SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – TCU hits the road to face a tough Big 12 opponent, the Utah Utes. The Horned Frogs are coming off a bye week following a tough upset loss to Houston, while Utah is coming off an upset loss to Arizona State.
The Horned Frogs and Utes are now conference rivals for the third time as members of the Big 12. Saturday’s game marks their first meeting since both teams were in the Mountain West from 2005 to 2010. The two schools also competed together in the WAC from 1996 to 1998. The last time these two teams met was in 2010, when the No. 3 Horned Frogs defeated the No. 5 Utes 47-7 in Salt Lake City.
TCU is led by quarterback Josh Hoover and wide receiver Jack Bech. Hoover ranks third in the FBS with 2,077 passing yards and is tied for third in touchdown passes with 16. He is on pace to break TCU single-season records for completion percentage, passing yards, and touchdown passes.
Bech is one of just two players to rank in the top three nationally in receiving yards (third, 702) and touchdown catches (tied for third, 7). Bech has also topped 100 receiving yards in four of six games this season, including a 200-yard effort against UCF, which ranks third among Power Four Conference players this season.
Utah has been led by star quarterback Cam Rising, but his season has been plagued by injury. After missing three games due to a throwing-hand injury, Rising has now been officially ruled out for the rest of the season with a lower leg injury sustained in the loss to Arizona State.
Isaac Wilson, the younger brother of Denver Broncos quarterback Zach Wilson, has filled in for Rising during his absence. Wilson has passed for 830 yards this season with six touchdowns but has also thrown seven interceptions, highlighting the need for better decision-making.
On defense, Utah poses a significant challenge for TCU. The Utes allow just 13.0 first downs per game, ranking first in the Big 12 and second in the FBS. Opponents are averaging only 17.0 points per game, which ranks third in the Big 12 and 18th in the FBS. Hoover, who has thrown six interceptions in the last three games, will need to take better care of the ball against a Utah defense known for bringing the pressure.
Kickoff is set for 9:30 p.m. CT (8:30 p.m. local MDT), making TCU and Utah the final game on the Week 8 college football schedule.
