TCU's first BCS game missing desired chance

FORT WORTH, Texas — Something is missing now that TCU is finally a BCS buster.

The Horned Frogs won't get a chance to prove themselves against a team from one of the major conferences with automatic access to the Bowl Championship Series.

Instead, third-ranked TCU (12-0) goes to the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 4 to play the same team it beat in a pre-Christmas bowl game last year. That's No. 6 Boise State, another undefeated BCS buster.

Boise got its chance to play one of the major-conference teams in its other BCS appearance, beating Oklahoma in that memorable 2007 Fiesta Bowl.

Last year, Mountain West foe Utah beat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl to complete a 13-0 season.