2008 Mountain West Football Year in Review: TCU Horned Frogs

TCU was under the radar for most of the season because they were just on the edge of the top 25 polls then they lost to Oklahoma.  In retrospect, that loss does not look so bad since TCU was able to ‘hold’ Oklahoma to 35 points.  The next big move in the polls was when TCU smoked BYU 32-7 which put them in the top 20, and in that game their defense rocked Max Hall while forcing him to turn the ball over. 

Back in the preseason we predicted TCU to finish third and a good record, but no way did anyone predict that TCU would be a top 10 team at the end of the season.  Below is how The MWC Connection predicted TCU’s year:

• Not a chance…@Oklahoma
• 50/50…@New Mexico, @ Colorado State, BYU, Wyoming, @Utah, Air Force
• Lock it Up…Stephen F. Austin, @SMU, San Diego State, @UNLV
• Projected Record: 8-4

TCU was a great team and was a few missed field goals away from making it to a BCS game and the first from a non-automatic league with one loss.  In that Utah game, TCU had their defense slowing down the Utes and while TCU made their points in the first quarter the defense made it last, almost.

TCU missed two late field goals, and a then missed out on a third field goal because of two straight sacks that were given up.  Then on Utah’s final drive TCU basically gave the ole to Brian Johnson and the Ute offense and just drove down the field at will and ended up winning the game.

TCU then finished the season strong and played a great team in Boise State in the Poinsettia Bowl which put the No. 9 and No. 11 ranked teams in one of the best bowl games of the season.  TCU ended up winning that game and essentially dominating after a very poor first quarter.

Overall TCU had a great year at 11-2 and finished with their highest ranking at No. 9 since they finished at No. 11 in 2005.

Up Next…Utah Utes

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