Head to Toads
Underrated TCU has joined the top of the Big 12 heap, dominating opposing offenses
S OMEHOW, the previous 15 years were forgotten. For some reason, TCU was penalized for one bad season, while others were given the benefit of the doubt.
The Horned Frogs began the year unranked, despite all Gary Patterson has done in developing his program into one of the most consistent in the country, producing 10 double-digit-win years in the previous 14 seasons before last year’s six-win campaign.
Perennial underachievers such as LSU, Notre Dame, and Tennessee were touted. TCU was forgotten.
“TCU’s always been the underdog,” quarterback Kenny Hill said Saturday.
But much like what has frequently happened in Fort Worth, the Horned Frogs have forced their way into the national conversation, made the so-called experts, like us, pay attention.
After manhandling then sixthranked Oklahoma State and Heisman Trophy-candidate quarterback Mason Rudolph in Stillwater, 44-31, those experts had no choice. TCU rolled over the Big 12 team many predicted would reach the playoff. Through four games, the ninthranked Horned Frogs are among the nation’s best in points scored (seventh at 47.8 points per game) and allowed (29th at 185), Hill, a Texas A&M transfer, has looked far more comfortable in his second season at TCU after Patterson made some tweaks to the “Air Raid” offense to better fit the senior, and the secondary has gotten off to a strong start, already with six interceptions.
Big 12 officials should be just as pleased with the result as TCU fans. It gives the conference its best chance to send a team to the play- off after missing out last year, and opens up the possibility of sending a pair of teams if others fall apart.
While the Cowboys may have more star power, led by Rudolph, and had the buzz entering the weekend’s premier matchup, they lacked in one important category: Non-conference schedule.
TCU won at SEC foe Arkansas and beat on-the-rise AAC program SMU, while Oklahoma State beat the likes of Tulsa, South Alabama and Pittsburgh, three underwhelming teams with a combined three victories. Undefeated Oklahoma already owns one of the most marquee victories of the season, a rout of Ohio State at The Horseshoe. Unlike 2014, when TCU went 11-1 during the regular season and was bypassed by Ohio State, the sched- ule can’t be used against them.
As long as TCU and No. 3 Oklahoma take care of business over the next six weeks, and the only ranked opponent either faces in that time is Oklahoma meeting Oklahoma State in the Bedlam Series on Nov. 4 in Stillwater, it sets up a first-place showdown Nov. 11 with heavy playoff implications. The winner might not even have to win the Big 12 title. Their résumés would be that strong.
Georgia could catch low Tide
The SEC title game may not be a cakewalk this year for Alabama. Through four games, Georgia has looked like the premier team in the SEC East, dominant defensively (allowing 11.5 points per game) and typically strong on the ground (averaging 223.3 yards). The Bulldogs have won at Notre Dame and blew away Mississippi State on Saturday, hammering their SEC rival, 31-3. True freshman quarterback Jake Fromm has been a surprise in place of injured projected starter Jacob Eason, impressing with his poise and ability to protect the ball.
There are challenges left, road games at Tennessee, Florida, Auburn and Georgia Tech, and the Bulldogs have been known to get off to strong starts before crumbling. But without Alabama on the schedule, their annual road block is missing. The defense has made two solid offenses, Notre Dame and Mississippi State, look pedestrian. No excuses. Georgia’s first outright division title in six years should be on the way, and with the way it defends and runs the ball, Alabama could have its hands full if the two teams were to meet for the SEC crown.
No Bark’ just bite
This wasn’t your traditional Heisman Trophy moment. It wasn’t a long touchdown run or miraculous catch. Running back Saquon Barkley merely stood in front of quarterback Trace McSorley and leveled an Iowa linebacker. But Penn State wouldn’t still be atop the Big Ten East without it. Barkley’s block, on a day he set a Penn State record with 358 all-purpose yards, gave McSorley enough time to whistle in the game-winning throw to Juwan Johnson for a 7-yard touchdown as time expired as Penn State edge Iowa 21-19. It was a snapshot of why Barkley is held in such high regard: He can impact a game without even touching the ball.