QB Casey Printers gets a lift from LaDaimian Tomlinson after TCU scored a first-quarter touchdown.(AP)

"I could have had 350, but I feel I still played well," Tomlinson said. "It was like I ran all that way for nothing. In the end, people saw the game. It was nationally televised. They saw what I did."

He had a 34-yard touchdown run nullified by a holding penalty near the end of the first half. He also had a 74-yard touchdown run negated by a holding call.

Tomlinson wore out the Northwestern defense that was on the field for almost 40 of the game's 60 minutes. His longest official run of the game went for 25 yards.

"Our offensive line can feel when the defensive guys up front are getting tired and getting lazy," Tomlinson said. "We were ready and wore them down."

TCU (2-0) won its seventh game in a row, its longest winning streak since 1984. Northwestern dropped to 2-1.

TCU's defense, which recorded a school-record 15 sacks against Nevada last week and finished ranked fifth in the nation last season, also lived up to its preseason hype. The Horned Frogs held Northwestern to 258 yards of offense and 11 first downs.

The Wildcats turned the ball over four times and only crossed midfield twice. Northwestern's offense entered the game averaging 37 points and 442 yards of offense a game.

"That wasn't us out there today," said Northwestern coach Randy Walker. "Football isn't too fun when your offense is going three-and-out."

Northwestern quarterback Zak Kustok completed 12 of 20 passes for 132 yards and one touchdown. He also threw three interceptions, was sacked three times and fumbled once.

"They put a lot of pressure on me without doing a lot of blitzing," Kustok said. "They definitely lived up to their advance billing."

TCU got off to a quick start after Cedric James returned the opening kickoff 42 yards to the TCU 45. After a 6-yard pass completion, Tomlinson rushed for 45 yards on the next four plays.

Two plays later, TCU's Chris Kaylakie kicked a 26-yard field goal to give the Horned Frogs a 3-0 lead.

TCU did all the scoring in the second and third quarters. TCU's Casey Printers led the charge, throwing touchdown passes of 53 and 16 yards. Printers finished 8-of-12 for 101 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed for 74 yards on 12 carries and a touchdown.

But with Tomlinson hammering away at Northwestern's defense in second half, TCU didn't even attempt a pass for the rest of the game.

"We were doing a good job of being physical with them," TCU coach Dennis Franchione said. "I think we played a little bit of their brand of football."

Walker said he was impressed with Tomlinson, but was even more dazzled by TCU's offensive scheme, which relied heavily on the option.

"They did a great job controlling the perimeter of the field," Walker said. "Their players are awful solid, but their coaches did a great job today.

"Not to take anything away from (Tomlinson), but I might have been able to get 200 yards out there in that scheme."