Hawaii picked by coaches, media to win WAC title

Published Jul. 28, 2011 4:00 p.m. ET

foxsports

Hawaii has been picked to win the Western Athletic Conference title by media and competing coaches in a year of flux for a league down to eight schools this year.

Hawaii, which finished 10-4 last season, was picked ahead of Fresno State and Nevada in both polls released Thursday at the conference's football preview in Las Vegas.

Hawaii returns quarterback Bryant Moniz, who led the country in passing, total offense and touchdowns last year. Moniz has been picked by media as the WAC's preseason player of the year on offense.

Fresno State and Nevada each received 11 of 41 first-place votes in the media poll, and were separated by one point overall in the coaches poll.

Utah State linebacker Bobby Wagner was picked as defensive player of the year.