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TCU survived what may end up being its biggest test of the season in its opener. The Horned Frogs will now look to stay focused against a considerably less formidable opponent.
The No. 4 Frogs open their home schedule when they take on FCS team Tennessee Tech on Saturday night.
TCU held on for a 30-21 victory over then-No. 24 Oregon State at Cowboys Stadium last Saturday. Andy Dalton threw for 175 yards and a touchdown, and ran for 64 yards and two more scores to make up for two interceptions that led directly to Beavers touchdowns.
He helped the Frogs, who moved up two spots in the Top 25, overcome several miscues and win their first game since a Fiesta Bowl loss to Boise State.
"It's good to have that behind us," Dalton said. "It's a new season and hopefully the momentum will keep coming."
Only one of TCU's remaining opponents, No. 20 Utah, is ranked, which could help the Frogs as they look to go unbeaten and become a BCS buster again.
"As usual, no matter what we do and how we do it, we're always having to prove ourselves. And that's OK with us," coach Gary Patterson said. "To get one of these kind of games, where it's one of your tougher games behind you and you won it, is a big deal for us."
Despite the mistakes last week, TCU's vaunted defense mostly looked good against Oregon State, giving up 255 yards and limiting the Beavers to 20:37 of possession time.
Perhaps even more encouraging was the Frogs' ground game, which rolled up 278 yards and three touchdowns. Ed Wesley led the way with 134 yards on 17 carries, while Matthew Tucker added 74 to go with Dalton's 64. TCU totaled 453 yards.
None of that bodes well for Tennessee Tech, the Ohio Valley Conference member which was pounded 44-3 by then-No. 17 Arkansas in its opener last Saturday. The Golden Eagles gave up 196 yards on the ground and allowed the Razorbacks' Ryan Mallett to go 21 of 24 for 301 yards and three TDs.
"We're leaving a better team than when we came here," said Tennessee Tech coach Watson Brown, whose squad will face the highest-ranked opponent in school history for the second straight week. "When you come and play a team that good, in a hostile atmosphere you can't do anything but get better."
Brown's team will get the same opportunity this week at Amon G. Carter Stadium, where TCU has won eight straight home openers and 14 in a row overall. In their last four home dates, the Frogs have allowed five touchdowns and outscored opponents 191-44.
Brown called Arkansas "the best team I've played in the four years I've been here," a statement that will be tested Saturday by TCU and Patterson, who has a history with Tennessee Tech. Patterson was the Golden Eagles' linebackers coach from 1983-84 and worked with current Frogs defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Dick Bumpas - the second of five schools where the two worked together.
Tennessee Tech had 122 yards rushing against Arkansas and will be facing a TCU squad that held Oregon State to 73. Cass Barnes led the Golden Eagles with 36 yards on eight carries.
Tennessee Tech's Tre Lamb threw for 99 yards and was sacked twice.
