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TCU was selected the preseason favorite in the Mountain West Conference media poll Tuesday here at the Red Rock Resort, but the team that everyone wants to beat?

That team is Utah, of course.

With apologies to the Horned Frogs, who some believe could go undefeated in 2010 thanks to a veteran squad, the Utes are the ones wearing the biggest bullseye. It might as well resemble the new Pac-10 logo unveiled Tuesday.

The Utes, who will join the Pac-10 in 2011, know they will be the big game on everyone's schedule not only because of their strong conference showing in recent seasons, but because now they're thought of as virtual outsiders.

They'll be playing in a BCS conference next season, earning the exposure, recognition and hype that comes with being in one of college football power conferences.

The rest of the MWC will be left behind to continue the fight for BCS status.

The Utes say they won't forget their fellow MWC teams and will continue to argue for equality in college football. But such a view is kind of like wishing well to those standing on the bow of a sinking ship while you take the last seat in the lifeboat.

The Utes are out of here and every team in the league would like to send them out with a loss, the Utes assume.

"People know it is our last time in the MWC and I know if I was one of the teams I'd be gunning for us too," offensive lineman Zane Taylor said. "It could be the last time a lot of teams play us for a long time. I know last year was the last time I was going to play against Utah State and I really wanted to put the hurt on those guys so I am sure some of these guys feel the same way, 'Last time for Utah so let's put it all on the line.'

While Taylor and corner Brandon Burton expressed a little disappointment the Utes were picked behind TCU, Utah coach Kyle Whittingham was happy to let the Horned Frogs carry the bigger target saying it was 'no contest,' for the top spot.

"What they were to accomplish last year and what they have coming back, it's a no brainer," he said. "I think what they did last year and having Andy Dalton coming back, he's a great quarterback with so many things going for him. In our estimation they are the team to beat."

Whittingham probably is hoping the Utes can continue to play the underdog role that has served them well in recent seasons a little longer.

But the fact is the Utes have too good of a reputation to sneak up on any of the MWC teams anymore.

TCU coach Gary Patterson said the conference rivalry between the schools was more important to him than the preseason polls or the talk of the Utes moving to the Pac-10 next year.

The Utes get TCU at home, which will make for a difficult game, he said.

TCU is 0-3 at Utah and 2-5 against the Utes overall.

"I am going to try and beat Utah so we can win a conference title, that is all I care about," he said. "It's going to be hard because it's up in Salt Lake."

Burton and Taylor have had time to socialize with players from other teams during the media events, but said the casual talk hasn't been on football. However, they said they feel they have a lot to prove in 2010, whether their move to the Pac-10 is discussed with others or not.

"We have a sense we are going to have to prove why we are the team that got picked to go to Pac-10," Burton said. "We have to show why we were chosen."

Despite all of the talk of the conference switch, the Utes maintain their focus is on 2010, not the future.

Whittingham likened the situation to the 2008 season when Utah lived the 'one game at a time' cliche and went 13-0.

"That is the exact mind-set we need this season," he said. "We have a lot of challenges ahead this fall that will require our attention. We met with our leadership council to make sure we have the same mind-set and there wasn't a lot I needed to say. We're all on the same page."

However it never hurts to have a little extra motivation and saying goodbye to the MWC with a strong season isn't such a bad idea.

"It's a great thing to know we are a part of the last MWC Utah team," Taylor said. "We have a lot of things to prove, why we were selected. I definitely want to go away with graduating with that last MWC championship."

Utah in the MWC

Year*Preseason Pick*How finished*Conference record

1999*4*1*5-2

2000*1*5*3-4

2001*6*3*4-3

2002*2*5*3-4

2003*5*1*6-1

2004*1*1*7-0

2005*1*4*4-4

2006*3*3*5-3

2007*3*3*5-3

2008*2*1*8-0

2009*3*3*6-2