The Horned Frogs are in Salt Lake City for a late night showdown with former Mountain West rival
The TCU Horned Frogs (3-3; 1-2 Big 12) head on the road for a late night trip to Salt Lake City vs. the Utah Utes (4-2; 1-2 Big 12) as the former Mountain West rivals meet for the first time as members of the Big 12 Conference. TCU won the previous two matchups in 2009-2010 a combined score of 102-35.
Utah entered its inaugural season in the Big 12 picked to win the league in the preseason poll and ranked No. 12 in the preseason AP Poll. Now halfway through the season and the Utes have already dropped two league contests, falling to both Arizona and Arizona State in its last two games. Now starting quarterback Cam Rising has been announced as out for the season after playing the entire game last week after being questionable all season. Even without Rising, the Utah offense can churn yards, especially with senior RB Micah Bernard who averages 6.6 yards per carry.
TCU meanwhile enters the game coming off a bye week with one of the worst rush defenses in the nation, allowing over 180 yards per game, getting walloped on the ground the last four games, including losses to SMU, UCF, and Houston. The Horned Frogs offense remains productive overall, with Josh Hoover ranking fifth nationally in passing yards per game and WR Jack Bech fifth nationally in receiving yards per game. However the Frogs have the fifth-worst turnover margin nationally at -10 as Josh Hoover has the most lost fumbles in college football and the 16th most interceptions thrown. The Frogs have struggled to get anything working in the run game this season, even as RB Cam Cook has found the endzone 6 times this season.
Which team will be able to get its season back on the right track on this episode of Big 12 After Dark? Join the conversation in the comment section below as we ride the game day rollercoaster together. Go Frogs!