FORT WORTH, Texas — In likely its last significant hurdle to an undefeated regular season, No. 4 TCU scored three touchdowns in a 2 1/2-minute span early in the second quarter Saturday night and beat No. 16 Utah 55-28 to help shore up its case for the BCS.
“If the nation didn’t think that this was enough style points, then I don’t know what is,” coach Gary Patterson said. “We’re just going to go about our business.”
The Horned Frogs (10-0, 6-0 Mountain West) stretched their winning streak to 12 games since a last-minute loss last November at Utah (8-2, 5-1), which had won 22 of 23. TCU also has won 13 in a row at home since losing when the Utes last visited two years ago.
Matthew Tucker had the first and last touchdowns (runs of 41 and 9 yards) for TCU, with five teammates getting into the end zone in between. The 55 points were the most allowed by Utah since 1996.
Even without guaranteed access to the Bowl Championship Series, the Frogs have changed the question about if they can be a BCS buster. Now it’s can they be the first outsider to play for the national title? The Frogs are fourth in the BCS standings, the highest a team from a conference without an automatic bid has reached. They trail only Florida, Alabama and Texas — all winners Saturday.
No. 22 BYU 24, New Mexico 19
ALBUQUERQUE — Quarterback Max Hall passed for two TDs and got his 29th victory at BYU to match Heisman Trophy-winner Ty Detmer’s school record. Hall completed 21-of-33 attempts for 314 yards with one interception.
New Mexico made a game of it with 4:07 remaining when Donovan Porterie’s 20-yard TD pass to Victor James finished a drive that started in BYU territory after an ugly 30-yard punt by BYU’s Riley Stephenson. Bryan Kariya fumbled on BYU’s next possession, but the Lobos turned it over on downs at midfield.
Wyoming 27, San Diego St. 24
SAN DIEGO — Ian Watts kicked a 43-yard field goal with 23 seconds left as Wyoming overcame a 21- point fourth-quarter deficit.
Wyoming trailed 27-6 but rallied with three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to tie the score. The Cowboys then recovered a fumbled pooch kick on the ensuing kickoff that set up Watts’ game-winning kick.
Wyoming rallied on Austyn Carta-Samuels’ 10-yard run 11 seconds into the fourth quarter, a 33-yard scoring run by Alvester Alexander and Carta-Samuels’ 9-yard TD pass to David Tooley that tied the score.
Brandon Sullivan, who rushed for 105 yards, ran for two touchdowns for San Diego State (4-6, 2-4).
The Associated Press
