What an unbelievable finish. TCU missed field goals from 26 yards and 35 yards in the final 5:49 to give Utah a chance.

And then the Utes, who could not move the ball at all for most of the evening, marched 80 yards in nine plays for the game-winning score on a touchdown pass from Brian Johnson to Freddie Brown.

The crowd mobbed the field when it was over — and Boise State's Bowl Championship Series hopes now rest with San Diego State or BYU pulling an upset.

Fourth quarter

• Folks, thanks for hanging in there with me tonight. It's been an interesting game. Utah just went three-and-out and is punting with 5:33 remaining. I've got to head to the field for interviews, but the final score will be updated on the main page.

TCU has the ball with 5:25 left at the Utah 48.

And I will update the blog as soon as I get back from the field.

Look for my column in Friday's Idaho Statesman.

• Apparently wary of a sack, TCU opted to run the ball on third-and-1 at the Utah 9. The Horned Frogs didn't get it and kicker Ross Evans just banged a 26-yard field goal attempt off the left upright. Oy.

• I know TCU's run defense is No. 1 in the country, but the Horned Frogs' pass defense is very good, too. The secondary has been physical and hasn't given the Utah receivers much room all night.

• A false start and a 6-yard loss on a swing pass cost Utah a shot at a field goal and a chance to get closer. The Utes punted. Utah was at the 25 on the drive — the deepest it has been in TCU territory all night.

I can't help but think this is the best possible result for Boise State and its BCS chances.

Third quarter

• No one scored in the third quarter, though Utah is moving. The Utes have thrown the ball seven times (in eight plays) on the drive. Looks like they decided to let QB Brian Johnson try to win this game.

One of the plays was a pass interference call. It was not called by the official standing four yards (at most) from the action. No, it was called by an official on the sideline who was at least 25 yards away from the play. And you wonder why officials drive coaches and fans crazy.

• It's hard to tell how Boise State's running game would stack up against TCU since Utah is running a spread offense. But every time the Utes run up the middle, they get nothing.

If Utah is going to win this game, QB Brian Johnson is going to have to do it in the air.

• I hate to keep piling on TCU QB Andy Dalton, but he just took an intentional grounding penalty (it was questionable, but he should not have been in that position) It was a 16-yard loss. In his defense, Utah is bringing extra pressure on a lot of plays.

Still I can only imagine how Boise State coach Chris Petersen would be reacting to mistakes like these at the quarterback position.

• Wouldn't it be cool if Boise State could play Utah, TCU and/or BYU this year? Instead of having to debate how the Broncos would do, we'd all get to see it.

• Those of you who can't watch CBS College Sports at home, you are not alone. The televisions at Rice-Eccles Stadium can not get the channel.

The Mountain West's television contract remains the biggest reason for Boise State to stay in the Western Athletic Conference.

• I've been impressed with TCU quarterback Andy Dalton for much of the game. But the sophomore has taken two big sacks that have pushed the Horned Frogs out of field-goal range.

Dalton just took a 12-yard sack on third-and-9 from the Utah 23, and TCU was forced to punt.

On the play before the sack, Dalton could not connect with Walter Bryant, who was wide open on the left sideline. Bryant caught the ball but was ruled out of bounds. If he had hauled it in, TCU would have had first down inside the Utah 5.

Those missed opportunities could come back to haunt TCU.

Halftime

• Got go say if this game ends like this or something like 13-9 TCU, Boise State could be in very good shape.

Boise State is No. 10 in the BCS standings. And TCU is No. 12 in the BCS standings.

But Boise State is getting .6529 points and TCU is getting .5442 points. How big is that gap?

Boise State is closer to No. 7 Southern California than TCU is to Boise State. I don't know exactly what that means — as the computers and human polls will change many times before it is all said and done — but Boise State should feel relatively good if TCU ekes out a win tonight.

• TCU had 208 yards of total offense in the first half. Utah had 119, including 34 rushing yards on 18 carries. It is tough to run on TCU.

After I sung the praises of TCU quarterback Andy Dalton, he finished 6-of-18 for 110 yards in the first half with one important interception and two costly sacks.

• How big of a game is this?

A crowd of 45,666 is here at Rice-Eccles Stadium. It is the second largest crowd in the stadium's history.

Media members from CBSSports.com, ESPN.com and the New York Times are on hand. And, as I wrote before, reps from the Fiesta, Orange and Sugar bowls are here.

• Two quotes from Fiesta Bowl rep Dave Tilson that I wanted to share with you:

On whether it matters having an undefeated team or a one-loss team: "Yeah, it matters. I think it does matter. I’m not going to sit here and say it doesn’t. You always like to have an undefeated team if you can get one. But the rankings are going to be the rankings."

On whether he expects to take a non-BCS team: "We’ve got the first at-large pick. I don’t think I’m going to be dealing with this. Now things can happen, but right now if I get the Big 12 champ — Texas Tech goes to the championship — and I get the second place team, and then I get the next at-large."

Second quarter

TCU 10, Utah 6

UTAH: Louie Sakoda 37 field goal, 0:00
Drive notes: Sean Smith's interception and return to the TCU 43 gave the Utes a chance to score late in the half.

Utah's Stevenson Sylvester (what a name!) and Kepa Gaison sacked TCU QB Andy Dalton for a 13-yard loss on third-and-7 from the Utah 21. The sack knocked TCU out of field goal range. The Utes brought extra pressure on third down.

Boise State thought: One thing freshman QB Kellen Moore has done so well this season is get rid of the ball under pressure. BSU opponents have just nine sacks this season, a credit to the offensive line, running backs and Moore.

Is the noise beginning to become a problem for TCU? The Horned Frogs had three false start penalties on their last possession. TCU also had one on its first drive.

The game has settled into a defensive struggle, which is what I thought it would be before the game.

It has filled in pretty good at Rice-Eccles.

• Who should Boise State fans root for?

I think Boise State fans should root for TCU.

If Utah wins, then the Broncos are putting all of their hopes and dreams on BYU beating the Utes.

If TCU win, then the Broncos have to hope they stay ahead of the one-loss Horned Frogs in the BCS Standings, which I think Boise State has a good chance of doing.

TCU also has to play Air Force, no gimmie. And Oklahoma, which beat TCU 35-10 earlier this season, still has tough games left with Oklahoma State and Texas Tech. An Oklahoma loss (or two) would really hurt TCU's case for jumping Boise State.

First-quarter recap

TCU has had the ball three times and moved it effectively all three, getting a field goal, a touchdown. The Horned Frogs were on the march again when the first quarter ended.

Initial impressions:

TCU's speed on offense and defense is impressive and, right now, a little more than Utah can handle.

Utah kicker Louie Sadoka — "King Louie" around here – made a very big kick, nailing a 49-yard field goal in the first quarter to get Utah on the board.

Andy Dalton, TCU's sophomore quarterback, looks good running and throwing the ball. He has found his second and third reads in this game and run the ball very effectively. He has 23 yards on two carries.

First quarter

TCU 10, Utah 3

TCU: Ross Evans 37 field goal, 9:45
Drive notes: Receiver Bart Johnson took a short pass from quarterback Andy Dalton 52 yards for the biggest play.

It was a complete matchup play, with Johnson coming out of the backfield and getting matched up on the outside. Boise State runs similar plays with wide receiver Vinny Perretta. In fact, the Broncos used the play against Oregon and it resulted in a touchdown.

TCU: Ryan Christian 3 run (Ross Evans kick), 6:16
Drive notes: Running back Aaron Brown took a broken play 41 yards to the Utah 20 to set up the touchdown.

Right now, this looks like a mismatch. TCU's speed is overwhelming the Utes. The Horned Frogs already have plays of 52 and 41 yards. A TCU blowout is one of the worst outcomes for Boise State fans.

UTAH: Louie Sakoda 49 field goal, 2:37
Drive notes: QB Brian Johnson's 12-yard pass to Freddie Brown on third-and-6 from the Utah 33 was a pivotal play. Utah was looking at a potential punt, but instead got a field goal on the drive. Now, it feels like a bit of a game.

6:10 p.m. -- Late arriving crowd in Salt Lake City. The student sections are rocking, but there are plenty of empty seats around the stadium.

Everyone seems to have gotten the memo about black. It actually looks really cool with all the fans decked out in black.

TCU held Utah on the game's first possession.

It snowed in Salt Lake City earlier today/yesterday. There is still snow on the ground. But it is not snowing right now nor has it been since I arrived in town at about 3 p.m.

• I just talked with reps from the Fiesta Bowl and the Orange Bowl. Both had very complimentary things to say about Boise State.

The Fiesta Bowl official said he would rather have an undefeated team than a one-loss team, though he made it clear that the bowl game (which has the first at-large selection) is probably not going to be taking a non-BCS team.

Can't blame them. The Fiesta Bowl could realistically end up with Texas vs. Florida or Texas vs. Alabama. Tell me you wouldn't watch those games.

5:31 p.m. -- Utah is expecting one of the biggest crowds in school history. The Utes are having a "blackout," encouraging all their fans to wear black and wearing black jerseys and black pants with red helmets and red numbers.

• Hard for me to get a real sense of the pre-game festivities from the press box (where the wireless is), but there are tailgate lots and people were arriving very early despite cold temperatures. It could be in the high 20s at kickoff.

• Aiona Key — yes, the former Boise State wide receiver — has blocked a kick in three straight games for Utah. Key is listed as a backup wide receiver. He has played in the last five games and has one catch for 19 yards.

• Bowl officials from the Sugar, Orange and Fiesta bowls are here, as well as the Insight, Poinsettia and New Mexico. The Rose Bowl is not here, for what that's worth.

4:45 p.m. -- How crazy is it that the most important game remaining for Boise State's BCS chances might have nothing to do with the Broncos?

No. 11 TCU (9-1) and No. 10 Utah (9-0) square off tonight in Salt Lake City — and Bronco Nation in watching.

If the Utes, who are No. 8 in the BCS standings, win out, there is almost no way for the Broncos (ranked No. 10 in the BCS) to catch them and thus earn an automatic bid to the BCS.

If TCU wins, then the difference in the polls between the Broncos and TCU (ranked No. 12 in the BCS) will shrink. Perhaps, the Horned Frogs will jump the Broncos. TCU has just two games remaining — at Utah and vs. Air Force (Sept. 22).

• Here is what I am watching for in tonight's Mountain West showdown:

How good is TCU's defense?

The Horned Frogs rank second in the nation in total defense, allowing just 214.5 yards per game. They rank third in the country in scoring defense, allowing 10.8 points per game. (Boise State, for the record, is second in scoring defense at 9.9 points per game.)

Perhaps most impressively, the Horned Frogs have the best rushing defense in the country, allowing 38.9 yards per game on the ground. TCU is allowing 1.42 yards per carry.

TCU gets after opposing quarterbacks, ranking first in the country with 3.8 sacks per game. Defensive end Jerry Hughes leads the nation in sacks with 1.4 per game. Utah is allowing 2.2 sacks per game.

Can Utah put together a complete effort?

Utah is no defensive slouch. The Utes rank eighth in the nation in total defense. So expect a low-scoring affair tonight. But the Utes struggled to put away New Mexico last week, defeating the Lobos 13-10.

Utah is averaging 36.11 points per game and has scored at least 30 points in seven of its nine games this year.