A new-look Conference USA has the UTEP football team in a familiar spot, as it was picked sixth out of nine teams in a poll of selected media, the league announced Friday.
Western Kentucky, with 18 of the 22 first-place votes, is the top pick while newcomer Liberty received the other four first-place votes and is projected to face the Hilltoppers in the C-USA title game.
The Miners were picked one spot behind New Mexico State and ahead of newcomers Jacksonville State and Sam Houston as well as last year's last-place team, Florida International.