If a possible BCS bowl berth and the outside chance of a shot at the “national title” aren’t enough to motivate TCU Saturday evening against Utah, the Horned Frogs need only pop in a DVD of last year’s collapse against the Utes to find sufficient impetus.

Fifteen minutes into the Thursday night special, it appeared as if TCU were on its way to a rout. The Frogs had amassed 202 yards of total offense, taken a 10-3 lead and were in the process of making the mighty Utah attack seem helpless. Until the final three minutes, the Utes had managed a mere 45 yards rushing and hadn’t scored a TD. Then came the magic. Utah scored with 0:48 to play, and everything was possible again for Kyle Willingham’s team.

Now it’s all available to Gary Patterson’s squad. The unbeaten Frogs have been overwhelming of late, not allowing an enemy offense into the red zone since the second quarter of their 38-7 rout of BYU, back on Oct. 24. TCU is third in the nation in total defense and specializes in stifling its enemies. When Texas State scored three TDs back in early September against a relatively disinterested group of Frog defenders happy with a 56-21 rout, the whole program mourned the generosity. In the seven games since, TCU has permitted a total of 66 points, much more like it.

While the Horned Frogs try to avenge last year’s defeat and continue their undefeated ways, they carry the banner of the Mountain West and every other non-BCS conference in the country. From Greenville, N.C., to Moscow, Idaho, so-called mid-major schools will be pulling for TCU, not out of any animosity toward the Utes, rather as a show of solidarity for a team that has an opportunity to do something special.

TCU is already more attractive to the computer set than is Texas, the big-name school that sits ahead of the Frogs in the BCS rankings. If Texas Christian can keep winning, and for some reason the Longhorns slip up (unlikely given the softies remaining on their schedule), we could see the Purple in Pasadena on Jan. 7, and I’m not talking about Northwestern. This game is more than just a revenge scenario. It’s more than just a championship tilt. In the BCS world, which rewards only perfection, especially for those not lucky enough to have a big-money conference address, this is another chance for a mid-major to prove its worth.

Chances are, the Horned Frogs plan on using all 60 minutes to make their arguments.

THIS WEEK’S STORYLINES:

Rose-Colored Glasses: There isn’t quite the same drama in the air as there has been in years past, when Michigan and Ohio State struggled for Big Ten supremacy beneath swollen, gun-metal clouds, but the conference’s Rose Bowl berth will be decided Saturday when Iowa visits Columbus to meet the Buckeyes. Last week this time, the clash was eagerly anticipated and expected to be a referendum on the unbeaten Hawkeyes. Now that Iowa has lost to Northwestern and is without QB Ricky Stanzi, the Bucks are expected to roll back to Pasadena.

End of the Line? Notre Dame’s loss to Navy last week wasn’t a guaranteed death knell for Irish coach Charlie Weis, but the defeat did all but eliminate ND from BCS bowl contention and infuriate the school’s fans and alumni. Weis has been adamant throughout his tenure that he is smarter than the next guy, but his career .593 winning percentage isn’t what’s expected in South Bend. Worse, it’s exactly what Tyrone Willingham posted, and he was axed after three years. The Irish visit 8-1 Pittsburgh Saturday night and still have to play at resurgent Stanford, so the potential for more trouble is high. Is that Brian Kelly Line One?

Heisman Shuffle: By rushing for 140 yards in last week’s win over LSU, Alabama’s Mark Ingram solidified his Heisman front-runner status. But he shouldn’t get too complacent, because a solid attack group is coming on. Texas QB Colt McCoy has been excellent (79.8 percent completion success, 910 yards, 6 TD, 2 int.) the past three weeks. Houston’s Case Keenum has thrown for more than 1,000 yards the past two games, and Stanford’s Toby Gerhart is second nationally in rushing and TDs. Then there’s that Tebow fella, who continues to pilot the undefeated Florida Gators. Ingram is in good shape, but he has to keep producing, or he’ll find plenty of candidates willing to take his spot.

Firing Line: Memphis’ Tommy West and Western Kentucky’s David Elson are the first two casualties in the annual coaching purge, and they won’t be the last. The next couple weeks should bring more names, and the most vulnerable are Virginia’s Al Groh, and Colorado’s Dan Hawkins. Two straight victories may have saved Illinois’ Ron Zook, although a hefty buyout may be more instrumental in his sticking around. One thing you can be sure of is that West and Elson will have company in the next month.

Time Running Out? Two straight wins gave Florida State fans and Bobby Bowden supporters hope that their hero might be able to stave off an early end to his career. But a loss to Clemson and a season-ending injury to QB Christian Ponder could conspire to expedite Bowden’s exit. FSU still has to play Wake Forest, Maryland and Florida and needs two wins to become bowl eligible. With long-time defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews on his way out, and coach-in-waiting Jimbo Fisher ready to go, Bowden may not get a chance at a one-year “victory” tour, and that’s a crime.

UNDER THE RADAR:

The owners of the nation’s two longest streaks of not throwing an interception hook up this Saturday when Arkansas hosts Troy. But the identity of the man with the most consecutive passes without a pick could surprise you. Trojan senior Levi Brown has tossed it 258 times without connecting with the wrong-colored jersey, more than twice as often as Arkansas’ Ryan Mallett (124). Brown has completed 64.6 percent of his passes for Troy, which is riding a seven-game winning streak. He has 15 TD throws against just four picks and has thrown for 400 or more yards twice and 300 or more three other times. Troy may not beat its SEC opposition, but it’s unlikely the main reason will be due to Brown’s sloppy play.

MUST-SEE TV:

Friday

West Virginia at Cincinnati, 8 p.m. (EST) ESPN2. The Bearcats won a wild one last week, thanks to QB Zach Collaros and his run/pass magic. He’s back under center as UC tries to stay perfect against the Mountaineers.

Saturday

Georgia Tech at Duke, Noon, ESPN2. The Yellow Jackets can clinch the ACC Coastal Division title with a win over the surprising Blue Devils, who need two wins to become bowl eligible.

Missouri-Kansas State, 12:30 p.m. Versus. A win over the reeling Tigers can set up a showdown for KSU against Nebraska for the Big 12 North title next week.

Iowa at Ohio State, 3:30 p.m. ABC/ESPN. This one looked a lot bigger last week, and it’s unlikely the Buckeyes will stumble on their way to a Rose Bowl berth.

Idaho at Boise State, 3:30 p.m. ESPNU. Few would have considered this a big test for the Broncos a couple months ago, but the 7-3 Vandals have surprised everybody.

Stanford at USC, 3:30 p.m. FSN. Two years ago, the Cardinal stunned ‘SC at the Coliseum, and though coach Jim Harbaugh’s team is rolling, a repeat will be tough.

Utah at TCU, 7:30 p.m. CBSC. TCU’s last big stumbling block to a possible BCS berth is a formidable foe, but the Horned Frog defense should be up to the challenge.

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