Thursday night BYU entered the Horned Frogs stadium with nations longest winning streak of 16 games and ranked #9th in the polls and the favored BCS Buster.
BYU appeared to be unstoppable, allowing only 17 points in their previous 4 games, they had two shutout/blowouts over UCLA and their conference mate, Wyoming. Ranked in the top 10 and leading their conference they now faced TCU whose only loss was to Oklahoma.
Certainly this game would be BYU's first serious test, one that most felt the Cougars would pass with flying colors. In 16 consecutive quarters of football, the Cougs had held their opponents to less than 2 points per quarter.
Yet 16 minutes into the game the TCU Horned Frogs accomplished what the previous 4 adversaries had failed to do. Not only did TCU have the lead, they scored more than the other 4 teams combined. TCU scored the first 26 points and put BYU in unfamiliar territory, for the first time this season the Cougars were behind by more than 7 points.
Was this the symmetry of fate? Back tracking to 2006, The BYU Cougars visited the TCU Horned Frogs in Fort Worth facing a tough TCU team sporting the nations longest winning streak of 13. That game saw the Horn ed Frogs steak end and marked the start of BYU's winning streak that ended on October 16, 2008, the place where is started.
TCU's defense had a statement game, facing Max Hall the BYU quarterback. Hall was leading the pack for the MWC MVP and the entire non BCS conferences. MVP. He's among the nation's best in total offense and pass efficiency and is even being mentioned as a Heisman candidate.
Entering the game Hall had passed for 20 touchdowns versus 4 picks and sacked 4 times in 6 games. TCU sacked Hall 6 times, 4 times before the first half was over. Hall ended the game being picked 2 times and for the first time this season, with out a touchdown pass. His final game stats were 22 of 42 and with 2 picks, he was picked in one game half as many times as he was the previous 6 games. Hall had to see the TCU defense as an 11 man wrecking crew.
On both sides of the ball TCU was primed and ready for the Cougars, handing them their worst loss since 2005 when The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame beat the Cougs 49 to 23. The Cougars saw all their hopes for a national title shot fall with the TCU Horned Frogs 32 BYU 7.
What does all this mean for the BCS Buster contenders?
The USA Today Coaches poll has BYU falling 9 spots from 8th to 17 and in that AP Poll from 9th to 18th. While TCU earns an AP Poll NR of 15th and in the Coaches Poll jumping from 24th to 15.
The Utah Utes, The MWC other BCS Buster contender destroyed Colorado State and climbed in both polls. The Ap has them ranked 12th up from 14th while the Coaches poll moved them up one spot from 13th to 12th.
Right now ranking wise, the Utah Utes have the inside track to be this years BCS Buster and become the first team to make two BCS appearances. However, the TCU Horned Frogs control their own destiny, if both teams continue to win, this won't be decided by the polls.
TCU is hosted by the Utah Utes Thursday November 6 for a 6pm Mountain Time shoot out, winner take all.
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