Switch of venue irksome, but TCU turns focus to Broncos

BOISE, Idaho -- Texas Christian hasn't forgotten that this is a game that should be played in Texas.

A year ago, shortly after the Mountain West Conference welcomed Boise State, schedule-makers agreed to make the conference showdown between these perennial BCS busters a home game for the Horned Frogs.

But when TCU moved to change conferences next season, reprisal followed. Irked at losing one of its marquee teams, Mountain West officials punished TCU by moving today's game to Boise.

"Obviously it's still about what have you done for me lately," TCU coach Gary Patterson said about the venue change.

Come game time, Patterson insists he and his players will be focused more on football and less on location. There is too much at stake for both teams in their first-ever meeting outside the postseason.

For fifth-ranked Boise State (8-0, 3-0), it's another year of being a BCS outsider, and a convincing win against a surging team such as the Horned Frogs could help end weeks of holding ground in the national rankings.

Both teams have winning streaks on the line. TCU (7-2, 4-0) has won 21 straight conference games and has matched the MWC record with 11 straight road wins during that stretch. Boise State has won 35 straight games on its blue turf, but TCU poses the biggest home test since then-No. 24 Oregon State rolled into town in September 2010.

The teams have split their last two meetings; TCU beat Boise State 17-16 in the 2008 Poinsettia Bowl, while the Broncos scored late with the help of a fake punt to win the 2010 Fiesta Bowl, 17-10.

To top it off, coaches, players and fans recognize the conference title is on the line today.

"This is truly for the Mountain West title," Broncos defensive tackle Chase Baker said. "I don't think (the venue change) will bother them. They're going to bring that extra edge. They're going to want to leave this conference with that title."

The Horned Frogs are playing with a little extra edge lately, thanks in part to a resurgent running game and a defense that has toughened with each game.

During TCU's current four-game winning streak, the defense has allowed an average of 15 points and 99 yards rushing per game.