College Football Rankings: TCU Bound for the Title Game?

The TCU Horned Frogs are the stars of the Lone Star State this season. After yesterday's 47-7 pasting of previously fifth-ranked Utah, 47-7, the Frogs have lined up all their cards and some very positive mojo to roll through San Diego State and New Mexico and finish the regular season 12-0.

On the other hand, Boise State's season was tainted early on when its vanquishing of Virginia Tech to open the season lost its luster when the Hokies lost to James Madison the next week.

TCU and Boise State have run neck-and-neck in the polls, but today's USA Today poll and BCS rankings clearly have the Horned Frogs in the driver's seat for the National Championship Game. Boise State will falter in Reno, Nevada, on Nov. 26.

TCU is the real deal this year. Call 2010 "The Year of the Frog." Not only will the Horned Frogs be ranked No. 2 in a few weeks, they will crash their way into the BCS title game and be embraced by the BCS consortium of greedy accountants and elitist college football presidents.

By the time the title game rolls around, the Horned Frogs will have been officially invited to join the Big East Conference. That invitation will represent a BCS trifecta.

TCU wins twice with the title game and BCS conference membership. The Big East wins because it can claim TCU's wins to use in the formula to maintain its BCS status. The BCS wins because a future BCS team will be playing in its premier game, not merely a non-AQ team.

TCU has paid its dues. The conventional wisdom in college sports goes something like this: You have to come close to winning it all a couple of times before getting the whole enchilada. TCU came close in 2003 before losing to Southern Mississippi in late November and to Boise State in a no-name bowl.   

Last year the Frogs' undefeated season came crashing down in a loss to Boise State, after the BCS powers agreed to give the two best non-AQ teams the Fiesta Bowl. The year before TCU had just squeaked by Boise State in the Poinsettia Bowl.

Their power ratings are practically the same right now, and as far as strength of schedule is concerned, Sagarin thinks Boise State's is tougher; Massey thinks TCU's is tougher.

Separation Saturday was yesterday. The Frogs can see their destiny. They will keep winning big. That's all they need to do. Oregon, the nation's No. 1 team, will falter at Oregon State. Auburn won't make it out of the Iron Bowl unblemished. Then they will face a revengeful South Carolina team in the SEC playoffs.

Even though Boise State will make a BCS bowl this year, too, the Broncos future is dim compared to TCU's.

The Horned Frogs are BCS bound. Boise State's plans for greater glory have been tarnished by a power defection from the Mountain West in BYU going independent and TCU and Utah headed to BCS conferences. The Broncos' future in a non-AQ conference looks even worse when it loses the bright lights and national exposure TV ESPN has given it.

TCU would beat Boise in head-to-head competition this year, but that game will never be played. Instead, the Frogs will lead the Lone Star State into the National Championship Game. The Frogs' biggest worry will be how to keep Gary Patterson on board for next season's opener in refurbished Amos G. Carter Stadium.

The eyes of Texas are upon you, TCU. It's your year.