With college football in the last month of the regular season, TCU is within reach of its first conference championship since 2005. But in order to reach their destination, the Horned Frogs will first need to get by the fastest guns in the Mountain West.
Last season, TCU was playing inconsistently against opponents and was 4-3 coming into the game against Utah. Although the game was close, it was TCU quarterback Andy Dalton’s four interceptions that made the difference in the 27-20 Utah victory.
This year though, things have been going well for TCU as they are currently 6-0 in the Mountain West Conference. With the help of an upset over BYU, the Horned Frogs have positioned themselves atop the MWC.
The only stumble TCU had this year was against Oklahoma. Although the Horned Frogs lost by 25 to the Sooners, TCU played well for the final three quarters and has carried that success through the rest of its games. That they are the only non-Bowl Championship Series team with one loss to have a shot at a major BCS bowl bid is a testament to TCU’s perseverance and consistency.
With all of the success the team has had, the man who deserves a lot of the credit for the sharp turnaround is head coach Gary Patterson. Because of how his team has performed this season, Patterson has been named a semifinalist for the George Munger Award of College Coach of the Year.
The success of TCU on the field can largely be credited to a defense that is ranked No. 2 overall. In its nine wins this season, no team has scored more than 14 points against the Horned Frogs.
Leading the Horned Frogs on defense will be Chuck Bednarik Award finalist Jerry Hughes. So far this season, Hughes has 14 sacks to go along with two interceptions and three fumble recoveries.
“He is a game changer and we have to account for him,” said U head coach Kyle Wittingham. “We have to devise a plan to handle him.”
Although it’s no surprise that TCU has been playing well on defense, the real surprise this season has been the Horned Frogs’ offense. The efficient ground game, led by running back Joseph Turner, along with the reliable air support of Dalton, has propelled TCU to a 9-1 overall record.
Although TCU will be at a disadvantage playing as the visitor in Rice-Eccles Stadium, the fact that the game is on a Thursday still gives TCU the upper hand. A lower-ranked team has already defeated a higher-ranked team six times on Thursday games this season. This includes TCU’s upset over BYU.
“It’s about how you play on that given day,” Patterson said. “I do think it is tough to get it done on the road, but this is what makes the game so special.”
Coming into this game, TCU will have the MWC Championship and a BCS berth on the line. All the hard work the players and the coaches have put in comes down to one game. This will be the defining moment of TCU’s season.
Associated PressTCU’s Matt Panfil pursues UNLV quarterback Omar Clayton in the first half of their game on Saturday. Defensive pressure has been the strength of TCU this season.