This is part four of a series highlighting the best in the non-BCS conferences.

Last year, the TCU Horned Frogs became the latest to have the exalted title of BCS buster. Though instead of facing off with a team from a BCS conference, the powers that be paired them instead with fellow BCS buster Boise State.

Boise State came home with with the Fiesta Bowl victory, while the Horned Frogs went home empty.

Nevertheless, things are still looking up for TCU.

After all, TCU will likely start in the top 10. And they were the unanimous pick at the MWC Media Day to win the MWC.

While Boise State is getting a lot of the national championship hype, TCU could step in should the Broncos falter.

But the Mountain West Conference is no cake walk.

TCU will begin the season against Oregon State at Dallas Cowboys Stadium. After that, the Horned Frogs will have fairly smooth sailing until BYU comes to town.

The most interesting game could be at Utah. After all, the Utes are about to leave the MWC behind to help form the new Pac-12. The Horned Frogs may want to send a message about who should or shouldn't be included in conference expansion.

TCU under head coach Gary Patterson has been a defensive superpower. Though the Horned Frogs will have to do without star DE Jerry Hughes, TCU has no shortage of talented defensive firepower.

MWC Preseason Defensive Player of the Year LB Tank Carder, for example.

Add to that two All-MWC Preseason selections DE Wayne Daniels and DE Cory Grant, and you've got one scary defence.

Now if you think that TCU can only play defense, tell that to All-MWC Preseason Offensive Player of the Year, Andy Dalton.

Dalton led the Horned Frog offense to an average of 38.3 points per game. Not only that, Dalton gained almost 500 more yards in the air than in 2008 for a grand total of 2,756.

And Dalton will have plenty of protection with fellow All-MWC Preseason Selections OL Jake Kirkpatrick and OL Marcus Cannon.

Interestingly enough, TCU also managed to has the All-MWC Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year return man Jeremy Kerley.

Now, all of this is on paper, and preseason picks aren't nearly as important as postseason ones are.

But TCU is back for more this season. While Boise State is the favorite to carry the hopes for a non-AQ champion, the Horned Frogs have title ambitions of their own.