TCU coach Gary Patterson could see it coming. The emotional high his players experienced with a win at conference rival Boise State left them running on fumes against Colorado State at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
The Horned Frogs came alive in the second half behind touchdowns by Antoine Hicks, Ed Wesley, and Matthew Tucker and Tank Carder returned an interception 69 yards for a touchdown as TCU beat Colorado State 34-10, helping the Horned Frogs keep their hopes of going to a second-straight BCS bowl game alive.
"We just went through the motions in that ballgame, the whole game," Patterson said. "If you want to be champions and a top 15 program, you've got to do things the same every week. Not once in a while. Every week."
TCU was outgained in the first half, but still led 13-3 at the break. The Horned Frogs got rolling in the third quarter and were never really threatened while handing the Rams a sixth straight loss.
The Horned Frogs extended their Mountain West conference record by winning a 23rd straight league game and 16th straight league game at home. The game marked the second-to-last game in the conference for TCU, as they are headed to the Big 12 next season.
TCU quarterback Casey Pachall completed 13 of 20 passes for just 117 yards, but Waymon James had 108 yards rushing to lead a balanced rushing attack as Tucker ran for 94 yards and Wesley for 63. Hicks' two-yard TD came on his only carry of the game.
Colorado State's Chris Nwoke followed up a 232-yard rushing performance last week by rushing for 60 yards on 21 carries.
"That was a win, but it's not a win I'm real excited about. Except for the seniors who have 45 wins." said Patterson. He was referring to the victory being win number 45 for TCU's senior class, setting a school record.
The seniors will go for one more win in the regular season finale December 3 against UNLV. A victory against the Runnin Rebels will give TCU the outright Mountain West Conference title.
