No. 3 TCU gets scare from Aztecs

FORT WORTH, Texas -- Coach Gary Patterson and third-ranked Texas Christian find themselves in an uneasy situation now, even after one final victory at home to remain undefeated.

After rallying from an unusual two-touchdown deficit early, then holding off a late comeback attempt by San Diego State for a 40-35 victory, the Horned Frogs have to wonder how an odd Saturday will affect their national title hopes.

Or at least being able to stay ahead of Boise State in the BCS standings for a shot at going to the Rose Bowl.

TCU (11-0, 7-0 Mountain West) had its closest game of the season a week after a 40-point win at then-undefeated Utah, a victory that strengthened the Frogs' hold on third place in the BCS standings.

"I can't do anything about the polls," Patterson said. "I would say we found a way to win in a conference game. We played a big game, and we didn't play as well as we needed to the next week. It's not the final score we would have liked to have had, but the bottom line, it falls under my category of (win) by one point."

Andy Dalton threw for 240 yards and four touchdowns, three to fellow senior Jeremy Kerley in their final home game, as the Frogs rallied for their 20th consecutive home win to clinch at least a share of the Mountain West title. The Frogs, behind Oregon and Auburn in the BCS standings but ahead of Boise State, won their 24th consecutive regular-season game.

San Diego State (7-3, 4-2), riding its first four-game winning streak in 12 years, led 14-0 less than six minutes into the game.

It was the Frogs' first two-touchdown deficit in more than two years. They had trailed for only nine minutes, 19 seconds combined in their first 10 games.

■ Notre Dame 28, No. 15 Utah 3 -- At South Bend, Ind., freshman Tommy Rees threw three touchdown passes in his first college start, and the Fighting Irish used two Utah special teams mistakes to rout the slumping Utes.

Notre Dame (5-5) moved within one win of becoming eligible for a bowl. And Utah (8-2) looked like a team still reeling from its 47-7 loss to TCU a week earlier.

The victory was Notre Dame's first over a team ranked in the AP Top 25 since 2006, when the Irish defeated Penn State.

■ Brigham Young 49, Colorado State 10 -- At Fort Collins, Colo., Jake Heaps and Luke Ashworth connected for four touchdowns, and the defense forced four turnovers as the Cougars (5-5, 4-2) routed the Rams (3-8, 2-5).

Ashworth hauled in TD passes of 62, 7, 36 and 8 yards.

■ Air Force 48, New Mexico 23 -- At Air Force Academy, Colo., Asher Clark rushed for 95 yards and two touchdowns as the Falcons (7-4, 4-3) overcame the loss of quarterback Tim Jefferson to beat the Lobos (1-9, 1-5).

Jefferson was injured on a 12-yard run late in the second quarter. He was tackled by two Lobos defenders and stayed on the ground, finally getting helped off the field with a towel on his bloody nose.