Utah Utes football: TCU showdown has BCS, conference implications

Utah's next game is a big one.

How big?

Big enough for ESPN's College GameDay show to make a third visit in four weeks to a Mountain West Conference venue.

It's also big enough to alter the Bowl Championship Series standings and the league title chase.

Make no mistake about it, Saturday's game between Utah and TCU is huge. There's a lot riding on it.

It'll pit an undefeated Horned Frogs team, currently ranked No. 4 in the BCS standings and both major polls, against the one-loss Utes, who are 14th in the coaches poll and 16th in the BCS and AP rankings.

After Saturday's 45-14 win over New Mexico at Rice-Eccles Stadium, Utah's focus was on TCU and the tall task at hand.

"I'm excited," said left tackle Zane Beadles. "It's what you live for."

The TCU game was a popular topic in the postgame press conference after the Utes had improved to 8-1 overall and 5-0 in conference play.

Saturday's winner will be in sole possession of first place in the MWC.

"This week I will spend a lot of time breaking down film and preparing for TCU," said quarterback Jordan Wynn. "We're excited for the game we have coming up against a good team."

Linebacker Stevenson Slyvester said the defense also has work to do before heading to Fort Worth.

"We are going to have to focus our energy on improving our pass coverage and blitzes to take on a top-10 team in TCU," he explained. "We're excited for the challenge that they will bring."

Utah has fared well against TCU over the years. The Utes are 5-1 all-time against the Frogs and are the only MWC team with a winning record against them since Gary Patterson's program (3-1) joined the league in 2005.

The past, though, has little to do with the present. This year's TCU squad has one of the top defenses in the nation, led by All-American candidate Jerry Hughes. Quarterback Andy Dalton and wide receiver Jeremy Kerley headline a potent offense.

"I don't think there's a weakness," said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham.

TCU, he added, is very well coached.

"Coach Patterson is a great coach. He's got those guys believing," Whittingham said. "He's got great talent. He's assembled a very good squad, very deep."

Utes on the air

No. 16 Utah (8-1, 5-0) at No. 4 TCU (9-0, 5-0)

Saturday, 5:30 p.m.

TV: CBS C

Radio: 700 AM

e-mail: dirk@desnews.com