BYU Picked Second in MWC Preseason Media Poll

Click to watch the video.

LAS -- BYU was picked second in the Mountain West Conference preseason media poll released Tuesday at the MWC Media Days in Las Vegas.

Coming off a 10-3 season and the Cougars third straight season ranked in the national polls, BYU received 190 points and six first-place votes to finish second in the media poll behind preseason favorite TCU.

The Cougars posted a third-place finish (6-2) in conference play in 2008 and ended the season as one of only nine programs in the nation to be ranked in the final polls each of the last three seasons. BYU returns eight starters on defense and four starters from an offensive unit that ranked among the top 20 nationally in scoring, pass and total offense last season.

TCU was predicted to capture the 2009 MWC football title in the poll of media members. The Horned Frogs were last picked to win the league during the 2006 and 2007 season. BYU went on to achieve undefeated MWC titles each of those seasons as well as Las Vegas Bowl victories.

Last year TCU finished second in the MWC, compiling a 7-1 mark against league opponents en route to an 11-2 overall record and a seventh-place ranking in both the final Associated Press and USA Today Coaches polls. TCU returns four starters from a defensive unit that led the nation in rushing defense while ranking second in scoring defense in 2008. Seven starters return on offense for TCU, which ranked among the top 25 nationally in scoring and rushing offense a year ago. The Frogs garnered 15 first-place votes and had a total of 207 points.

Defending MWC champion Utah was picked third with 179 points and three first-place votes after posting the nation's only undefeated record (13-0) last season en route to capturing its fourth MWC title (8-0). The Utes, who finished with top-5 rankings in both the final Associated Press (No. 2) and USA Today Coaches (No. 4) polls, enter the 2009 campaign with the nation's longest active overall and bowl win streaks at 14 and eight games, respectively. Utah returns four starters on offense and eight on defense.

Air Force was chosen fourth with 130 points, followed by UNLV (5th - 108 points), Colorado State (6th - 107 points), New Mexico (7th - 60 points), San Diego State (8th - 53 points) and Wyoming (9th - 46 points).

2009 Mountain West Conference Preseason Poll
Rk.   Team (first-place votes)      Points
1.    TCU (15)                       207
2.    BYU (6)                        190
3.    Utah (3)                       179
4.    Air Force                      130
5.    UNLV                           108
6.    Colorado State                 107
7.    New Mexico                      60
8.    San Diego State                 53
9.    Wyoming                         46