The Frogs will take the field Saturday against the Colorado State Rams in Fort Collins, Colo, where they will attempt to extend their current winning streak to six games.The Frogs (8-2 overall and 4-2 in conference) are currently on a five-game winning streak, which ties them for 10th in the nation. On the other side of the ball, the Rams (4-6, 1-5) are currently in the midst of a five-game losing streak.

The last meeting between the two teams was last year and resulted in a 33-6 win for the Frogs at home. That win clinched the Frogs’ first Mountain West Conference title in their first year in the conference.

It was the Frogs’ first outright conference title since 1958 when they were a part of the Southwest Conference.

The defense played a major role in last year’s victory, holding the Rams to just two field goals and 87 yards of total offense in the first half.

Strong safety Brian Bonner intercepted two passes and earned half of a sack that resulted in a safety. That safety was the first for the Frogs in three years.

The Horned Frogs and the Rams have met three times, but all three meetings have taken place at different sites.

The first time was a 42-21 victory for the Rams in Fort Collins, Colo. when both teams were members of the Western Athletic Conference in 1998.

The second meeting was in the 2002 Liberty Bowl when the Frogs beat the nationally ranked No. 23 Mountain West Conference champion Rams 17-3. The Frogs were still members of Conference USA at the time.

The Frogs took a jump in the rankings with last week’s 52-0 victory of the San Diego State Aztecs (2-8, 2-4).

The Frogs also jumped two places in the USA Today Poll and are now ranked No. 28. TCU is now ranked just behind the Texas A&M Aggies (8-3, 4-3) and ahead of the Houston Cougars (9-3, 7-1). The AP Poll has TCU up to No. 27 and ahead of the Aggies.

Senior quarterback Jeff Ballard was awarded Mountain West Conference Offensive Co-Player of the Week honors for his six-touchdown performance in last week’s victory over the Aztecs.

Ballard completed 20 of his 23 passes and threw for 288 yards and five touchdowns in the game. He also had a four-yard rushing touchdown.

Ballard also set a new TCU record with his 87 completion percentage that broke the old record of 86.7 percent, set by Max Knake in a 1994 game against Rice. Ballard also set a TCU record for consecutive completions with 14. The previous record was also held by Knake who had 13 in a row against two games against the Oklahoma State Cowboys and the SMU Mustangs in 1993.

Ballard has also thrown 74 straight passes since his last interception, which is good for the fifth-longest streak in the nation.