A different kind of test for Utah's young QB

FORT WORTH - The kid looks just the way he should. Young. Excited. Not the least bit jaded.

Lean, with wispy, scattered clouds of facial hair.

Problem is, today's game against No. 4-ranked TCU is going to require a man.

"I'm ready for it. I'm not scared, I'm ready," says Ute quarterback Jordan Wynn.

Is he really?

That's the question of the week. Everyone knows Wynn can handle Wyoming and New Mexico. But TCU is a different deal. Is a game-and-a-half of experience on the college level enough to prepare him for what lies ahead?

"I mean, yeah," begins Wynn, before adding, "but I mean nothing will prepare me for this. This is the biggest game of my life against the best team I've ever played in my life. So nothing can fully prepare me for what I'm going to see on Saturday."

So at least he knows. He's going against a fearsome defense, in a game of national implications. Lose and the Utes will still go bowling, but in the old familiar places. Win and there's an outside shot they could again end up in a BCS bowl.

"They're good," says Wynn, of the No. 4-ranked Horned Frogs. "The majority of that defense is going to the NFL."

Fact is, 1-1/2 games isn't much preparation for a team like TCU, which has been squashing opponents. Only one team has scored as many as 21 points against the Frogs, and that was, oddly enough, humble Texas State. The last four opponents, all Mountain West teams, scored a combined total of 25 points.

The college game is dramatically faster than high school – where Wynn was playing a year ago. And a game against TCU is exponentially faster than playing Wyoming or New Mexico.

"Sure, these guys on defense (TCU) are going to speed things up for him," says Ute offensive coordinator Dave Schramm. "We talk about it every day."

While starting a true freshman isn't the norm at Utah — or anywhere else — it happens. Alex Smith and Brian Johnson played as true freshmen, but didn't start. Ken Vierra did start (1981), and was respectable in two games. He completed 20 of 28 passes for 410 yards and two touchdowns. The next year Scott Cate started one game, completing eight of 21 passes for 140 yards.