Arlington, Texas — not far behind. 3 TCU’s first loss of the season, a 31-28 overtime loss to No. 3 in the Big 12 championship game. No. 10 Kansas State Sonny Dykes said he believes the Horned Frogs deserve a spot in the College Football Playoff when the selection committee releases its rankings tomorrow.
“Of course I know,” Dax said. “We went 12-0 through the Big 12. … I don’t think we should be penalized for playing in the Big 12 championship game. I don’t think the conference championship game is designed to punish teams and keep them from making the playoffs .we are [No.] 3 last week. I hope we can stay at 3 and tee off and see how we do. “
Like several times this season, TCU trailed Kansas and trailed 28-17 early in the fourth quarter. But behind quarterback Max Duggan, the Horned Frogs tied the game 28-28 with 1:51 left.
In overtime, Dugan scrambled for a touchdown when he went down for the second time, but the referee ruled he was too close to the goal line. Down on third, the Wildcats prevented TCU from running back Kendre Miller again on another run that was scrutinized to see if he scored (although the game was not stopped for scrutiny). Miller was stopped again in the fourth-inning handoff.
Kansas State then scored a goal in overtime to win the game, giving the Wildcats their third Big 12 title in league history.
Dykes said he was disappointed that the Horned Frogs failed to complete the comeback and would now rely on the committee’s judgment.
“We were an inch away from winning the game, or definitely had a chance to go 13-0,” Dykers said. “I hope they look at it the way I do and realize that this resume is good enough and we deserve it.” Be a part of it. Our hope [was] Don’t have to rely on beauty pageants. Our hope is to kick open the door, make sure we’re Big 12 champions, and nobody talks about it. “
Kansas State head coach Chris Kleeman said after the game he agreed with Dykes.
“The TCU should be in the CFP,” he said. “They’re one of the best four teams.”
But now that TCU has to wait for a decision from the committee, Frog fans are uncomfortable after being bypassed by Ohio State and left out of the field on the final weekend of 2014.
“[There’s] Probably a little anxious for all of us,” Dykers said. “But again, I have confidence in the committee. I know they have a very difficult thing to do but I’m sure those guys will look at what we’ve accomplished, what this team looks like and what we’ve done, and put us in it My hope is tonight Celebrate the Big 12 Championship without worrying too much about it. But, you know, it would be a different course of action. “
Duggan went 18-of-36 for 251 yards, a touchdown and an interception, and also ran for 110 yards and a touchdown, including a 95-yard rush on an 80-yard rush on free throws. He then threw the game-tying two-pointer to Jared Wiley.
After the game, he was emotional, disappointed he wasn’t able to bring a conference title to TCU after a stellar senior season in which he was a possible Heisman Trophy finalist. He said he wasn’t sure what the Frog’s ranking would be, fighting back tears.
“I think if we get in, we’re going to fight like hell, I think our competitiveness is going to prevail,” Dugan said. “I don’t really care, especially at this point. No matter where they tell us to play, We’re all going to play.”