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 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 Sept. 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
