The 10th-ranked Horned Frogs scored the game's first three touchdowns, then stifled every attempt No. 16 BYU made at a comeback in a 38-7 win Saturday night.

"We came out firing tonight. That's what we needed to do," said Andy Dalton, who threw for 241 yards and three touchdowns as TCU remained unbeaten. "I think it shows the capabilities of our team. We still haven't played our best game, but we played really well tonight."

Yes, the Horned Frogs did.

TCU (7-0, 3-0 Mountain West Conference) held the Cougars less than 300 yards of offense and didn't turn the ball over in a blowout that kept the Frogs in the hunt for a possible Bowl Championship Series berth.

The Frogs won their eighth straight and routed the Cougars (6-2, 3-1) for the second year in a row. The Frogs sacked Max Hall five times, including once when he was called for intentional grounding. Hall was sacked again on the next play, causing a fumble early in the fourth quarter that led to a touchdown to finish the blowout with 12 minutes left.

"We've been having fun all year. That wasn't very much fun," Hall said. "That defense is the best defense that I've faced."

The Frogs were credited with a fifth sack on a play when Hall was called for intentional grounding. He finished 18-for-28 for 162 yards with a touchdown. The Cougars did nothing to help by committing nine penalties, including two on third downs that kept scoring drives alive for the Frogs.

TCU finished with five sacks and outgained the Cougars 412-298.

The Horned Frogs and coach Gary Patterson left the field to chants of "Ga-ry! Ga-ry!" after continuing their best start since opening 10-0 in 2003.