TCU, Pachall knock off No. 5 Boise St. 36-35

BOISE, Idaho — One thing was certain for Gary Patterson at the start of TCU's final scoring drive: Avoid overtime.

So Patterson didn't hesitate when he elected to go for two points after Casey Pachall's 25-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Carter pulled the Horned Frogs within a point with 1:05 remaining.

Patterson put the game in Pachall's hands one more time. The sophomore responded, tossing a short pass to Josh Boyce, who muscled his way into the end zone to give TCU a 36-35 lead. Moments later, TCU walked away with the upset after Boise State kicker Dan Goodale missed right on a 39-yard field goal as time expired.

"I told them when we started that drive 'understand we won't win overtime here.' When we go and score we are going for two," said Patterson, whose team held on for a victory over the fifth-ranked Broncos. "We were not going to win this if it kept going, so the only way we are going to be able to do it is steal it."

The victory puts TCU (8-2, 5-0) in first place in the conference and in prime position to win league title in their final year in the Mountain West Conference. The Horned Frogs close out with home games, and with the way they played Saturday, a letdown seems unlikely in home games against weaker foes like Colorado State and UNLV.

The win may also serve as the signature game of Pachall's young career.

The sophomore threw for a career-best 473 yards and tossed long scores of 75, 74 and 69 yards in the first half. But his most important throws came in the final minutes when he rallied the Horned Frogs to a stunning victory that spoiled any Boise State hopes of playing for a national title and snapped their 35-game home winning streak.

The Broncos were in control in the final minutes and driving into field-goal range when backup running back Drew Wright fumbled at the TCU 27-yard line with 2:26 remaining.

Pachall took over, calmly marching TCU down the field before connecting with Brandon Carter, who leaped over a defender to make the grab in the end zone and pull TCU within 36-35 with 1:05 remaining and setting up Patterson's gutsy call.

"We knew we had what it took to take it down and score, there wasn't any doubt about that," said Pachall. "We just had to execute and take care of it."

Boise State (8-1, 3-1) and Kellen Moore made a final run.