72. 9/28/06 – First win over nationally ranked team in 7 years: BYU – 31, #17 TCU – 17

The BYU Cougars (2-2) began conference play against the #17 TCU Horned Frogs (3-0). The Horned Frogs were riding a 13-game winning streak and were heavily favored to repeat as Mountain West Conference champions. The Cougars, meanwhile, hadn’t won the conference championship since 2001. Furthermore, they hadn’t beaten a nationally ranked team since 1999. Although the Cougars held a 3-2 advantage all-time against TCU, the Horned Frogs had hopped out of Provo with a 51-50 OT win the previous year and the Cougars were out for revenge.

After going 3-and-out on their first drive, BYU QB John Beck directed a 15-play, 76-yard drive to the TCU 4, where Jared McLaughlin booted a 21-yard FG to give BYU the early 3-0 lead. As the first quarter drew to a close, the Frogs leaped into Cougar territory, reaching the Cougar 10 when the clock signaled the end of the first.

As the second quarter started, an incomplete pass set up a third-and-seven. *With the Frogs looking to score, BYU LB David Nixon sailed in from the left side and smashed into TCU QB Jeff Ballard for a 6-yard sack, forcing a fumble which the Cougars recovered at the BYU 18. The turnover was so crucial that many Cougar fans labeled it as the turning point in BYU’s season (#56). Beck and company went back to work, driving to the TCU 8, including a 25-yard completion to Zac Collie. From the 8, Manase Tonga swept right, around the TCU defense, breaking a tackle to stumble into the end zone for a 10-0 lead. TCU responded by driving to the Cougar 22, but their 39-yard FGA failed. The Horned Frog Defense stiffened, forcing a couple of Cougar punts. With 4 seconds left in the half, TCU booted a 36-yard FG to put some points on the board before the teams retired to their respective locker rooms, with BYU leading 10-3.

David Nixon
Courtesy of BYU Photo

On BYU’s first possession of the third quarter, the Cougars completed two crucial third-and-longs to advance to the TCU 40. The first was a 16-yard completion to Michael Reed, the second a 10-yard completion to Curtis Brown. From there, Beck threw a missile to Michael Reed, who caught it sprinting up the left sideline, and holding off the defender, for a 40-yard TD reception. However, the Frogs weren’t ready to concede. Their ensuing 80-yard drive was capped by a short 2-yard TD pass from Ballard to Brent Hecht, keeping TCU within striking distance through three quarters - 17-10.

As the fourth quarter began, the Cougar Offense took the field at their own 32. Beck led them to the TCU 26 courtesy of a 21-yard catch by TE Johnny Harline, and a couple of long rushes by RB Curtis Brown. From there, he targeted Matt Allen, who caught Beck’s pass on an out-pass inside the 10, then forked toward the end zone for a 26-yard TD catch. After a quick 3-and-out by TCU, BYU got the ball back at their 41. This time they drove all the way to the 4 before pouncing. Beck lobbed the ball to Harline, who made an over-the-shoulder catch to take a 3 TD lead with 7:27 remaining. The Horned Frogs jumped into Cougar territory before falling victim to a Cameron Jensen interception. Unfortunately, the Cougars couldn’t run much time off the clock before punting the ball back to the Frogs. TCU mounted one last scoring drive, going 83 yards to score with a 7-yard TD rush by Aaron Brown with less than 2 minutes remaining. But it was too little, too late. When the clock hit triple zero, BYU had their first win over a ranked team in the 21st century.

John Beck finished with 321 yards and 3 TD passes. This game was huge for three reasons: First, it avenged the previous year’s controversial 51-50 double-overtime loss at the hands of the Horned Frogs. Second, it was Bronco Mendenhall’s first win over a ranked opponent. Third, it launched BYU’s MWC Championship run - the first of the Mendenhall era.

Game highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yUEU9l1KJI

*BYU Tv's Top 100 plays in BYU Football TV history (updated 12/12/20 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xYzgPw-bQ_c)