The Horned Frogs will look to redeem themselves after the disappointing loss last week to BYU when they go on the road to face the Utah Utes.”BYU played with more purpose than we did,” said head football coach Gary Patterson. “We got banged around because I didn’t think we played with a lot of passion.”

The Frogs and the Utes have met three times before, including the 23-20 overtime win for the Frogs last season at Amon Carter Stadium.

That was TCU’s first win against Utah, who had lost to the Utes twice while members of the Western Athletic Conference.

“You have to be very physical, and you gotta decide to get after people if you want to beat Utah, because they are a very physical team up front,” Patterson said.

The Frogs and the Utes have put up similar statistics this season.

TCU has rushed for 172.5 yards a game and Utah is averaging 161 yards a game on the ground.

Expect TCU’s rushing game to receive a boost with senior tailback Lonta Hobbs back in the game after an injury sustained during practice.

“It was great,” Hobbs said after coming back in the BYU game, his first action of the season. “It was relief most of all.”

The two passing offenses have put up similar numbers on the season as well.

TCU is averaging 205 yards passing a game, while Utah puts up 186.4 yards a game.

Although the offenses are similar, the two defenses have different strengths statistically.

The Frogs are ranked third in the nation in rushing defense, allowing just 45.8 yards per game on the ground, but passing defense has not been nearly as strong.

TCU’s defense is allowing 259 yards passing a game, which puts it No. 110 in the nation out of 119 schools.

Utah has only allowed 161.2 yards through the air, but it has allowed 121.4 yards on the ground.

Although the defenses differ, the two team’s scoring defenses are very similar.

The Frogs are allowing just 13.5 points a game, and scoring 23 points a game, while the Utes are allowing 16.2 points a game, and averaging 28.8 points.

Thursday’s game will be TCU’s first out-of-state game of the season.

“It’s our first real road test,” said Eric Buchanan, senior safety.

Another factor that could affect the team will be the lack of purple in the stands, but Hobbs said that won’t hurt it much.

“We don’t ever look into the stands,” Hobbs said.

The players are expecting a very good game that shouldn’t give them a chance to look into the stands.

“They are a very good football team,” Buchanan said. “It will be a very intense football game.