It's Official: TCU Will Face Oregon in the Valero Alamo Bowl

It was made official just a few moments ago, TCU will face off against Oregon in the Valero Alamo Bowl, on Saturday, January 2nd.

Alamo Bowl makes it official: TCU-Oregon.

— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) December 6, 2015

Oregon went 9-3 during the regular season, finishing on a six game winning streak, including wins over both teams that played in the Pac 12 Championship, Stanford and USC.

The Ducks had to replace a lot on offense this year, with Eastern Washington transfer Vernon Adams Jr. trying to fill the big shoes of Marcus Mariota. A broken finger slowed him for a while, but he's had a decent season.

You can buy tickets on the Valero Alamo Bowl website now, and through TCU sometime soon.

This is arguably the best matchup outside of the New Years 6 bowl and the College Football Playoff semifinals. We'll have tons more on the Ducks as we get closer to the game, and of course, check out Addicted to Quack to get their perspective on everything.

And here's the official release from the TCU Athletics Department:

The No. 11 TCU football team has been selected by the Valero Alamo Bowl to face No. 15 Oregon Jan. 2 at the Alamodome in San Antonio.

Kickoff will be at 5:45 p.m. with the game televised on ESPN.

The Horned Frogs will be making their first appearance in the Valero Alamo Bowl and 13th trip to a bowl game in 15 seasons under head coach Gary Patterson. The Horned Frogs also went to a bowl all three years (1998-00) when Patterson was defensive coordinator. TCU will be playing in San Antonio for the first time since a 47-0 win at Trinity in 1952.

TCU (10-2) and Oregon (9-3) will be meeting for just the third time in their history and first time since 1978. The series is tied 1-1. Oregon won 29-24 in Fort Worth in 1977, while the Horned Frogs took a 14-10 decision in Eugene in 1978. Under Patterson, TCU is 4-0 versus Pac-12 opponents. The Horned Frogs’ last game against a Pac-12 team was a 30-21 victory over No. 24 Oregon State in the 2010 Cowboys Classic season opener in Arlington.

"We’re fired up to be headed to the Valero Alamo Bowl," TCU director of intercollegiate athletics Chris Del Conte said. "With an in-state game, a high-profile opponent in Oregon and a true destination city, we’re looking forward to turning San Antonio into a sea of purple. Our trip to the Valero Alamo Bowl is a well-deserved reward for our football program on an outstanding season. We can’t wait to hit San Antonio. It’s a great time to be a Horned Frog!"

The Valero Alamo Bowl will mark the 31st bowl appearance in TCU's history. The Horned Frogs are 14-15-1 in bowl games. TCU is 10-5 in bowls with Patterson on its coaching staff and 8-5 with him as head coach. He was named head coach prior to the 2000 Mobile Alabama Bowl. Before Patterson's arrival on campus in 1998, the Horned Frogs had just four bowl wins in their history.

"Bowl games are a reward for our players and the entire TCU community," Patterson said. "We’re looking forward to making our 16th bowl trip in the last 18 years and having a chance to win our 11th game this season. It's great to be headed to San Antonio and the Valero Alamo Bowl to face a high-level opponent in Oregon. Our kids are excited. With several of our players being from San Antonio and the surrounding area, it's a trip home. The Valero Alamo Bowl is a great bowl and well known for its hospitality. It’s always important to win your bowl game to build momentum for next year." 

TCU has reached the 10-win mark for the sixth time in the last eight years and 10th time in 15 seasons under Patterson. Prior to his arrival on campus in 1998, TCU had just four 10-win seasons in its history.

Three TCU starters are San Antonio natives. Tailback Aaron Green (Madison High School) became the Horned Frogs’ first 1,000-yard rusher since 2010 with his team-high 1,171 yards and 10 touchdowns. Safety Derrick Kindred (Wagner High School) is second on TCU with 79 tackles to go with two interceptions, while linebacker Ty Summers (Reagan High School) was named the Walter Camp National Defensive Player of the Week after his 23 tackles in the 28-21 double-overtime victory over Baylor in the regular-season finale.

TCU season-ticket holders and Frog Club members have until Monday at 5 p.m. to make ticket requests through the Horned Frogs Priority Points System. Requests can be made online at GoFrogs.com, calling the TCU Athletics Ticket Office at (817) 257-FROG (3764) or dropping by the office in the northeast corner of Amon G. Carter Stadium near Gate 6. The TCU Athletics Ticket Office is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.