Iowa State @ Texas Christian preview

Texas Christian will be without star quarterback Casey Pachall when it hosts Iowa State on Saturday. Pachall was arrested for suspicion of drunken driving early Thursday morning, and was suspended indefinitely by coach Gary Patterson. Pachall admitted to using drugs to police in February following a drug raid in which roommate and linebacker Tanner Brock was arrested, but Pachall was not arrested - or suspended by Patterson. In a Big 12 Conference making headlines for its high-scoring offenses lately, the No. 15 Horned Frogs and Cyclones have done it the old-fashioned way with strong defenses. TCU has allowed only three touchdowns and 29 points in their first four games while Iowa State had a streak of 157 minutes, 40 seconds without allowing a touchdown come to an end late in the first half of last week's 24-13 loss to Texas Tech.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, FSN. LINE: TCU -7

ABOUT IOWA STATE (3-1, 0-1 Big 12): The turnover-prone Cyclones (12 turnovers) have managed only 15 points and 425 yards in total offense in its last two games against FBS teams. That prompted coach Paul Rhoads to re-open competition for the starting quarterback job in practice this week between senior Steele Jantz, who won the job in the preseason, sophomore Jared Barnett, who started six games last season, and redshirt freshman Sam Richardson. Rhoads also needs to patch things up on an offensive line that yielded four sacks against Texas Tech and has failed to open many holes in the run game.

ABOUT TCU (4-0, 1-0): The Horned Frogs own the nation's longest winning streak at 12, but are coming off a sloppy 24-16 rain-soaked victory at Southern Methodist during which they managed only 156 yards of total offense. TCU's defense is once again one of the best in the nation, allowing 78.8 yards per game rushing and 2.8 yards per attempt, tops in the Big 12. The Frogs also lead the conference with nine interceptions. Redshirt freshman Trevone Boykin will likely get the start at quarterback. Pachall ranks fifth nationally in pass efficiency (180.0), completing 64 of 97 passes (66.0 percent) for 948 yards, 10 touchdowns and only one interception.

EXTRA POINTS

1. TCU freshman defensive end Devonte Fields leads the Big 12 in sacks (5.0) and tackles for loss (8.5).

2. Iowa State linebacker A.J. Klein was the 2011 Big 12 co-Defensive Player of the Year and has 274 career tackles. He tied the NCAA record for career interception returns for a touchdown by a linebacker (four) last week with a 87-yarder off Texas Tech quarterback Seth Doege.

3. TCU has won 28 of its last 29 home games and is 58-7 under coach Gary Patterson at Amon G. Carter Stadium.

PREDICTION: TCU 34, Iowa State 3