The TCU football team travels to Boise Saturday to take on the Broncos in a battle for first place in the Mountain West Conference. It’s been nearly two years since the two schools last played each other, but Boise State head coach Chris Petersen said one thing about playing the Frogs doesn’t change.

“You’re going to have to play your absolute best with these guys,” Petersen said during a teleconference Monday afternoon. “That is very apparent.”

Petersen said despite having different players, TCU’s toughness and athleticism still stands out as it did 18 months ago when the two teams met at the 2010 Fiesta Bowl.

“The first thing is, when you put the tape on is how similar they look to those teams,” Petersen said. “I think that’s what kind of grabs me. Just athletic and fast and tough. That’s what really kind of grabs me.”

And as for the young TCU defense?

Petersen said it is pretty obvious that it has improved since struggling earlier in the season.

“No question,” Petersen said about the Frogs’ defense. “You can totally see it’s getting better. People aren’t getting most plays that they got on them earlier in the year. And that’s always a sign of a really well-coached team that they improve and get better.”

In both of the Frogs’ losses – 50-48 to Baylor and 40-33 to SMU – Petersen said the TCU defense simply fell victim to playmaking, something his team will have to do Saturday if they want to win.

“It’s not like they were giving up things,” Petersen said. “I think there’s a difference when guys are out of position and it’s not close.”

“Plays were made,” Petersen said. “They weren’t just giving away things.”

James takes home weekly award

TCU running back Waymon James was named Mountain West Offensive Player of the Week on Monday.

The sophomore rushed for a career-high 181 yards on 12 carries against Wyoming Saturday, including a career-long 74-yard run in the fourth quarter that set up a TCU touchdown.

James leads the Frogs with 652 rushing yards on the season at a rate of 8.5 yards per carry.