TCU Horned Frogs Impressive in Win Over Utah, Should Grab Nation's Attention

Raise your hand if you thought TCU was going to win Saturday.

I did. Many did. It wouldn’t surprise me to hear a majority of football fans to pick TCU over the Utah. They were the No. 3 team in the BCS and decimated opponents all year. The Horned Frogs had the top-rated defense in the country and many pundits would not be shocked if Utah did lose Saturday.

Now raise your hands if you thought TCU would go into Salt Lake City and win by 40.

I doubt 99 percent of the country thought that scenario would happened. Unless you’re a diehard TCU fan who expects their team to win by 100 each game, then you probably did not foresee a Horned Frog rout. Coach Gary Patterson’s team was not affected by the hype of ESPN's "College Gameday," Utah’s military alternate jerseys or a stadium “Black Out” from Utes fans. 

The Horned Frogs didn’t need the full 60 minutes to reaffirm to the college football world they are a forced to be reckoned with.

Utes coach Kyle Whittingham said that the score was not comparable to how lopsided the game was actually. Even the acclaimed coach was aware of how overmatched his team truly was Saturday.

Utah is a talented team without question, but it was not at all seriously tested this season. They needed overtime to beat an underwhelming Pittsburgh team in the season opener and were tested by Air Force a week earlier before pulling out a five-point win.

Utah looked shell-shocked from the start of the game and found itself down 23-0 at the half. Before the game, many wondered if Utah could knock off TCU and throw its hat into the BCS Championship ring. By halftime, fans just wondered if Utah could find the end zone.

Quarterback Andy Dalton had a career day, passing for 355 yards and three touchdowns in one of TCU’s most impressive victories in recent years. He has been one of the main cogs on a highly potent Horned Frogs offense.

TCU is now firmly in the driver’s seat to an undefeated season and at worse a BCS bowl berth. They have grabbed the attention of voters and have love from the computers to all but certainly finish ahead of Boise State if both teams are undefeated.

The Horned Frogs, led by Dalton’s play at quarterback and a highly stout defense, have waltzed their way down a schedule that featured games against Oregon State and upstart Baylor.

TCU has once again become a household name in recent years. After nearly busting the BCS several times, they finally received an invite to the Fiesta Bowl last year, when they fell to Boise State, 17-10.

Although Gary Patterson’s team has two games remaining, they are likely to finish the season undefeated once more. If the top two of Oregon and Auburn remain, they will clinch a berth to the Rose Bowl against the Big 10 champion. But if either the Ducks or Tigers fall, TCU will look to become the first non-BCS conference team to make the championship game.

America has grown accustomed to TCU being in the BCS-buster conversation, but Saturday’s game gave notice that they are among the elites, no matter what conference they represent.