SALT LAKE CITY -- Boise State is the runaway favorite to finish out its tenure in the Western Athletic Conference with another league title.
The Broncos are No. 1 in both the WAC media and coaches' polls released Monday. The defending champions received eight of the nine top votes from coaches, who aren't allowed to vote for their own teams. Boise State was also the top pick on all but one of the 43 media ballots.
For Utah State fans, the good news is the Aggies have the attention of the league's opposing coaches. USU was picked fourth, the Aggies' highest preseason pick since they joined the league five years ago.
"I think that is something that our team can look at as a positive in that they're gaining the respect of the coaches in the league, and that's important," said coach Gary Andersen, who is entering his second season with the Aggies.
This is the third straight year Boise State has been picked No. 1 by the media in the preseason and second season in a row the Broncos have led the coaches' picks. The Broncos are headed to the Mountain West Conference next year and would love to close out their run through the WAC with an eighth title in the last nine years.
"We're all about the WAC and we're all about this season. That has been our entire focus," coach Chris Petersen said at the league's media day Monday. "The WAC has been awesome to Boise State."
Nevada is No. 2 in both polls, followed by Fresno State. The coaches' poll has Utah State at No. 4.
Idaho comes in at No. 4 in the media poll after last year's turnaround and sixth in the coaches. Hawaii was voted fifth by the coaches and No. 7 in the media, while Louisiana Tech is seventh in the coaches' poll and No. 5 in the media poll. Both polls have New Mexico State at No. 8 and San Jose State ninth.
Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore is also the preseason offensive player of the year after throwing for 39 touchdowns as a sophomore.
Nevada end Dontay Moch is the preseason defensive player of the year after helping lead the Wolf Pack to a 7-1 league record last year with 20 tackles for a loss.
USU is entering its sixth season in the league. The highest previous pick was seventh, which had happened both last year when Utah State was picked seventh in both polls and in 2006 when USU was tabbed seventh in the media poll and tied for seventh in the coaches' poll.
"Our focus is to finish the summer the right way and get ready for a great fall camp," Andersen added.
Utah State will return 45 letterwinners (20 offense, 22 defense, three special teams), including 20 starters (eight offense, nine defense, three special teams), from last season's 4-8 mark, the Aggies' most wins since 2002. Utah State was 3-5 in WAC action, matching the 2008 season for top conference record in USU's five years in the league.
USU opens fall camp Aug. 9 in preparation for the Aggies' season opener at Oklahoma on Sept. 4. Utah State's home opener is Sept. 11 vs. border-foe Idaho State at 6 p.m.
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