Fresno State has accepted a spot in the New Mexico Bowl, the school announced Thursday. It is the ninth bowl invite in 10 years for Fresno State.

The game is Dec. 20 in Albuquerque, N.M. Fresno State is likely to play Colorado State from the Mountain West Conference in the first bowl game of the season.

Coach Pat Hill earlier in the day withdrew from consideration for the Washington coaching position. Texas Tech coach Mike Leach has also withdrawn according to reports. If I am Washington, I make a run — or another one — at Boise State coach Chris Petersen.

Give Kevin McDonald, the executive director of the Roady's Humanitarian Bowl, and the WAC credit for thinking outside the box. I talked to McDonald a month ago about the possibility of Ball State coming to Boise and he said there were too many obstacles to overcome.

But McDonald went to work on the plan, with an assist from WAC commissioner Karl Benson, and nearly pulled it off. In the end, McDonald was right — there were too many obstacles to overcome.

Oregon announced Tuesday that offensive coordinator Chip Kelly will replace coach Mike Bellotti at some point. Bellotti will move to athletic director at that point, but there is no timetable for the transition.

"I don't have a best guess to be very honest. I will not pursue Bobby Bowden or Joe Paterno's records," Bellotti said. "... It's more that Chip is a special coach. What he's done here is really amazing and I want that for Oregon in the future."

Kelly has been mentioned for several jobs around the country, including Syracuse.

Boise State junior wide receiver Jeremy Childs said Monday that he would submit his name to the NFL advisory committee for feedback about his NFL status.

But Childs, who was named first-team All-WAC for the second consecutive year earlier in the day, reiterated that he planned to return for his senior season with the Broncos — no matter what grade the advisory committee gave him.

“I’m looking for some insight just so I can get feedback,” Childs said. “I wouldn’t change my decision (to return).”

There was quite an uproar in October when a contract extension proposal for Boise State athletic director Gene Bleymaier included a financial incentive for him to schedule football games against BCS teams.

If the Broncos scheduled two BCS conference opponents in the same season, Bleymaier would have received a $20,000 bonus.

Well, the contract never made it to the State Board. It was postponed.

And, lo and behold, the contract extension is back on the State Board agenda — minus the scheduling incentive.

Fourth quarter

Boise State 61, Fresno State 10

BSU: Ian Johnson 4 run (Brock Jaramillo kick), 14:55
Drive notes: Johnson had a 69-yard run to end the third quarter and then scored on the first play of the fourth quarter. Johnson has 4,141 yards — the second-most in school history behind Cedric Minter.

BSU: Ian Johnson 1 run (kick blocked), 6:40
Drive notes: Ian Johnson tied Marshall Faulk for the WAC record for career rushing touchdowns with his 57th rushing touchdown.

BSU: D.J. Harper 10 run (Brock Jaramillo kick), 4:35

Ball State completed its regular season undefeated Tuesday night, beating Western Michigan to finish 12-0. The Cardinals will play Buffalo on Dec. 5 in the MAC Championship Game.

And if Ball State wins that game, there is a chance the Cardinals could play in the Boise-based Humanitarian Bowl on Dec. 30 against Boise State.

Here's my take:

Nevada coach Chris Ault told the Reno Gazette-Journal that he thinks 6-6 teams should not play in bowl games.

Nevada (6-5) finishes its regular season against Louisiana Tech on Saturday. The Wolf Pack were 6-6 last season and played in the New Mexico Bowl, where Nevada lost to New Mexico.

"It rewards mediocrity," Ault said.

Here is the entire story.

Boise State coach Chris Petersen made it clear during his Monday press conference that he doesn't want to talk about the Bowl Championship Series and he isn't interested in lobbying on behalf of his undefeated Boise State team.

Right now, Boise State appears to be on the outside looking in at a spot in the big-money, high-prestige BCS. Utah all but locked up a spot with its win against BYU, elbowing Boise State into the at-large pool with USC (potentially) and Ohio State.

Fourth quarter

Boise State 38, Nevada 34

BSU: Austin Pettis 10 pass from Kellen Moore (Brotzman kick), 10:11
Drive notes: Punt returner Kyle Wilson set up the touchdown drive with a 39-yard punt return to the Nevada 31.

BSU: Kyle Brotzman 50 field goal, 7:20
Drive notes: A short punt set the Broncos up in Nevada territory and, despite not moving the ball, Brotzman made it a three-possession game.

NEV: Marko Mitchell 9 pass from Colin Kaepernick (Jaekle kick), 4:36