Trevone Boykin (2) and the TCU offense were hard to handle in the win over Iowa State. (Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports)
FORT WORTH, Texas –- Quarterback Trevone Boykin threw four touchdown passes in the second half and caught a scoring pass for No. 3 TCU, which made a convincing case to be in the inaugural College Football Playoff with a 55-3 victory over Iowa State on Saturday.
The Horned Frogs (11-1, 8-1) captured a share of the Big 12 Championship.
Boykin, a Heisman Trophy candidate, completed 30-for-41 passes for 460 yards in leading TCU’s 722-yard attack. He scored TCU’s first touchdown on a 55-yard reception from wide receiver David Porter, who took a lateral from the quarterback and tossed it back to him.
Boykin threw touchdown passes of 54, 45, 14 and 18 yards to running back Aaron Green, Deante Gray, Ja’Juan Story and Josh Doctson, who made a game-high nine receptions for 151 yards.
Green led all rushers with 104 yards and added a rushing touchdown for the Frogs, who outscored the Cyclones, 38-0, in the second half after an imperfect first half.
Iowa State (2-10, 0-9) closed its season with a sixth consecutive loss. The Cyclones, held to 236 yards, including 98 in the second half, struggled to sustain drives the entire game.
Quarterback Sam Richardson passed for 152 yards, completing 15-of-37 passes with an interception, which was returned by 44 yards for a touchdown by Derrick Kindred in the third quarter.
TCU’s season will continue, although where and when has been yet to be decided.
The Frogs in all likelihood did enough to remain among the College Football Playoff’s top four teams and earn a berth in the national semifinals.
The CFP will announce its final rankings on Sunday.
The Horned Frogs dominated the first-half stat sheet but appeared anything but dominant. TCU led, 17-3, at intermission, but the Frogs converted only one of six third-down attempts and turned the ball over twice.
Boykin threw an interception in the end zone to kill a scoring chance at the end of the half.
Iowa State was unable to take advantage of either turnover.
The Cyclones had 138 yards in the first half, including 86 on their only scoring drive, capped by Cole Netten’s 26-yard field goal. Iowa State staggered in the second quarter, managing on 31 yards on 17 plays.
Boykin, who caught 26 passes last season as a wide receiver, displayed that versatility on TCU’s first scoring drive, a drive that covered 70 yards in two plays and 28 seconds.
On second down, Boykin tossed a lateral to David Porter, who passed it back across the field to the quarterback. Boykin had plenty of room and used it, sprinting 55 yards for the touchdown and 7-0 lead.
NOTES: QB Trevone Boykin established a TCU single-single passing touchdowns record with his 30th of the season, eclipsing Andy Dalton’s mark of 27 in 2010. … TCU scored for the 279th consecutive game, second-longest active streak in the nation and sixth-longest in NCAA history. … Iowa State TE E.J. Bibbs (knee) did not play. Bibbs was among the Cyclones’ top receivers in 2014, one of four Iowa State players with 40 or more receptions. … Under new co-offensive coordinators Doug Meacham and Sonny Cumbie, TCU has the nation’s most improved offense in total yards and scoring. The Horned Frogs entered the game third in the nation in scoring and fifth in total offense. … TCU LB Paul Dawson is the only player in the nation with 100 tackles, five sacks and four interceptions. … Coach Gary Patterson’s first game at TCU was a 31-21 victory over Iowa State in 1998. Patterson was the defensive coordinator working under Dennis Franchione.
