TCU Is More Consistent Than You Think

In 2002 they won 10 games. In 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2008 they won 11. They finished in the top 25 in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2008 and are currently ranked 10th in the AP and 9th in the Coaches'. They've played in a bowl game every year since 1998, with the exception of 2004, beginning with a Sun Bowl victory over USC. The 2004 campaign managed only 5 wins and 2007 was an 8 win season. The TCU Horned Frogs are much more consistent than you may think. But what does that consistency really tell us about TCU? Does it mean that they belong among the perennial elite? Or is it merely a fallacy because they've played in the Mountain West Conference since 2005 and in Conference USA from 2001 to 2004?

TCU is currently undefeated, having beaten the likes of Virginia, Texas State, Clemson Southern Methodist and Air Force. Next up for TCU is a matchup with Colorado State before they play their first ranked opponent of the year when they visit conference foe BYU. The Cougars are currently the only ranked opponent on the Horned Frogs' roster, but a November 14 matchup with Utah may prove challenging as well. With only two legitimate challengers (to a top 10 team) left on their 2009 schedule, will TCU validate their top 10 ranking, or will they prove they're only the best of the rest?

At first glance, TCU's high ranking and their consistently strong final records seem to be the product of a fluffy schedule. However, look at 2008's schedule and you might be surprised to see four games versus top 10 opponents. The Horned Frogs lost at 2nd ranked Oklahoma and at 8th ranked—and eventually undefeated—Utah (their only losses of the season), but managed to defeat 9th ranked BYU and 9th ranked Boise State in the Poinsettia Bowl.

So yeah, TCU plays some good teams. They win some, they lose some. Pretty definitive of a top 25 team, don't you think?

Andy Dalton is a good quarterback. He's thrown 6 touchdown passes and only two interceptions this season. He even rushed for 86 yards on 19 carries in a narrow win over Clemson. But it's not offense that carries TCU. It's defense. Led by defensive end Jerry Hughes, TCU is 1st in rush defense, 25th in pass defense and 7th in total defense this season.

So while TCU may not be among the perennial elite teams in the nation, they have consistently been a very good team with a solid foundation who deserve their current top 10 ranking until another team says otherwise. Expect another 10 or 11 win season. Combine that with two road victories over ACC opponents, and if TCU can manage a victory against either Utah or BYU, expect a nice bowl bid. Just don't expect a BCS at-large bid from the Horned Frogs—unless they go undefeated and look damn good in the process. But that's a whole different story. - Danny Hobrock

Danny Hobrock is a sports journalist who primarily covers college football and professional baseball. He is a contributor for several sports related blogs and is the former editor of a political and current events website.

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College Football Saturday In 500 Words Or Less

A recap of what went down and what you should take away from Saturday's college football games.

After months of anticipation, and now that we've had our fill of football, beer and chicken wings, the 2009 college football landscape begins to take shape. There were few outrageous upsets, and the one top five team that did go down, did so against another very good football team and with their Heisman-winning quarterback watching from the sidelines with his arm in a sling. The first Saturday of the season was less of a day for upsets and more of a day for 'almosts', 'what-ifs' and missed opportunities.

Recapping the day in 500 words or less, here's what Saturday taught us about the season:

- Tennessee's freshman class is good. Everybody's talking about Jonathan Crompton, but it was freshman running back Bryce Brown who steamrolled a few Hilltoppers on his way to the end zone and looked good on almost every carry. Miami and Oregon must be kicking themselves for letting this guy slip through their fingers. Freshman receiver Marsalis Teague was the team's leading receiver, while Nu'Keese Richardson looked pretty good as both a punt returner and as a wide receiver. Anybody who says Tennessee's 63-7 shellacking on Saturday is downplayed because it came against Western Kentucky in their first game as members of the FBS is sorely mistaken. UCLA and Florida are next.

- Navy blew it. Who was Ricky Dobbs throwing to in the end zone? An exceptional running play to put the Midshipmen within two overshadowed and forgotten after a terribly blunderous two-point conversion attempt.

- Iowa can't keep relying on their field goal-blocking unit to win them games. It's only the first week and they've done it twice. Iowa is scratching their heads.... Good teams get over the head scratching. Let's see if Iowa is a good team.

- I'm glad Joe Cox wore a cup. Dez Bryant put his money where his mouth is. Despite the loss, the Bulldogs defense looked pretty good. I'd also like to throw out a nickname for Perrish Cox after watching his 74 yard kick return: Crazy Legs Cox.

- With Notre Dame's 35-0 win over Nevada, Lou Holtz has not yet been proven a crazy person. But we know it's coming. Joking aside, Jimmy Clausen looked really good, as did the entire Notre Dame offense. The defense wasn't too bad either. It was against a less-than-stellar Nevada team, but Touchdown Jesus had to have been pleased.

- It took Tennessee an entire quarter to get on the board against Western Kentucky. It took USC a quarter to score against San Jose State. Why was I more worried about USC's slow start? Was it because I expected a jailbreak from the get-go? Or did I think it had something to do with true freshman Matt Barkley getting the start? USC would eventually get their stuff together, winning 56-3 as Barkley threw for 233 yards on 15 for 19 passing. Also notice how nobody can credit Barkley's winning the starting job to his offseason performance. It's always that something is wrong with Aaron Corp or Pete Carroll was rooting for Barkley. I have another theory.

- BYU looked very good. Even before Sam Bradford went down. I wonder if the Sooners will fall further with Bradford out a few weeks. Unlikely. Idaho State and Tulsa are next. They'll have to run the table to be in the discussion for the National Championship, though.

- Cal's Jahvid Best is the best running back in college football. Alabama's Mark Ingram showed that he's not too far behind.

- Florida begins their regular season on September 19 against Tennessee.

Saturday's over, but Sunday and Monday have a few more games to hold us over until Thursday when the NFL kicks off its regular season. Miami and Florida State are both looking to reclaim their spot in college football relevance, while Ole Miss begins their quest to prove they can hang with the big boys of the SEC. - Danny Hobrock

Danny Hobrock is a sports journalist who primarily covers college football and professional baseball. He is a contributor for several sports related blogs and is the former editor of a political and current events website.