TCU football ranked 17th in Preseason USA Today Poll

The only Big 12 teams above TCU are Oklahoma and Texas.

Photo by Staff

TCU head football coach Gary Patterson

The TCU football team is ranked 17th in the USA Today Preseason Coaches Poll.

The Horned Frogs are one of six Big 12 programs in the top 25.

TCU, which returns 11 starters from last year's 11-2 squad, is ranked in the preseason for the sixth time in the last seven years and the eighth time since 2000.

TCU is the only school in the nation to win at least 11 games in six of the last seven seasons. The Horned Frogs have won at least 10 games eight times in the last 10 years, including seven campaigns with at least 11 victories.

The Horned Frogs are also one of just four programs to finish in the top 15 of both the Associated Press and USA Today polls over the last four campaigns. TCU is one of just three schools to win at least six bowl games in the last seven seasons.

TCU's 77-13 (.856) record since 2005 is the second-best mark in the nation.

TCU opens the 2012 campaign with a September 8 home game versus Grambling State. It will mark the first contest in TCU's Amon G. Carter Stadium after its $164 million renovation.

With a victory, Gary Patterson would become the Horned Frogs' all-time winningest coach. His 109 victories are currently tied for the top spot with Dutch Meyer.

2012 Preseason USA Today Poll (first-place votes in parentheses and total points received)

1. LSU (18) - 1,403

2. Alabama (20) - 1,399

3. USC (19) - 1,388

4. Oklahoma (1) - 1,276

5. Oregon - 1,258

6. Georgia - 1,061

7. Florida State (1) - 1,055

8. Michigan - 1,023

9. South Carolina - 981

10. Arkansas - 948

11. West Virginia - 833

12. Wisconsin - 743

13. Michigan State - 717

14. Clemson - 598

15. Texas - 549

16. Nebraska - 501

17. TCU - 499

18. Stanford - 497

19. Oklahoma State - 476

20. Virginia Tech - 461

21. Kansas State - 398

22. Boise State - 271

23. Florida - 250

24. Notre Dame - 166

25. Auburn - 66