Mendenhall admitted it is difficult simulating TCU's defensive speed in practice. For the Cougars to handle that speed, "It's got to be our execution versus their athleticism," he said. "They have great recovery speed. They're toward the top in the country in almost every statistical category. When you play a team that outmatches you physically, then your identity and execution has to counteract their advantage in terms of athleticism. Our execution is the answer."

"They're an athletic defense and they have a lot of team speed," said Cougar tight end Dennis Pitta. "They're very well-coached. It's a short week, so a lot of it comes down to who can execute on Thursday and who's got more heart and who's got more will to come out on top."

Much of the onus to move the chains and get into the end zone is on Hall.

"Max will have to deliver the ball with great accuracy," Mendenhall said. "Anytime you face an opponent as skilled as TCU, the burden shifts to the quarterback."

"I have to be efficient. I can't turn it over to them," Hall said. "If we do that and just play our game, as you saw in a couple of drives against New Mexico, methodically move the ball and take what they give us, we're hard to stop."

The Cougars need to be well-balanced, Hall explained.

"We have to establish the run game against TCU in order to be successful. I think we can do that. Our O-line and our backs are top in the nation and are very capable. So if we can do that and keep them worried about that, we'll open it up through the air."

Only one team has enjoyed success against TCU's defense this season — Oklahoma, which spent a couple of weeks ranked No. 1 before falling to the current No. 1 team, Texas, last week.

The Sooners rolled up 222 yards in the first quarter against TCU and scored 28 points in the first half. Quarterback Sam Bradford ended up passing for 411 yards and four touchdowns.

"Against Oklahoma, TCU did very good against the run but not so well through the air," Hall said. "There are things we can look at and parts of their defense that we can attack. We've got to be ready for anything and we've got to be capable of making adjustments early in the game.

"TCU will mix it up. They'll play cover-two, they'll blitz. They'll mix it up more than New Mexico did against us, I'm sure. They're good, they're fast and our execution needs to be precise if we want to move the ball and be consistent against them."

Hall added it's important for the offense to keep the tempo high to speed up the game and keep TCU's defense off-balance.

Since scoring 59 points against UCLA, the Cougars' offensive output has declined in each successive week against Wyoming (44), Utah State (34) and New Mexico (21).