TCU -- Horned Frogs have at least 10 victories four times the last five seasons. ... Unlike last year, TCU will have to wait to play Utah (Oct. 18) and BYU (Nov. 8) in conference play. ... Three of TCU's non-conference games are against instate and former SWC rivals: Baylor, Texas and SMU.

UTAH -- Gone is two-time MWC defensive player of the year Eric Weddle, who also got plenty of snaps at quarterback and running back while also holding and returning kicks in his 48-game career. ``It will take three or four guys to fill his shoes,'' coach Kyle Whittingham said. ... Only Boston College (seven) has a longer bowl winning streak.

BYU -- Coach Bronco Mendenhall, 17-8 through two seasons, got a restructured contract through 2011. ... The Cougars' last loss was in double overtime at Boston College. ... RB Manase Tonga won't play in the season opener. Mendenhall suspended Tonga after the player pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors tied to a traffic stop.

WYOMING -- Cowboys won five of their last seven games in '06 after Karsten Sween took over at quarterback. The losses in that span were to BYU (55-7) and TCU (26-3). Their 6-6 overall record included four straight losses (two in overtime) in September by a touchdown or less. ... Sween, a sophomore, has six of the top seven receivers back.

NEW MEXICO -- Lobos return 10 defenders who started at least 10 games last year. ... Junior RB Rodney Ferguson led the MWC with 1,234 rushing yards last season. ... Despite four bowl appearances last five seasons, New Mexico hasn't won a postseason game since 1961. ... Head coach Rocky Long is in his 10th season, but has four new offensive assistants, including coordinator Dave Baldwin.

COLORADO STATE -- Sonny Lubick enters his 15th season as Rams coach, but hasn't had a winning record since 2003. ... Junior RB Kyle Bell returns after missing 2006 with a torn ACL in his right knee. Bell ran for 1,288 yards in '05.

SAN DIEGO STATE -- Aztecs return nine offensive starters for second-year coach Chuck Long. ... San Diego State hasn't had a winning season since 1998 at 7-5. ... Third-year starter Kevin O'Connell is back at quarterback. He missed five games last season after breaking his thumb.

AIR FORCE -- Troy Calhoun is first Academy grad to be the Falcons head coach. ... Air Force has three consecutive losing seasons, the only time that happened in former coach Fisher DeBerry's 23 seasons before he retired in December.

UNLV -- After consecutive two-win seasons, UNLV faces seven bowl teams, four in September. ... Receivers are the strength of the team. Ryan Wolfe led MWC with 911 yards as a freshman last season and Casey Flair led the league with 5.58 catches per game.