Turns out the marketing ploy couldn't have picked a better color for its theme Thursday, because it will be a night of mourning for the loser.

Thursday's game against the Horned Frogs (9-1, 6-0) is essentially a BCS elimination game, since the loser has little hope of playing in a BCS bowl. The winner keeps those BCS goals alive and has control of the Mountain West Conference race.

Games against BYU may have had more passion, and TCU, ranked No. 11 in the AP poll, may not be the highest-ranked team to visit Rice-Eccles Stadium, but as far as games of importance, Thursday's showdown is arguably the biggest game the 10th-ranked Utes have played at home in many seasons.

"We'll be ready for it," Utah quarterback Brian Johnson said as he walked off New Mexico's field Saturday following the Utes' 13-10 win over the Lobos.

There are plenty of indications that the Horned Frogs will be ready, too.

While the Utes struggled to beat the Lobos on Saturday, TCU dispatched UNLV in a methodical manner.

Quarterback Andy Dalton was 15-for-29 for 151 yards and threw three touchdown passes in the 44-14 win. Dalton, who has thrown nine touchdown passes in the last three games, led an offense that outgained UNLV 410-176 in total yards. The Rebels' total was a season low.

It was a typical game for the Horned Frogs, whose only loss was a 35-10 thumping by Oklahoma. Aside from a 13-7 win at Colorado State, one played in bad weather and without Dalton because of a knee injury, the Horned Frogs have won their games in easy fashion. The Horned Frogs haven't given up more than two touchdowns in their wins, and average 36.6 points a game. They allow 10.8 points a game to give them the third-best scoring defense in the country.

TCU's defense ranks second nationally, giving up 214.5 yards, and has the best run defense, allowing only 38.9 yards.

The Utes, meanwhile, had a hard time with the Lobos, as turnovers and penalties hindered many drives and Johnson had trouble finding his receivers on passing routes of 10 yards or more.

However, the Utes say they'll play better against TCU.

They'd better, or the blackout will become a wipeout.

lwodraska@sltrib.com

TCU game by game

Date Opponent Result

Aug. 30 at New Mexico W, 26-3

Sept. 6 Stephen F. Austin W, 67-7

Sept. 13 Stanford W, 31-14

Sept. 20 at SMU W, 48-7

Sept. 27 at Oklahoma L, 35-10

Oct. 4 San Diego State W, 41-7

Oct. 11 at CSU W, 13-7

Oct. 16 BYU W, 32-7

Oct. 25 Wyoming W, 54-7

Nov. 1 at UNLV W, 44-14

Not giant killers

The Utes welcome No. 11 TCU to Rice-Eccles Stadium. Following are Utah's results against visiting teams ranked No. 15 or higher in the AP poll:

Year Opponent Result

1936 No. 15 Texas A&M L, 20-7

1945 No. 15 Oklahoma A&M L, 46-6

1971 No. 15 Arizona State L, 41-21

1973 No. 8 Arizona State W, 36-31

1974 No. 12 Arizona L, 41-8

1975 No. 10 Arizona State L, 40-14

1980 No. 13 BYU L, 56-6

1984 No. 3 BYU L, 24-14

1990 No. 5 BYU L, 45-22

1996 No. 8 BYU L, 37-17

2007 No. 11 UCLA W, 44-6