Well that was interesting.
Texas Christian destroyed Utah last Saturday. And by destroyed I mean a 47-7 victory on Utah’s turf.
Clearly, this was the statement game of statement games. TCU is a legitimate contender for the BCS National Title.
But that doesn’t stop people from declining to invite the Horned Frogs to the top billing in college football.
Say what you want, but TCU has dominated every game it’s played since September ended.
TCU has scored a total of 236 points while only giving up 23 in its last six games. That is a defense that has given up 3.8 points per game over that span.
Unbelievable.
The team’s top wins came against Oregon State, Baylor and Utah, which isn’t much to brag about. But there hasn’t been a single slip up. Not even one close game against a mediocre opponent.
Basically the only excuse for not having this team in the title game is the conference they play in, the fact that the Mountain West Athletic Conference is not of the same caliber as the SEC or the Pac-10.
If there is a year to change that perception, it’s 2010, as two non-BCS programs have a chance to be in the title game.
Then again it hasn’t just been a question for this season. This storyline has been prevalent for several years now.
It even has been entertaining.
The Boise State/Oklahoma Fiesta Bowl in 2007 was the best college football game I have ever watched.
The Broncos shocked the experts, and guess what? They are still one of the nation’s top five teams, even three years later.
Maybe next year will be different.
Next year, Utah moves to the newly formed Pac-12 and BSU joins TCU in the Mountain West. The only problem still is that conference name.
Utah finally gets to compete in a BCS conference, while both TCU and BSU are still stuck on the outside looking in.
Sure, they have BYU tossed in there, and an improving Air Force squad, but the MWC lost out on other big name schools when the Big-12 stayed together.
If the Horned Frogs are going to stick to one argument, it should be this: They have dominated every opponent in the 2010 season.
Yes, there were cupcake teams, but look at ASU’s non-conference schedule. Portland State? NAU?
TCU’s one opponent for the Championship Subdivision was Tennessee Tech, which resulted in a 62-7 victory for the Horned Frogs.
But that score is more of a pattern.
They beat Wyoming 45-0 on Oct. 9, Air Force 38-7 on Oct. 23, UNLV 48-6 on Oct. 30 and most recently thrashed Utah.
Sure, either Oregon or Auburn has to lose for TCU or BSU to move into the top two, but both have higher odds of suffering a loss.
TCU’s last two opponents are San Diego State and New Mexico, while the Broncos still have to face No. 21 Nevada and an always tough Fresno State team.
It may be doubtful that the BCS will allow them to play for the title, but they deserve more than just consideration.
It’s time for the Horned Frogs to put all this nonsense and argument to rest.
Reach the columnist at nathan.meacham@asu.edu
