The football team has tied with Nebraska in a composite average of preseason top-25 polls by six major magazines.

The magazines used in the analysis were Phil Steele’s College Football Preview, Sporting News, Athlon Sports, Lindy’s, Yahoo! Sports and Dave Campbell’s Texas Football.

The Horned Frogs’ highest ranking was fourth by Phil Steele’s.

TCU returns 16 of 22 starters, including nine from a defensive unit that has led the nation in total defense each of the last two seasons.

Thirteen Horned Frogs who earned All-Mountain West Conference honors in 2009 return. The group includes first-team All-America center Jake Kirkpatrick, MWC Offensive Player of the Year Andy Dalton and MWC Special Teams Player of the Year Jeremy Kerley. Dalton is the nation’s leader in wins (29) among active quarterbacks.

TCU was 12-1 last season as it made its first BCS appearance with a trip to the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. The Horned Frogs finished the campaign ranked sixth, their third top-10 ranking in the last five years.

TCU opens the 2010 campaign Sept. 4 versus Oregon State at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. The Beavers are 23rd in the composite ranking.

Composite Preseason Magazine Top-25 Ranking*

1. Alabama

2. Ohio State

3. Boise State

4. Florida

T5. TCU

T5. Nebraska

7. Texas

8. Oklahoma

9. Oregon

10. Iowa

T11. Virginia Tech

T11. USC

13. Wisconsin

14 Miami

15. Arkansas

16. North Carolina

17. Pittsburgh

18. Florida State

19. LSU

20. Georgia Tech

21. Penn State

22. Georgia

23. Oregon State

24. Auburn

25. West Virginia

*Includes Phil Steele’s College Football Preview, Sporting News, Athlon Sports, Lindy’s, Yahoo! Sports and Dave Campbell’s Texas Football