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?
Advertisement
TCU (8-0) can enhance its playoff credentials by beating Oklahoma State this week and Baylor on November 27, after barely missing the top four a year ago at 12-1.
Oklahoma State wide receiver Austin Hays, top, catches a pass for a touchdown in front of Texas Tech defender Tevin Madison (20) in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game in Lubbock, Texas, Saturday, October 31, 2015.
The TCU Horned Frogs have a poor defense but an elite offense.
So where does that leave Oklahoma?
Baylor head coach Art Briles understands that logic.
The committee’s top 10 is rounded out by Michigan State at No. 7, followed by Texas Christian, Iowa and Florida. A Sooners loss to Iowa State would chip at Baylor’s future hopes of adding a quality win to its resume. “The most important game is the next game”. While voters have been apologetic to teams that did not even win its conference.
The schedule maker got it right.
The only certainty in the CFP race, at this juncture, applies to the playoff hopefuls from the Big 12.
Clemson was ranked as the No. 1 team, along with LSU, Ohio State and Alabama.
And Oklahoma has dominated outside of its loss to the Longhorns. “But I think Houston Memphis, especially if both come in undefeated, will be one of the games that everybody in the country will look at”. But let’s not forget, the Oklahoma Sooners are still contenders in this. Plus, Oklahoma is 7-1. The Mountaineers lost the Big 12’s Big Four by a combined 81 points, but brighter days should be ahead. All average at least 44 points per game. What does this mean for the Big 12 moving forward?
“So if they can win out and people start losing above them, they still have a position to move up because they’re in a position that’s not too far out to be considered”. As Todd (Blackledge) said, Ohio State’s was early enough past year they got on a roll.
This is where O-line coach Bill Bedenbaugh will earn his paycheck. He’s more comfortable in the offense, making him much more lethal. The Bears have been among the nation’s most dominant teams, but starting quarterback Seth Russell is out for the season. Since becoming the Oklahoma State starter during the 11th game of his freshman season in 2014, he is 10-1. If nothing else, Stoops has history on his side. While there is precedent of a one-loss team getting into the playoff, there isn’t one for when that loss comes to a sub-.500 team.
“In high school, we had kind of a stacked team my senior year”, Rudolph said. “We have to try to improve each day to stay alive, and our goal last week was to just be a point or two better than Texas Tech”. That’s something Oklahoma and the Big 12 do not have-not yet, anyway. Alabama is a great team, yes, but there are other more deserving teams.
But for the undefeated teams – Baylor, Oklahoma State and TCU – their playoff have begun. Foremost, undefeated teams deserve bonus points. “It’s a strong conference and if you ask other conference members about the Big 12, they’ll tell you it’s an extremely strong league”. Plus, there are five weeks for all hell to break loose.
Advertisement
According to the Heisman’s official website, the award is to recognize “the outstanding college football player whose performance best exhibits the pursuit of excellence with integrity”.
