TCU picked to repeat in Mountain West

LAS VEGAS -- TCU is still on top in the Mountain West Conference.

The Horned Frogs received all 31 first-place votes in the league's preseason media poll, released Tuesday.

"Probably what that means is that we have good talent. Now we have to live up to it," TCU coach Gary Patterson said. "I think that's the whole thing. It doesn't matter what people say about them in August. Preseason goes off of what happened last year."

And last year was great for the Horned Frogs, who finished 12-1. The only loss was to Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl.

TCU has 16 returning starters, including preseason offensive player of the year Andy Dalton. The senior quarterback, who was the 2009 MWC Offensive Player of Year, is one of nine starters coming back on offense.

TCU linebacker Tank Carder was named the preseason player of the year on defense and kick returner Jeremy Kerley got the special teams honor Tuesday.

Utah is picked to finish second in its last season before joining the Pac-10. BYU is third, followed by Air Force, Wyoming, San Diego State and Colorado State.

UNLV is eighth as new coach Bobby Hauck takes over the program and New Mexico is picked to repeat at ninth after going 1-11 last year -- just 1-7 in the MWC.