The No. 5 ranked Horned Frogs take on the Wyoming Cowboys at 2:30 p.m. on Saturday at Amon G. Carter Stadium for their second conference game of the season.
Wyoming is coming off blowout losses to then fifth-ranked Texas, third-ranked Boise State and a heartbreaking fourth-quarter defeat against No. 25 Air Force.
The Cowboys are without freshman linebacker Ruben Narcisse, who died in a tragic car accident earlier this season. Wyoming head coach Dave Christensen said the Cowboys are planning to wear a helmet decal with Narcisse’s initials for the remainder of the season.
Coming off a shutout victory at Colorado State, the Horned Frog defense is a strong system coming into the game. Wyoming is second-to-last in the NCAA among Bowl Subdivision teams in total yards this season.
Head coach Gary Patterson said he will still keep his players focused against Wyoming.
“They are led by a quarterback who really causes you problems because he scrambles around and makes plays,” Patterson said. “They’re very diversified in their offense.”
Wyoming sophomore quarterback Austyn Carta-Samuels has been efficient this season, completing 65 percent of his passes. Where he hasn’t been efficient is staying on his feet. The Wyoming offensive line has given up 12 sacks this season through only five games.
Last week against Colorado State, the TCU offense put up the lowest point total of the season . Dalton was held to just 109 passing yards, the lowest since his freshman season, but when he couldn’t get it done in the air, the Frogs went to the ground.
TCU rushed for 346 yards, the highest of the season. The defense held CSU to just 161 yards of total offense.
Despite struggling early, Dalton threw his 50th career touchdown pass, setting the school record, when he connected with senior wide receiver Jimmy Young in the fourth quarter.
TCU defeated Wyoming 45-10 last season. Then-freshman running back Matthew Tucker had a break-out game with 134 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Carta-Samuels was held to just four complete passes as the TCU defense didn’t allow an offensive touchdown.
In 2007, an underdog Cowboys got the best of then-freshman Andy Dalton in a 24-21 win in Laramie, Wyo.
Wyoming’s schedule against ranked opponents doesn’t stop after No. 5 TCU, either. Next week, Wyoming takes on the No. 10 Utah Utes.
No. 5 TCU Horned Frogs vs. Wyoming Cowboys
When: Saturday, Oct. 9
Time: 2:30 p.m.
Where: Amon G. Carter Stadium
Televised: CBS College Sports