Recent News | Popular News | Subscribe

For more on this game, see the Postgame Stats

Before TCU can focus on its much-anticipated contest with the Mountain West's other team with a perfect league record, it has one more hurdle to clear.

The No. 12 Horned Frogs try for a fifth consecutive victory in the first of two conference road games in six days Saturday against UNLV.

Riding the momentum of a 32-7 win over previously undefeated BYU on Oct. 16, TCU (8-1, 5-0) routed Wyoming 54-7 last Saturday to remain on top of the Mountain West while moving closer to a date with unbeaten and 10th-ranked Utah on Nov. 6.

First, though, the Horned Frogs most record a fifth consecutive victory over UNLV (3-5, 0-4) before shifting their attention to the Utes, who are 4-0 in the league. TCU is 13th in the current BCS standings, while Utah is 10th.

"You're always more fired up when you're playing for something," TCU coach Gary Patterson said of his team's stretch run that concludes with a home game versus Air Force on Nov. 22. "It's a lot easier to motivate your kids when they have something to play for."

TCU had little trouble taking care of last-place Wyoming as sophomore Jimmy Young caught five passes for a school-record 226 yards and three touchdowns, while quarterback Andy Dalton was 16-for-22 for 334 yards and four TDs.

Young is the second player in school history to have a 200-yard receiving game.

The Horned Frogs' dominant defense held its fourth consecutive opponent to seven points and has outscored the opposition 140-28 during its current winning streak. TCU leads the nation in run defense (31.2 yards per game) and sacks (35), and is second allowing 10.4 points and 218.9 yards per contest.

"Everybody looks for style points all time," Patterson said. "Maybe its just my defensive nature, but I'm just looking for a win."

Patterson's group looks to hand UNLV its fifth straight loss overall. The Frogs have outscored UNLV 151-41 in their four consecutive wins since losing 21-19 on Oct. 11, 1997 for their only defeat in the series. Dalton rushed for 73 yards and two touchdowns in TCU's 34-10 victory over the Rebels last season.

Though wins have been hard to come by of late, the Rebels have been competitive in their last two contests, losing 29-28 to Air Force on Oct. 18 and 42-35 at BYU last Saturday. UNLV racked up a season-high 463 total yards against the then-No. 18 Cougars.

"We've just got to do a little bit more," UNLV coach Mike Sanford said. "We just didn't make enough plays. Unfortunately, that's been a recurring theme."

Sophomore Omar Clayton was 26-for-40 for 321 yards with a touchdown and an interception, while junior Ryan Wolfe caught 10 passes for 136 yards against the Cougars.

Wolfe's 59 receptions are second in the MWC to BYU's Austin Collie (60). He has eight catches for 127 yards in two games versus TCU.

"Ryan Wolfe is unbelievable," Patterson said. "They get the ball to him in a lot of ways."

While the Rebels' offense has had little trouble scoring, their defense continues to struggle as it ranks near the bottom of the league allowing 33.9 points and 440.6 yards per contest.

UNLV is 1-2 versus ranked opponents this season, losing to Utah and BYU while winning 23-20 over then-No. 15 Arizona State on Sept. 13.