Speaking at the WAC's annual preseason gathering Monday, Benson said his league has replaced the Mountain West as the "second most recognizable conference in the West."

Mostly, Benson uses Boise State's undefeated season in 2006 and the Broncos' classic overtime win over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl as evidence that the once-splintered WAC is back.

"It is very rewarding to see the resiliency of the conference," he said.

Benson called Boise State's victory over the Sooners the biggest day in WAC football history, which includes BYU's win over Michigan in the 1984 Holiday Bowl that clinched the national championship.

"What Boise State did has allowed all our institutions to see what is attainable," he said.

Benson believes last season's head-to-head record against Mountain West opponents and its 3-1 record in bowl games make it the west's second-best conference, behind the Pac-10.

"We have been able to surpass the Mountain West," said Benson. "Now there is a lot of pressure to maintain that."

WAC teams went 7-5 against the Mountain West in 2006, even though Utah State lost to Wyoming (38-7), Utah (48-0) and BYU (38-0).

Not-so-great 8th

Utah State was picked eighth in the nine-team WAC in preseason voting by the coaches and media. Considering the Aggies are only 4-19 over the last two years, coach Brent Guy didn't argue.

"With the record we've had . . . this is where we expected to be," Guy said. "This is where we will continue to be until we can work our way out of it and climb up to contend in the upper echelon of the conference, like San Jose State did last year."

luhm@sltrib.com

WAC media preseason poll2007

School Points

1. Hawaii (32) 494

2. Boise State (26) 490

3. Fresno State 361

4. Nevada 337

5. San Jose State 321

6. New Mexico State 233

7. Louisiana Tech 157

8. Utah State 110

9. Idaho 107

Offensive Player of the Year: Colt Brennan (Hawaii)

Defensive Player of the Year: Dwight Lowery (San Jose St.)

WAC coaches preseason poll

School Points

1. Hawaii (6) 62

2. Boise State (3) 59

3. Nevada 45

4. Fresno State 40

5. San Jose State 39

6. New Mexico State 31

7. Louisiana Tech 25

8. Utah State 13

9. Idaho 10