Quarterbacks
TCU: Sophomore Andy Dalton has missed that last two games due to an injury he suffered in the loss to Oklahoma. The two week layoff could be detrimental to the young quarterback, seeing as he was starting to get a grasp on the TCU offense that does a great job controlling the game clock.
BYU: Junior Max Hall is very similar to Oklahoma’s sophomore Sam Bradford in the respect that they are both on the Heisman Trophy short list. Hall is averaging 307.5 passing yards per game and has thrown 20 touchdowns compared to just four interceptions.
Advantage: BYU
Running backs
TCU: The Frogs come into this week’s game as the No. 13 ranked rushing offense in the nation, averaging 233 yards on the ground per game. Senior Aaron Brown appears to be back to his old explosive self and should lead the Frogs’ dominant rushing attack.
BYU: The Cougars are a prime example of a team that thinks pass first, run second, and that shows in their No. 72 rushing offense ranking, averaging 132.17 yards per game on the ground. Sophomore Harvey Unga has 556 yards and four touchdowns on the season.
Advantage: TCU
Wide Receivers
TCU: The Horned Frogs use their passing game the way the Cougars use their running game. TCU is ranked No. 97 in the nation in passing offense and throws for an average of 170 yards per game. Sophomore Jimmy Young leads the team with 31 grabs and 383 yards.
BYU: The Cougars’ receiving corps. is one of the best in the country and the reason they have the No. 8 passing offense in the nation, averaging 320.5 yards through the air. Junior wide receiver Austin Collie is an All-American candidate and already has 673 yards receiving and eight touchdowns.
Advantage: BYU
Offensive Line
TCU: The “Hogmollies,” as offensive linemen are referred to, have been dominating for TCU so far. They have only allowed eight sacks through seven games and pave the way for the No. 13 rushing game in the nation. Senior center Blake Schlueter is on the watchlist for the Rimington Trophy, which goes to the nation’s top center.
BYU: The front five for the Cougars has been even more impressive than the Frogs’, allowing just two sacks through six games and gives Hall plenty of time in the pocket. Senior guard Travis Bright owns the BYU weight room record with a bench of 540 pounds.
Advantage: BYU
Defensive Line
TCU: The defensive line for the Horned Frogs has been one of the best in the country and is part of the reason the team boasts the nation’s top defense. Junior defensive end Jerry Hughes is playing a mammoth role on the defensive front with 10 tackles for a loss, seven sacks and two interceptions.
BYU: While the defensive line for TCU is better, the Cougars have still been solid, boasting the nation’s No. 38 rush defense, allowing 115 yards per game. Junior Jan Jorgensen is leading the front line of defense with 28 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
Advantage: TCU
Linebackers
TCU: The group of Robert Henson, Jason Phillips and Daryl Washington has been the heart and soul of the nation’s top defense. Henson leads the team with 36 total tackles and 18 assists. He also has an interception and 4.5 tackles for loss.
BYU: The Cougars have the nation’s No. 31 total defense and is allowing 303.5 yards of total offense per game through six contests. Junior Matt Bauman has been anchoring the linebacker group for BYU. He has 45 total tackles and seven sacks.
Advantage: TCU
Defensive Backs
TCU: The pass defense for the Frogs is ranked No. 41 and is averaging 186.71 yards per game, and that includes the debacle against Oklahoma. Expect the secondary to come out with extra motivation and shine in this one. Senior safety Stephen Hodge leads the secondary with 33 total tackles.
BYU: These two secondaries are very evenly matched, as the Cougars come into the game with the No. 43 ranked pass defense, but they are yet to play any team with the fire power of Oklahoma. Junior Scott Johnson leads the Cougar secondary with 40 total tackles and has two sacks to his name.
Advantage: TCU
Special Teams
TCU: Redshirt freshman Anson Kelton is averaging 42.8 yards per punt on 32 attempts through seven games. Kelton was named the Mountain West Conference’s Special Teams player of the week last week.
BYU: The Cougars come into this game as No. 98 in punt return yards, averaging 5.73 yards per return. But punting CJ Santiago has punted 21 times this season and is averaging 43.4 yards per kick.
Advantage: TCU
Coaching
TCU: Gary Patterson has lost his last two games against BYU, but brings into this year’s game with the nation’s top defense and the team that averages the highest time of possession. On the down side, the Frogs have committed the most penalties in the nation with 67.
BYU: On the other sideline, Bronco Mendenhall has won the last two games against the Frogs, including the last meeting in Fort Worth two years ago. Penalties have also been a problem for BYU; the team has committed 48 penalties so far this season, averaging eight per game.
Advantage: BYU