TCU Horned Frogs @ Utah Utes Football Recap

TCU 47, Utah 7

Remember the part about how Andy Dalton was a weak-minded quarterback who couldn’t get the job done under pressure? Yeah, it’s gone now. Long gone… just like the TCU receivers who made off with Dalton’s passes and raced downfield in the process of demolishing an overmatched opponent.

As a result of one man’s brilliance – and the excellence of his team as well – the TCU Horned Frogs are now in position to make a BCS bowl and very possibly play for the national championship of college football. The Utah Utes, on the other hand, have been kicked to the curb.

Dalton – a talented but inconsistent quarterback – played the game of his life on a day when he needed to be great. With the eyes of the nation fixed on Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Dalton answered his critics and rose to meet the magnitude of a man-making motivational moment. A 93-yard touchdown pass to receiver Josh Boyce settled Dalton’s historically shaky nerves in the first quarter of play, and after that mentally liberating long ball, the rest of this game became very easy for TCU’s resilient redhead. With the focused Frogs flourishing in every aspect of play, the Utah Utes never had a chance. TCU, powered by Dalton and then carried by a relentless defense that has given up just 85 points all season long, flexed its muscles and blew away the home team to claim full control of not only the Mountain West Conference, but also a path to a BCS bowl game, possibly the title tilt if either Oregon or Auburn loses over the next four weeks. Up 20-0 after one quarter and then 23-0 at halftime, TCU surged to a 40-0 lead before Utah tacked on a meaningless touchdown in the fourth quarter. This game possessed so great a build-up, but the Horned Frogs punctured the Utah balloon early and never allowed the locals to get excited.

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While a vindicated and affirmed Andy Dalton walks triumphantly, the outlook is different on the Utah side of the divide. The Utes walked into Saturday’s game owning an unblemished record. After this 40-point pounding, coach Kyle Whittingham’s club is not only out of the running for the national title; the Utes are out of the running for a BCS bowl and the Mountain West Conference championship (provided that TCU wins just one of its two remaining games against a soft schedule).

As good as Dalton was for TCU, Jordan Wynn was terrible for Utah. The sophomore played like a man unprepared for a big occasion. He made poor throws and equally bad reads against a lightning-quick TCU defense that suffocated him at every turn. Wynn finished 16-of-35 for 148 passing yards with one (empty) touchdown and two interceptions.

All TCU has to do to win the Mountain West is beat San Diego State at home next weekend. All the Horned Frogs have to do to make a BCS bowl is to then beat New Mexico on Nov. 27. Life is pretty good if you’re wearing purple in the state of Texas. Life’s not so charmed if you reside near the Great Salt Lake.

By: Matt Zemek
DFN Sports Senior Staff Writer