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ARLINGTON, Texas -- TCU pushed Oregon State around inside palatial Cowboys Stadium. No getting around that. The sixth-ranked Horned Frogs rushed for 278 yards, which is more than the Beavers 255 total yards. Oregon State ran just 51 plays; TCU 81.

"Still," the glum head shakes from the Beavers said afterwards. They had the ball and a chance with plenty of time left in the fourth quarter, but they made their biggest error of the evening. A miscommunication on a shotgun snap from senior center Alex Linnenkohl to sophomore quarterback Ryan Katz, who was making his first career start, sailed over a surprised Katz's shoulder, which forced Katz to kick the ball through the end zone for a safety.

Those would be the final points -- and the last time the Beavers touched the ball -- in a 30-21 defeat.

"I'm disappointed that we didn't give ourselves a chance on the drive at the end," Beavers coach Mike Riley said.

What happened was this: Oregon State, down seven, had a first down on its 18-yard line. A draw play was called. Katz saw something he didn't like. He tried to change the play. Linnenkohl didn't get the message and snapped the ball.

The Horned Frogs got two points and the ball and they didn't give it back.

"The safety was a big deal," TCU coach Gary Patterson said. "You go up by nine and you play the game a lot different."

The biggest deal was TCU's running game and the Beavers lack of one. While Jacquizz Rodgers gained a tough 75 yards on 18 carries, the Beavers finished with just 73 yards on the ground. Three TCU runners gained at least 64 yards, topped by Ed Wesley with 134 on just 17 carries, which works out to a crisp 7.9 per rush.

Suffice it to say, the Horned Frogs option worked even though the Beavers knew it was coming.

"We just couldn't get off a block to make a play," Riley said.

Oregon State was still in the game in the fourth because of two interceptions of TCU quarterback Andy Dalton -- one by Lance Mitchell and the other by Dwight Roberson -- and a well-executed fake punt that netted 23 yards on a fourth-and-1. The fake punt set up the second of Katz's two touchdown passes, which gave the Beavers a 14-7 lead in the second quarter.

Katz made some nice throws -- his TDs covered 30 and 34 yards -- but he only completed 9 of 25 passes for 159 yards. Nonetheless, it was a solid first start on the road. He didn't throw an interception and was mistake-free until the muddled shotgun snap.

The only plus coming from that play was Katz taking responsibility for the miscue, just like a veteran quarterback would.

"We should have just stayed with the [called] play," he said. "That's on me."

Riley agreed, by the way: "He didn't have to get out of it."

As for TCU, it got another win over a BCS conference foe. In the constant fight for respect, this was another notch on the musket. Seeing that the Horned Frogs are 14-3 in their past 17 games against teams from BCS automatic-qualifying conferences, they might need another musket.

"The national spotlight and national attention I think will pick up," Dalton said. "I think a lot of people will watch the game tonight and see how we play football."

One thing is for sure: TCU still enjoys seeing itself as an underdog. It didn't escape detection that ESPN GameDay analyst Lee Corso picked the Frogs to go down by "three touchdowns."

"I did text [Corso]," Patterson said. "You guys thought that was a bogus text. That was me. I asked Chris Fowler, 'Lee: Three touchdowns?'"

Big week for the Mountain West Conference, too. Utah beat Pittsburgh, the Big East favorite, on Thursday, and BYU's win over Washington -- along with Oregon's 72-0 win over New Mexico -- gave the conference a 2-1 Saturday vs. the Pac-10. Why is the conference in turmoil when it's so darn good?

Perhaps the most disappointed Beavers were the Rodgers brothers, who were playing their first -- and likely only -- game together in the state of Texas. Both turned in solid performances -- James Rodgers caught four passes for 75 yards and a TD -- but both only saw what they didn't do.

"We left a lot of plays out there," James Rodgers said.

For both programs, this big stage was an opportunity. Both are nationally respected -- see national rankings -- but both want to take the next step. TCU knows only perfection will get it into the national championship conversation -- or even BCS bowl contention -- while the Beavers want to climb toward the top-10 while they make a run at their first Rose Bowl since 1965.

For TCU, mission accomplished. For Oregon State, it's another nonconference loss to start the season, which fits into a pattern: The Beavers started 2-3 in 2006, 2007 and 2008 and 2-2 in 2009.

Of course, if any team knows that an early loss doesn't end the season, it's the Beavers.

"It's very frustrating, but we can't let that get to us," James Rodgers said. "We've got 11 more games."

That's 11 more games, including a date with Boise State on Sept. 25, in which to make a statement.

But on this night, TCU made the statement: Count us in the mix in the national championship chase.

Ted Miller talks with Oregon State coach Mike Riley following Oregon State’s loss to TCU.

Ted Miller talks with Oregon State’s Jacquizz Rodgers following Saturday's 30-21 loss to TCU.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- TCU was able to run the ball. Oregon State couldn't. That was the difference.

TCU rushed for 280 yards. Oregon State, 71.

That margin was enough to overcome a pair of interceptions from Horned Frogs quarterback Andy Dalton.

Ryan Katz had his moments in his first start, throwing a pair of pretty touchdown passes. But he only completed 9 of 25 for 159 yards.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- TCU leads 28-21 heading into the fourth quarter.

This one feels like it might be simple.

Oregon State can't stop the Horned Frogs ground game, which has piled up 214 yards.

The Beavers are in the game because of two interceptions from TCU quarterback Andy Dalton. So much for having a veteran quarterback: Ryan Katz hasn't thrown any.

The Beavers have to figure out how to stop the option. Their linebackers have to get off blocks. If they don't, TCU will run the option until the clock strikes zero.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- TCU leads Oregon State 21-14 at the half.

A well-played first half. This one feels like it might be in question until the fourth quarter.

Turning point: Oregon State went three-and-out and punted from its 22 late in the second quarter. A short punt from Johnny Hekker and a 35-yard return from Jeremy Kerley gave the Horned Frogs the ball on the Beavers 23. Four plays later, TCU took its first lead.

Stat of the half: Oregon State has just 33 yards rushing. TCU has 125.

Best call: On a fourth and 1 from its 43, Oregon State ran a fake punt, and Hekker threw for 23 yards to Jordan Poyer. The next play, Ryan Katz connected with Jordan Bishop for a 34-yard TD and a 14-7 lead.

What Oregon State needs to do: It's all about the running game. Oregon State needs one, and it needs to stop the Horned Frogs on the ground. It particularly needs to spy on Dalton, whose scrambles for much of the half were the Horned Frogs best play.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Jacquizz Rodgers has 23 yards on eight carries, 15 of which came on one play.

There's a reason for that: TCU, every season, has a great rushing defense.

But coach Mike Riley insisted his offense must be balanced. It can't keep Ryan Katz back there in the shotgun and become a 50-pass team.

Or can it?

As poised as Katz looks at present, he's not experienced. If he throws it a whole bunch, and TCU knows he's going to throw it a whole bunch, then he's liable to make a mistake. Or mistakes.

In other words: Riley is going to keep sending Rodgers into the line, hoping to keep the defense honest. And hoping he breaks a couple.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Questions about how sophomore quarterback Ryan Katz would handle his first career start for Oregon State have been answered.

Just fine.

Katz is 3-of-6 for 59 yards with a 30-yard touchdown after one quarter. He doesn't looked overwhelmed in the least. In fact, his fifth-year senior counterpart had a bad interception, which set up Oregon State's score.

The biggest issues at present for the Beavers? Stopping Andy Dalton as a runner (he leads all rushers with 26 yards) and is getting the ground game going. The Beaver rushed for just 3 yards in the first quarter.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- It's hard to explain how impressive the world's biggest video screen is. You know how some folks say, "You had to be there." Well, you have to be here to really understand its ... awesomeness.

Know how players like to watch themselves during games? Know how I mentioned the video screen? See where I'm going with this?

I'm guessing coach Mike Riley might have mentioned to his players not to get mesmerized by the screen. You know -- look up at yourself during a play. That sort of distraction might lead to a miscue.

Of course, some players say they look up to see if any defenders are behind or around them, so it can be an aid.

There are actually four screens. The two big ones face the sidelines. The smaller ones -- you know, normal sized -- face the endzones.

If you are watching at home, and you see a player looking up and to his right or left, he's checking out the big video screens.

That might prove harmless. Might mean nothing in the game. But it's definitely something different for these players to manage.

I'm sitting in the press box about to watch a live game, and I suspect most of my attention will be on the video screen ... its magnetism is just so ... magnetic.

Where's the remote, though, I want to check out the BYU-Washington game?

Wonder if that thing would fit in my living room.

ARLINGTON, Texas -- At some point tonight, Ryan Katz will look up at the world largest video screen that hangs over the Cowboys Stadium field and he will watch a replay of himself.

Wonder what he will see? A pretty TD pass. Or a wobbly interception. Maybe a little of both.

No matter what a young quarterback looks like during fall camp, you just don't know how he will perform when the lights go on and the game counts. And this is a heck of a "bright lights, big city" venue.

If Katz keeps his cool and plays like the guy who's raised more than a few impressed eyebrows in Corvallis, the Beavers have a good chance to upset No. 6 TCU tonight.

If he gets rattled, throws late or early or off target, then it could be a long night.

While playing TCU in Texas operates as a road game, noise probably won't be an issue. No more than 40,000 folks will be here and that will not fill up half of this HUGE stadium, and there's a good contingent of Orange-clad Beavers down here anyway.

Nor will the Texas humidity be an issue. The roof is closed.

So it's going to be all about, as coaches say, execution. Who's going to make plays?

TCU counters the green Katz with 29-game winner Andy Dalton, an efficient, athletic quarterback who's trying to put a bad night in the Fiesta Bowl behind him.

Dalton's supporting skill, however, won't be as good as Katz's. The Rodgers brothers, running back Jacquizz Rodgers and receiver James Rodgers, are the two best places for Katz to look for help. Both can turn a modest-looking play into something full of sound and fury signifying a TD.

The Beavers have some defensive questions. For one, they struggled to pressure opposing QBs last year. Dalton's too good to be allowed to feel comfortable in the pocket.

Then there's the run defense. The Beavers are breaking in a new middle linebacker -- Rueben Robinson probably gets the first snap but Tony Wilson likely will split time with him -- and end Taylor Henry is trying to play through a sprained ankle. The Horned Frogs top-two running backs, Ed Wesley and Matthew Tucker, combined for 1,300 yards last year and both averaged over six yards per carry. Four starting offensive linemen from 2009 are back.

If Katz is as cool as advertised, and the defense can get to Dalton, the Beavers could do something they rarely do: Start a season fast.

A win also would send a message that the Beavers are eyeballing their first Rose Bowl since 1965.