmes.

Boise State has got the pads on now, making fall practice feel a little more like football and less like a summer passing league.

The Broncos donned full gear for Sunday’s practice and the defense was very impressive to me. So much is made of the Boise State offense — and the numbers it has produced over the last decade are stunning — but it is the defense that can lift the Broncos back to the BCS.

Austin Pettis is ready for the spotlight.

Boise State lost four of its top five receivers from last year, including go-to pass catcher Jeremy Childs, who left school after his junior season for the NFL.

Pettis, who was second on the team with 49 catches, is the most established wide receiver returning. He is the veteran in a group that includes junior Titus Young (returning from suspension), sophomore Tyler Shoemaker (seven catches last season) and freshmen Chris Potter and Mitch Burroughs.

The University of Hawaii has not yet disciplined football coach Greg McMackin for comments he made during this week’s WAC football media preview in Salt Lake City.

During his press conference Thursday, McMackin used a gay slur three times in discussing last year’s Hawaii Bowl loss against Notre Dame. He asked the media to cover for him then later apologized twice.

But the media has been all over the story.

1:05 p.m. — Idaho coach Robb Akey was the final coach to address the assembled media at the WAC Football Preview.

Despite the Vandals' struggles — Idaho is 3-21 in two seasons — Akey remains upbeat about his program's chances of turning the corner. Listen here.

Among the highlights from the always funny Akey:

• He sometimes has his team eat its meals out of bowls to reinforce its goal of reaching a bowl game.

3:38 p.m. — Louisiana Tech coach Derek Dooley had some good news for all of those Monday Morning Quarterbacks out there: “Sometimes the fans have more knowledge than the coaches. Give the ball to that guy, he’s pretty good.”

Dooley was discussing wide receiver/kick returner Phillip Livas and how he makes sure the junior gets enough touches during a game.

Dooley said he sometimes acts like a fan and he doesn’t want to hear from his offensive coordinator Frank Scelfo all the reasons why the Bulldogs couldn’t get Livas the ball.

No one has been able to confirm with on-the-record sources that Boise State and Virginia Tech will play in 2010 at FedEx Field in Washington, D.C.

The Washington Post took a shot getting all the details today and ended up with off-the-record quotes from a Washington Redskins official. The Post’s verdict: “Virginia Tech and Boise State are in talks to play at FedEx Field in 2010 but the arrangement has not been finalized.”

So far, there has been no confirmation from Boise State (or Virginia Tech, for that matter) of a Richmond television station’s report that the Broncos and Hokies will open the 2010 football season at FedEx Field in Washington, D.C.

Boise State spokesman Max Corbet referred calls to athletic director Gene Bleymaier, who is in charge of football scheduling. Bleymaier is out of the office for the week and did not respond to a text message.

Boise State will open its 2010 football season against national power Virginia Tech at FedEx Field outside Washington, D.C., a Richmond, Va., television station is reporting.

WTVR (CBS 6) in Richmond is reporting the game, citing unnamed sources.

Boise State has been looking for a big-money game to open the 2010 season as a way of generating additional revenue for the athletic department.

The Western Athletic Conference is moving its men’s and women’s basketball tournaments to Las Vegas in 2011, the Honolulu Advertiser reported Tuesday.

The WAC has scheduled a “major announcement” for Wednesday afternoon.

For the complete story, click here.

The Orleans Hotel and Casino is expected to be the host at its 9,000-seat arena.

The tournaments will be held in Reno in 2010.