Frogs have dominating D, highest ranking since '56

FORT WORTH, Texas — Based on coach Gary Patterson's philosophy, the TCU offense is doing way more than is needed.

The Horned Frogs defense is that good again.

"For us, we want to hold (opponents) to one point less, and score one more," Patterson repeated after TCU's latest dominating performance, a 41-0 victory Saturday over UNLV.

BCS buster hopeful TCU (8-0, 4-0 Mountain West) moved up two spots to No. 6 in the new AP poll Sunday, its highest ranking since 1956. The Frogs' 10-game winning streak is shorter only than Florida (18), Iowa (13) and Texas (12).

After allowing UNLV only 160 yards total in their first shutout of the season, and sixth at home since 2003, the Frogs moved up four spots to No. 1 in total defense (235.7 yards a game) — the position they've finished three of the previous nine seasons. They are third in scoring defense, giving up only 11 points a game.

"There were a few mistakes here and there," safety Tejay Johnson insisted after the UNLV game.

OK, so they didn't have a sack for only the second time this season.

Like Patterson, the Frogs' defensive coordinator before his promotion at the end of the 2000 season, TCU players are never completely satisfied. But there is no defense playing better right now.

UNLV (3-6, 1-5) got one-fourth of its offense on a 40-yard run by a backup quarterback and was shut out for the first time since 2003, a span of 69 games. Only three of the Rebels' 14 possessions ended in TCU territory, the deepest being the Frogs 34 on the same drive as the long run.

"They were fast and physical," UNLV offensive lineman Evan Marchal said.

"I don't remember ever in my career playing against as good a defense as that," coach Mike Sanford said.

The 160 yards were the fewest allowed by the Frogs this season and the third time they have held an opponent to less than 200. The most they gave up was 309 yards at Clemson in the third game of the season.

Despite losing two fumbles in the first quarter, TCU built an early 17-0 lead, including Antoine Hicks' 75-yard touchdown catch from Andy Dalton. Hicks has seven TDs (four receiving, three rushing) on 17 touches this season.

At that point, UNLV had punted five times with only two first downs.