SAN DIEGO — The presumption seemed accurate: with a cast of new faces about to enter critical roles, 2008 was supposed to be Boise State's rebuilding year before making another run at the big boys of the BCS in the coming seasons.

Try again.

Even with a 17-16 loss to No. 11 TCU in Tuesday night's Poinsettia Bowl that ruined Boise State's hopes for a second unbeaten season in the last three years, the Broncos will likely head into the 2009 season with expectations that have rarely been muttered in their namesake hometown where Boise State is THE game in town.

Landing a second BCS bowl in 2009 wouldn't just be a pleasant surprise. Fans will be expecting it from the moment spring practice begins.

"Everyone thought we were going to be rebuilding this year because our team is so young," said sophomore defensive end Ryan Winterswyk. "But I think our team matured really fast as the year went on, and kind of grew up fast and had to prove ourselves every week."

Boise State will bring back 13 starters with a long list of others who saw significant playing time this season, and its toughest game — a matchup with Pac-10 power Oregon — will come on the friendly blue turf of Bronco Stadium.

Still, overcoming the perception of playing feeble competition could end up being the biggest challenge. Those BCS hopes may ultimately be hamstrung again by the Broncos' weak Western Athletic Conference schedule and a relatively tame non-conference slate. Aside from Oregon and a trip to rising Tulsa, the rest of Boise State's schedule is a walk with the likes of Toledo, Miami (Ohio) and UC Davis.

The Broncos toughest WAC game — likely Nevada — will also come at home.

Upgrading its schedule continues to be the biggest obstacle for Boise State to overcome in regards to how the team is perceived outside of Boise.

Losses like Tuesday night's setback to TCU only feed the furor of pundits who believe that in a better conference — like the Mountain West that features TCU, BYU and Utah — the Broncos would be a middle-of-the-pack team.

"The best statement we can make is how we play on the field, year after year, game after game," said Boise State coach Chris Petersen. "That's all we concern ourselves with."

One challenge will be avoiding the step back the Broncos took after an 11-0 regular season in 2004. BSU lost to Louisville in the Liberty Bowl, then stumbled badly to start 2005, finishing 9-4.

Eluding such a setback should be made easier by the possibility Boise State could have its most talent-laden team this decade in 2009.

One cog the Broncos will need to replace is Ian Johnson, who concluded his career Tuesday night as the WAC's all-time leader in rushing touchdowns, passing Marshall Faulk with a 20-yard touchdown sprint in the first quarter.

But Johnson was already being phased out, partly because of an inexperienced offensive line that couldn't get the push that fits Johnson's running style. Often, Boise State's best runs were short dump passes or sweeps handed off to receivers in motion.

Johnson's loss shouldn't be felt too much on the field, especially with quarterback Kellen Moore returning. The WAC freshman of the year concluded his first season with a costly interception with less than 2 minutes left against TCU. But it was one of only a few mistakes he made all season. Coaches are considering letting Moore call his own plays next year — as a sophomore.

"I always say I felt like I was capable of it," Moore said of his first year. "(I) just never really knew when it would come, but it came early I guess."

Despite being mostly regarded for its offensive ingenuity, Boise State's defense carried most of the season, at least until Tuesday night when it couldn't get off the field against TCU's grinding offense and gave up a season-high 472 yards.

Still, the Broncos will return 19 defensive players to a unit that ranked third in the country in the regular season, allowing fewer than 13 points and 300 yards per game.

Combine an improving defense with another undefeated regular season and some critics might finally come around.

"Even though we're going to have those great expectations, we're going to have to prove ourselves again," Winterswyk said.

But he added, "I think everyone is going to be really excited for next year."