With the possible exception of the University of Utah in the 2010s, there’s not a college football program in the country that has had more success against BYU the past 20 years than TCU.
The Horned Frogs are on a five-game winning streak over BYU, including a 44-11 thumping two years ago in Fort Worth in the former rivals’ first contest against one another as Big 12 members. In those five games, TCU has won by an average score of 37-11.
“TCU is just a great program,” said BYU offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick, who has played against the Frogs as a receiver for the Cougars in 1997 and coached against them many times while at Utah and BYU. “They have been for years. I had a bunch of good battles with those guys when I coached up the road, and I know BYU has had a bunch of good battles with them over the years.”
Don’t look now, BYU fans, but the Frogs are back in Provo for the first time since 2009, when they were ranked No. 8 and pounded then-No. 16 BYU 38-7 en route to a 12-1 season and No. 6 final ranking.
No. 12 BYU (5-1, 8-1) has more to lose this time around, and plays host to unranked TCU (3-3, 6-3) at 8:15 p.m. MST at LaVell Edwards Stadium looking to bounce back from last week’s 29-7 drubbing at the hands of now-No. 6 Texas Tech. TCU is an angry bunch as well, having lost 20-17 at home to Iowa State last Saturday after dominating the Cyclones most of the way.
A sixth-straight loss to the Frogs wouldn’t necessarily take the Cougars out of the race for a berth in the Big 12 championship game, but it would kill their chances for an at-large spot in the College Football Playoff.
So the stakes are high, particularly for BYU.
“Two years ago, we had a pretty humbling loss down there. So yeah, we know what we’re in for Saturday,” Roderick said. “We know this is a good football team, a well-coached team, and they’re tough and they’re super athletic. We’re expecting it to be a really tough game.”
The Cougars are 3.5-point favorites, which to outsiders might seem a little low considering the records, the fact that BYU is at home, and that coach Kalani Sitake’s team seemingly has more to play for than the visiting Frogs. Those TCU doubters probably aren’t familiar with the history of this series. TCU has simply had BYU’s number, for whatever reason.
Two of TCU’s three losses were razor-close — Arizona State edged the Frogs 27-24 in Tempe — and coach Sonny Dykes’ squad owns double-digit wins over North Carolina and SMU in September.
“Teams that are coached by Sonny Dykes usually have ways to score a lot of points, but when all the attention goes to the offense, you forget that their defense is effective, too, and they can get after you,” Sitake said. “I’ve known their coaches for years, and those guys have amazing reputations. There’s a reason why those guys played for a national championship a couple years ago (2022).”
It was certainly a mismatch in 2023, when TCU had a pick-six on then-BYU QB Kedon Slovis the third play of the game, jumped out to a 24-0 lead, and coasted home.
“I haven’t heard anything about (TCU dominating) too far back ago,” said BYU sophomore safety Faletau Satuala. “The only thing I’ve heard a lot about is two years ago. They got (us) pretty good and coach (Jay) Hill said that was probably one of the worst games he’s ever been in here at BYU.
“I think everyone has something to prove, specially the people who were here two years ago playing against them,” Satuala continued. “So I think our defense will have a big game this year.”
TCU leads the all-time series 7-5, but is only 2-3 in Provo. BYU won five of the first seven games, but one of those early TCU breakthroughs came 20 years ago — 2005 — in the most memorable matchup in the rivalry. The Horned Frogs scored 21 fourth-quarter points to force overtime and won 51-50 in OT after the Cougars’ extra point snap was misplayed on their OT touchdown.
BYU fans are still irate that a TCU touchdown was allowed after it appeared via replay that the ball-carrier lost the ball before crossing the goal line.
BYU special teams coordinator Kelly Poppinga was one of the Cougars’ heroes the last time they beat the Frogs in Provo, a 27-22 conquest in 2007. Max Hall outdueled Andy Dalton with 305 passing yards to the future NFL second-round draft pick’s 165 and Austin Collie caught four passes for 109 yards.
TCU crushed undefeated and No. 9-ranked BYU 32-7 in Fort Worth the following year to all but eliminate the Cougars from the BCS race and begin its stranglehold on the series.
BYU defensive line coach Sione Po’uha said coaches have spent the week reminding the Cougars just how good TCU is while also telling them that the history of the series will have no bearing on what happens Saturday night at LES.
“These guys understand the magnitude of the game. They understand the history of the game,” Po’uha said. “But we don’t expect them to take on the history of the game. This is their battle. This is their game to play. But they are not carrying a baton. They are not carrying those burdens, or whatever those grudges from the past are. That’s too much to put on their plate. Our preparation shows that we’re excited to put our best out there.”
Speaking of preparation, Hill said during Tuesday’s practice the Cougars were “still just a little hurt from the (Tech) game.” However, Wednesday’s workout was entirely different.
“Today, I thought they were on fire,” he said. “That was the best Wednesday practice we’ve had, maybe since I have been here. So I think they will respond well.”