Monday Morning Quarterback: No Pity for the Kitty

After what Baylor did to Oklahoma on Saturday, it was necessary for TCU to lay the wood to Kansas State. They did just that, winning 41-20, led by Trevone Boykin and a stingy defense.

The Good

Gee, where should we start? Oh, right, Boykin. What a beast. Sure, 219 passing yards and one touchdown seems extremely average, especially since coming into this game he was averaging 309 passing yards and 2.75 passing touchdowns per game, but what Boykin did on Saturday was be efficient. He completed 67.7% of his passes, his second-highest completion percentage of the season (70.7% vs. Samford), and didn't turn the ball over.

Meanwhile, he ran for 123 yards, his first time breaking the 100-yard barrier on the ground this season, and three touchdowns, including the most ridiculous run and jump of the season.

That 19-yard scamper put TCU up 24-7 early in the third quarter, and the Frogs wouldn't look back.

Boykin's 123 rushing yards, on only 17 carries, was only good for second most on the team that night, as Aaron Green, filling in for the injured B.J. Catalon, was an absolute beast, rushing for 171 yards on just 18 carries, including a very impressive 65-yard run that left Kansas State defenders not knowing which way was up. In the end, TCU had exactly 300 more rushing yards than the Wildcats (334-34).

Also, look at that trio of Kolby Listenbee, David Porter and Ty Slanina leading the way as blockers. Truly a team effort. After the game, Green gave a shoutout to his backfield bunkmate.

That was for you @Ben_Cat23 love you bro

— Aaron Green (@AaronGreen22) November 9, 2014

This group truly defines what it means to be a team.

Now, the offense was incredible, but TCU's defense looked like an old-school Patterson D in this game. In the first half the Frogs' D held Kansas State to 133 yards of offense, 70 of which came on one play to Tyler Lockett, one of the best receivers in the Big 12. A huge stop on 3rd-and-1 to start the game also provided the opening spark the Frogs needed to step on the gas early.

Also, if Chris Hackett isn't  first-team All Big 12, or an All-American candidate, then no one should be. The guy had his team-leading fifth interception and five tackles, including one for a loss. He's been better, in my opinion, than San Carter, which is not a knock on what Carter has done this season by any means. Hackett leads the team in passes defended (10), interceptions (5), fourth in tackles (59), and has 2.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble.

I'd be remiss not to mention the student section here. They broke the record for student tickets (5,278), and they were at least five rows deep behind the seats the entire game. Not to mention, they were loud. Like, pissing of Jake Waters loud. Getting tweeted about by Eric Stonestreet loud. Making my wife comment about their energy loud. So props to you, students, because you absolutely crushed it on Saturday night.

The Bad

It seems like we're destined to give up one or two huge passing plays a game. It's just a given. Fortunately, it didn't hurt the Frogs like it did against Baylor. A 70-yard touchdown from Waters to Lockett in the first quarter kept Kansas State in it for longer than they should have been in it. A garbage-time 74-yard pass from backup quarterback Joe Hubener helped make the score look closer than the game was. Eliminate those two plays and this game is 41-7.

I'm not going to dwell too much on what went wrong, because frankly, not much did.

The College Football Playoff Conundrum

I'm going to write more about this later in the week, but for now, suffice it to say that no matter who gets in, whether it's TCU or Baylor (assuming they both win out, which they probably will), there will be heavy criticism launched at the College Football Playoff committee. If Baylor gets in, it sends the message that non-conference schedules don't matter, and one bad loss in conference can be overcome. If TCU gets in, it shows that head-to-head isn't as valued as some think it should be. Both sides have incredibly strong arguments, and at least one (still possibly both) will be frustrated at season's end. As of now it looks like it could be a lose-lose for the committee.

All the more reasons to expand to eight? The argument could definitely be made, and it was at least once on Frogs O' War already, thanks to TCU '90.

Again, more on that later in the week. For now, Go Frogs.