The American Athletic Conference released it’s preseason honors for football, volleyball, and men’s and women’s soccer. These include predictions for how SMU will fair in each sport this fall.

In football, Cincinnati emerged from the media poll as the favorite to win the American Championship this season, receiving 22 of the possible 30 votes. The Bearcats were the near unanimous selection to win the East Division, followed by UCF, Temple, East Carolina, USF and UConn.

Memphis was selected as the favorite to win the West Division in a much tighter race. SMU finished fifth in the West Division behind Memphis, Houston, Navy and Tulane. Tulsa trailed SMU for last place.

SMU faired better in the men’s soccer coaches’ poll. The Mustangs were chosen to finish fourth behind UConn, Tulsa and USF respectively. The Huskies are the favorite to win the American Championship this season.

SMU, along with UConn and USF, led the 2015 Preseason American All-Conference Team with three selections each. SMU’s selections included sophomore defender Jordan Cano, senior midfielder John Lujano and senior forward Idi Camara.

In the women’s soccer coaches’ poll, SMU finished eighth ahead of Temple and Houston. Defending AAC champion UConn was chosen to repeat as conference champion this season. UCF, USF, Memphis, Cincinnati, East Carolina and Tulsa finished second through seventh. Though the Mustangs are predicted to have a tough season, sophomore midfielder Claire Oates was selected to the Preseason All-Conference Team.

SMU’s best preseason finish came in volleyball. The Mustangs were selected to finish second in the coaches’ poll, only trailing defending champion UCF by four first place votes. Finishing third through 11th were Temple, Tulsa, Cincinnati, Memphis, USF, UConn, East Carolina, Tulane and Houston.

Three Mustangs, junior Janelle Giordano, junior Morgan Heise and senior Avery Acker, were selected to the Preseason All-Conference Team. Acker was also chosen as the Preseason Conference Player of the Year.