A bowl picture that will see a record-tying five — and possibly milestone six — Western Athletic Conference football teams in the postseason became a little clearer yesterday.

Three of the entries, including the University of Hawai'i in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl, are nailed down with two others tentative. Fresno State (7-5) will appear in the New Mexico Bowl opposite Colorado State (6-6) and Louisiana Tech (7-5) will meet an as yet unnamed opponent in the Independence Bowl, according to people involved in the discussions inside and outside the WAC.

WAC champion Boise State holds the key to the rest. The ninth-ranked Broncos (12-0) are likely headed to the San Diego-based Poinsettia Bowl to play No. 11 Texas Christian (10-2), but are still an outside shot to stay home and play in the Humanitarian Bowl in what would the only bowl showdown of unbeatens if No. 12 Ball State (12-0) signs on.

Ball State, which would otherwise likely play a lower division Big Ten team in the Motor City Bowl, is expected to make a decision by tomorrow.

Nevada (7-5) will fill the bowl — Poinsettia or Humanitarian — in which Boise State isn't placed. If it is the Humanitarian, the opponent would likely be Maryland (7-5) or Wake Forest (7-5) from the Atlantic Coast Conference.

UH athletic director Jim Donovan said five or six bowl berths is, "I think, a testament to the competitiveness in the WAC."

The only bowl eligible WAC team not assured of a place to date is San Jose State (6-6), which will have to await its fate among the at-large selections.

UH (7-5), which winds up its regular season Saturday with non-conference meeting against No. 13 Cincinnati (10-2), will play Arizona (6-5) if the Wildcats lose to Arizona State (5-6). ASU would likely play Brigham Young (10-2) in the Las Vegas Bowl.

If ASU loses, the Pac-10 will not have a sixth bowl-eligible representative to send to the Hawai'i Bowl and could have its slot filled by either North Carolina State (6-6) or a team from Conference USA. "We're glad to be in the bowl game and will play whoever shows up," Donovan said.

The WAC last had five teams appear in bowls in 1992, the year UH beat Illinois in the Holiday Bowl.

Donovan said, "I think the WAC will have a good shot (at winning) and be competitive in those games."

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.

CINCINNATI

Coach Brian Kelly tried to end speculation yesterday that he's leaving No. 13 Cincinnati, saying that he's happy with the football program's development and he plans to stay.

Kelly was upbeat following a meeting with the school's president, AD and the head of its board of trustees to get an update on plans to expand the Bearcats' small football stadium and to improve their practice fields.

The Bearcats (10-2) won the Big East title this season, sending them to the first BCS bowl in school history. A win Saturday at Hawai'i would set a school record for victories in a season.

ELSEWHERE

New Mexico State: Coach Hal Mumme was fired yesterday, ending a four-year run, in which the Aggies had a 11-38 record with five of those victories against teams from the Football Championship Subdivision. The Aggies lost seven straight games to end the season 3-9 and 1-7 in the Western Athletic Conference.

Notre Dame: Charlie Weis will return for a fifth season at Notre Dame several media outlets reported last night. WNDU-TV in South Bend and The South Bend Tribune, citing anonymous sources, reported Weis will be back next year. Athletic director Jack Swarbrick did not respond to repeated phone messages and e-mails from The Associated Press.

Oregon: Offensive coordinator Chip Kelly has been selected as the eventual successor to head coach Mike Bellotti, if and when, he decides to become the school's athletic director. The 56-year-old Bellotti is 115-55 in 14 seasons at Oregon and has taken the Ducks to 12 bowl games.