TCU was ranked eighth in the first poll of the College Football Playoff selection committee, unveiled Tuesday night. Rival Baylor was the highest of the Big 12 teams at No. 6.
The ranking was lower than what the Horned Frogs were anticipating. A couple of thoughts on that: It reveals that TCU has no margin for error, and everyone knows there is a lot of very important football to be played in the Big 12 this month.
The November schedule is loaded with games against each of the other three top teams in the Big 12. But if the Horned Frogs lose one game against the likes of Oklahoma State, Oklahoma and Baylor, will they be on the outside of the playoffs for the second straight season?
That seems to be the message the selection committee sent the Horned Frogs, but plenty can happen to the teams ahead of TCU, which can take care of Baylor itself.
TCU (8-0, 5-0) has the first of its big November Big 12 showdowns this Saturday when it visits Oklahoma State (8-0, 5-0).
Both teams are much better on offense than on defense, so an intense shootout is expected.
In fact, TCU coach Gary Patterson publicly declared that it is up to senior quarterback Trevone Boykin and senior receiver Josh Doctson to get the Horned Frogs through November without a setback.
“If they can play at the level they need to for us, then we’ll have a chance to win more of those games than we lose,” Patterson said on the Big 12 coaches conference call. “If they don’t, then we won’t.
“But if they do, I think a lot of people will get a chance to watch both of those guys play and understand and appreciate what kind of players they are. And what kind of people they are.”
NOTES, QUOTES
PLAYERS TO WATCH
–QB Trevone Boykin has passed for 2,927 yards and 28 touchdowns against just five interceptions. He has 10,080 career passing yards and needs just 235 to replace Andy Dalton (10,314 from 2007-10) as TCU’s record-holder in that category. Boykin has a thrown a touchdown pass in 23 consecutive games, the longest streak in the nation.
–WR Josh Doctson has set school single-season records for receptions (71), receiving yardage (1,250) and touchdown receptions (14) this season and has topped 100 yards in six consecutive games. He is just 32 yards away from passing Mike Renfro (2,739 from 1974-77) as TCU’s leader in career receiving yards, and 10 catches away from supplanting Kelly Blackwell (181 from 1988-91) for most receptions.
“He’s a great receiver; he’s probably the best receiver in college football right now, and it’s hard to argue with the numbers he’s putting up and the plays he’s making,” QB Trevone Boykin told reporters. “You really can’t ask for much more as a quarterback for a guy like that, than just try to put the ball in the air and let him make the play.”
–DT Davion Pierson is fully healthy now after missing three games due to concussion issues earlier this season; he has been a stout force in the middle. He has 21.5 career tackles for losses and his intense style of play ignites his teammates. “Like a spark, he comes back with all this energy, his craziness,” junior defensive tackle Aaron Curry told reporters. “We just feed off him. Great to have him back. He has this energy about him that everybody feeds off.”