The Mountain West Conference title has spent all but one of the last six years in the state of Utah.

TCU's 2005 championship was the only one since 2003 not won by Utah or BYU.

The Horned Frogs came painfully close to winning last year, but a mistake-filled fourth quarter allowed Utah to rally for a 13-10 win, the MWC title and an unbeaten season.

The Frogs remember just how close they came — and know that's probably why they were picked to win it this time.

"Preseason ranking is potential," TCU quarterback Andy Dalton said. "We want to prove it right."

The league is coming off a frustrating offseason. Repeated pushes for changes in the Bowl Championship Series were unsuccessful despite the MWC having the only unbeaten team in major college football last season.

Utah holds the nation's longest winning streak, which reached 14 when the Utes beat Alabama 31-17 in the Sugar Bowl.

The Utes finished No. 2 in the final AP poll and revived a campaign for change, but coach Kyle Whittingham says that argument ends with the new season.

"That's really not my arena — to lobby and politick for something," Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. "That's something for our commissioner, our president and the athletic directors to debate. I just need to try to continue to win games."

The Utes became the fifth straight conference champion to go 8-0 in the league, a streak that started with Utah's unbeaten Fiesta Bowl team of 2004.

TCU head coach Gary Patterson said change will come if teams from the MWC and Western Athletic Conference continue to get at-large BCS berths and win.

"When you get on a big stage, you have to be able to go play and you have to be able to deserve the respect," Patterson said. "You can't just do it every once in a while."

A capsule look at the teams in predicted order of finish:

TCU

Key players: QB Andy Dalton, Jr.; WR Jimmy Young, Jr.; DE Jerry Hughes, Sr. Returning starters: seven offense, four defense.

Notes: The Horned Frogs are replacing seven starters from the speedy defense that nearly carried TCU to the conference title.

BYU

Key players: QB Max Hall, Sr.; RB Harvey Unga, Jr.; TE Dennis Pitta, Sr.; DE Jan Jorgensen, Sr. Returning starters: four offense, eight defense.

Notes: Hall passed for 3,957 yards and 35 TDs, but will be missing his favorite target.

UTAH

Key players: RB Matt Asiata, Sr.; LB Stevenson Sylvester, Sr.; DE Koa Misi. Returning starters: four offense, seven defense.

Notes: Utah has the nation's longest winning streak at 14 straight games.

AIR FORCE

Key players: QB Tim Jefferson, So.; RB Asher Clark, So.; DB Reggie Rembert, Jr. Returning starters: five offense, six defense.

Notes: After an 8-2 start, the Falcons fizzled with two losses to end the season.

COLORADO STATE

Key players: QB Grant Stucker, Sr.; RB John Mosure, Jr.; LB Mychal Sisson, So. Returning starters: seven offense, five defense.

Notes: The Rams have a difficult schedule with games at Colorado, BYU and TCU, but do get Utah at home.

NEW MEXICO

Key players: QB Brad Gruner, So.; QB Donovan Porterie, Sr.; WR Chris Hernandez, Jr.; LB Clint McPeek, Sr. Returning starters: eight offense, three defense.

Notes: New head coach Mike Locksley takes the reins.

UNLV

Key players: QB Omar Clayton, Jr.; WR Ryan Wolfe, Sr.; LB Jason Beauchamp, Sr. Returning starters: six offense, eight defense.

Notes: The Rebels finished with five victories last year.

SAN DIEGO STATE

Key players: QB Ryan Lindley, So.; RB Atiyyah Henderson, Sr.; LB Luke Laolagi, Sr. Returning starters: eight offense, seven defense.

Notes: New coach Brady Hoke took Ball State to consecutive bowl games in his last two seasons.

WYOMING

Key players: QB Karsten Sween, Sr.; QB Dax Crum, Jr.; LB Gabe Knapton, So.; S Chris Prosinski, Jr. Returning starters: seven offense, eight defense.

Notes: Coach Dave Christensen will try to revive Wyoming.




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