No. 4 TCU’s bid for playoff, Big 12 arrives at No. 18 Texas

AUSTIN, Texas — (AP) — The massive image is laid out earlier than No. 4 TCU, and the Horned Frogs have the whole lot to play for.

They are undefeated and in hanging vary of clinching a berth within the Big 12 title recreation. Even bigger, they are No. 4 in the College Football Playoff rankings, that means a bid for a nationwide title may cap a outstanding debut season for coach Sonny Dykes.

Standing in the way in which? Texas. The No. 18 Longhorns would love nothing higher than to derail Max Duggan and the Horned Frogs and announce their very own resurgence within the Big 12.

Duggan has been the engine in a outstanding turnaround season for the Horned Frogs (9-0, 6-0 Big 12), who’ve complemented one of many explosive offenses within the nation with the grit wanted to rally from behind a number of occasions this season.

“We haven’t always won pretty. There’s been some struggles. We’ve had to make some second-half comebacks,” Dykes stated.

Win Saturday night time and TCU clinches a berth within the Big 12 title recreation. Even in the event that they lose, the Horned Frogs nonetheless personal the within observe since each different crew within the league has at least two losses.

The Horned Frogs should not have a sort playoff historical past. The program felt snubbed in 2014 when the Horned Frogs had been 11-1 and tied for the Big 12 title, solely to get unnoticed of the ultimate playoff rankings.

TCU was No. 3 within the CFP rankings going into the ultimate weekend and closed with a 55-3 rout of Iowa State. Still, the Horned Frogs had been handed by Ohio State, which beat Wisconsin 59-0 within the Big Ten title recreation that day. The Buckeyes went on to win the CFP title.

The Big 12 hasn’t had an undefeated champion since Texas in 2005.TCU will possible must be excellent to get to the playoff.

Texas (6-3, 4-2) cannot be excellent however they will play spoiler and sweeten their very own convention title hopes in coach Steve Sarkisian’s second season.

Sarkisian endured a depressing 5-7 debut in 2021 and Texas nonetheless struggles to complete video games. But final week’s 34-27 win at Kansas State may very well be an enormous enhance for a crew led by Bijan Robinson, the Big 12’s main rusher.

“We’ve bought extra work to do, and I feel our guys acknowledge that. They’re hungry. It’s at all times good while you get a win like that after which right here comes a top-five crew coming in to your individual stadium on a Saturday night time who’s in first place in your league,” Sarkisian stated.

Former TCU head coach Gary Patterson, who turned this system right into a Big 12 energy however was pushed out final season because the Horned Frogs pale, landed at Texas this season as a special assistant. His job is to scout opposing offenses and his fingerprints will determine to be everywhere in the Texas recreation plan Saturday. Patterson was considered a defensive guru at TCU and he’ll be savoring the prospect to close down his former crew.

The recreation options two of the perfect working backs within the nation. Robinson’s mixture of pace and elusiveness can depart defenders spinning on their heels. TCU’s Kendre Miller has chewed up defenses within the second half. Robinson’s 1,219 yards lead the Big 12. Miller’s 1,009 yards rank second. Both have 12 speeding touchdowns.

TCU has thrived within the second half this season. Texas has not. The Longhorn surrendered late leads in losses to Alabama, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State and almost did it once more final week. Texas has scored 31 factors within the first half of the final two video games and simply three factors after halftime. TCU trailed each Oklahoma State and Kansas State by double digits earlier than rallying to win.

TCU has a particular scoring weapon in punt returner Derius Davis. His two punt returns for touchdowns this season, together with one final week towards Texas Tech, make him the TCU profession file holder with 5. Texas has three punt blocks this season.

The Horned Frogs should play the primary half with out defensive crew captain Dee Winters. The senior linebacker bought a concentrating on penalty within the second half towards Texas Tech final week.