Where: San Diego
When: 6 p.m. TV: ESPN
Series record: Boise State leads 1-0.
Last meeting: 2003 Fort Worth Bowl, Boise State won 34-31.
What’s at stake: The opportunity at a second unbeaten season in the past three years for Boise State. The Broncos were bypassed by the BCS, which opted for the massive drawing power of Ohio State over the undefeated Broncos. Can Boise State effectively use that chip on its shoulder to its benefit against TCU’s fast, aggressive, suffocating defense that’s easily the biggest challenge all season for Boise State’s offense?
Key matchup: Boise State RT Nate Potter vs. TCU DE Jerry Hughes. Potter, a redshirt freshman, is one of three underclassmen starting on the Broncos’ offensive line. But Potter has never faced a challenge like Hughes, a first-team All-American and the nation’s leader in sacks with 14. TCU’s unique defense is going to cause fits for the Broncos’ offense, and keeping Hughes off QB Kellen Moore is going to be a big factor.
Players to watch: Boise State — RB Ian Johnson. He’s the face of the Boise State program. He enters his final game needing one rushing touchdown to hold the WAC’s all-time record in that category, topping Marshall Faulk.
TCU — LB Daryl Washington. All-Mountain West first-team LB Robert Henson won’t play because of academic troubles, leaving Washington to get the nod in his place. He is TCU’s fourth-leading tackler.
Facts and figures: Only prior matchup between the non-BCS powers was the 2003 Fort Worth Bowl played in the Frogs’ home stadium. Boise State rallied late for a 34-31 win. . . . Boise State coach Chris Petersen was a senior QB at Cal-Davis when TCU coach Gary Patterson served as the Aggies’ linebackers coach in 1986.
The Associated Press
