In their first season in the Mountain West Conference, the Frogs accomplished something no TCU team has done since 1958: They won a conference championship outright.

The team completed a perfect 8-0 run through conference play with a 51-3 rout of UNLV on Nov. 12 at Amon Carter Stadium. After the victory, seniors Ben Angeley (from left) and Stephen Culp and junior Jared Retkofsky reveled in the moment while fireworks blazed high above the John Justin Athletic Center.

Ten days later, the Frogs were invited to the EV1.net Houston Bowl Dec. 31. This is the third time that coach Gary Patterson has led the Frogs to at least 10 wins in a season — but it could be more since he signed an extension in November to stay with the Frogs through 2012. With Patterson at the helm in 2002, the Frogs earned a share of the Conference USA crown. Since 1994, the football team has also captured shared titles in the Southwest Conference and Western Athletic Conference.