The UTEP football team is projected to win the Western Division of Conference USA in four preseason publications currently on newsstands.

Athlon Sports, Lindy’s, Phil Steele’s and The Sporting News magazines all rate UTEP as the favorite to represent the Western Division in the C-USA championship game, slated for Dec. 3.

Athlon rates UTEP as the 24th-best team in the nation. The Miners are pegged No. 32 by Phil Steele’s, No. 51 by Lindy’s and No. 55 by The Sporting News.

Another publication, Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook, will be available in July and ranks UTEP tied for 25th nationally.

The Sporting News ranks UTEP’s wide receivers as the 10th-best unit in the nation. The group is headed by seniors Jayson Boyd and Chris Francies and junior Johnnie Lee Higgins, Jr., who teamed to score 19 touchdowns last season.

TSN’s All-Conference USA team includes Higgins and tackle Josh House on offense, as well as tackles Chris Mineo and Zach West on defense. UTEP’s Mike Price is rated the best coach in the league by TSN, and the Miner coaching staff is also listed as tops in C-USA. Running back Tyler Ebell was chosen a “Newcomer to Watch” in C-USA. TSN also ranked Jordan Palmer as the 20th-best quarterback in the country.

Several Miners show up in Phil Steele’s national position rankings -- Reagan Schneider is the No. 8 kicker, Palmer the No. 28 quarterback, Thomas Howard the No. 29 outside linebacker, Ebell the No. 31 running back, Mineo the No. 35 defensive tackle, Jose Garcia the No. 38 offensive guard and Andre Bailey the No. 41 cornerback. UTEP’s receivers are rated No. 25 in the country. All-Conference USA first team selections are Bailey, Ebell, Garcia, Higgins, Howard and Mineo. Boyd and Schneider are tabbed second team preseason All-Conference.

Lindy’s recognizes six UTEP players as worthy of All-Conference status. Boyd, Palmer, Howard and Mineo were chosen to the first team, with Higgins and House on the second team. Palmer was picked as the preseason Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year. Boyd received the “best hands” award, and Higgins the “most dangerous deep threat” honor.

Athlon appointed Boyd, Mineo and Howard first team All-Conference USA, with five Miners on the second team -- free safety Quintin Demps, Ebell, Higgins, House and Palmer.

UTEP opens the 2005 season on Sept. 3 at New Mexico State.