Common problem: Can Frogs again inflict painful losses on Utah and BYU?

In the Mountain West Conference, 2005 was The Year of the Horned Frog.

TCU, the league newcomer, posted a perfect 8-0 record and ran away with the MWC championship.

A large part of the Frogs' surprising success in their inaugural season in the MWC was their uncanny ability to knock off both Utah and BYU. Over a span of nine days, TCU managed to vanquish the Utes and Cougars in similar fashion. Both games went into overtime and ended on controversial, game-ending plays that favored the Frogs.

Heading into the 2006 season, TCU is once again the preseason favorite, followed by BYU and Utah.

All of which is why the game of the year for both the Utes and Cougars — aside from their annual grudge match against each other in November — is the one versus TCU. BYU visits TCU on Sept. 28, while Utah plays host to TCU on Oct. 5.

Judging by the schedule, 2006 could be The Year of the Horned Frog, Part II.

If the Frogs' on-field fortuitousness last year wasn't enough, they enjoy a favorable scheduling advantage against BYU and Utah this season.

With a bye after its Sept. 16 game against Texas Tech, TCU will have almost two weeks to prepare for the Cougars' trip to Fort Worth on Sept. 28 for a Thursday night matchup in the conference-opener for both teams.

The Frogs' following game will come one week later on Oct. 5 — another Thursday night kickoff — at Utah. But the Utes host a tough Boise State squad the previous Saturday (Sept. 30), which means TCU will have a full week to prepare for the Utes, while Utah will have five days to get ready for the Frogs.

Is it conspiracy? Or is it purple-clad serendipity?

No wonder TCU has become the most aggravating acronym along the Wasatch Front since UDOT.

The Frogs inflicted an abundance of pain on BYU and Utah a year ago. First, they snapped the Utes' 18-game winning streak on a humid Thursday night in Fort Worth.

Utah led 17-7 with 10 minutes remaining in the third quarter before TCU tied the game in the final quarter to force overtime. The Utes lost the coin flip and got the ball first. Their drive stalled and they ended up settling for a 34-yard Dan Beardall field goal. Utah led, 20-17.

On TCU's ensuing drive, it marched to the Utah 4 on three straight carries by Robert Merrill. After Cory Rodgers was stopped for no gain, quarterback Tye Gunn threw a game-winning touchdown pass to Michael DePriest for the 23-20 victory.