:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56852091/FOW_Be_Informed_Clean.0.0.jpg)
Football:
This is just a wonderfully fun read.
Run your conversion charts. In a Big 12 game, 31 points is like 22 points in an ACC game and 10 in a Neanderthal SEC game. That’s Oklahoma State. They’re going to get points, including at least one TD off a perfectly thrown deep ball you can do nothing about. The impressive part comes in granting those points, destroying any sense of balance by stuffing the run game, and responding by running the ball with Darius Anderson, controlling the pace, then waiting on Oklahoma State to press and hand over some turnovers.
It’s an old-school approach to facing a high-powered offense, retrofitted with new school trappings, all installed by a defensive coach who understands the realities of winning in the Big 12. For this week, while the ass markets slowly recover, TCU will be No. 1.
TCU’s Darius Anderson emerging as one of the top running backs in the Big 12 | The Star-Telegram
Is there a team with a better 1-2-3 punch than TCU’s trio of Anderson, Kyle Hicks, and Sewo Olonilua? Shoot, there might not be a better back than DA, period.
“He’s grown up, and every week he’s getting better at some part of his game,” coach Gary Patterson said Monday on the Big 12 coaches conference call. “He’s a lot better at everything from pass protection to how to make the cut and what to do every week. Only a sophomore. We see him only getting better.”
Anderson rushed for 160 yards and three touchdowns and caught four passes for 41 yards Saturday in a 44-31 victory at Oklahoma State. His 42-yard touchdown run with 2:37 left clinched the game. The Big 12 named him its offensive player of the week.
Final Whistle: TCU just getting started after statement win at Oklahoma State | USA Today
TCU won’t believe the hype. I think.
By Sunday afternoon, Gary Patterson had moved on. Yes, a road win against Oklahoma State was big. Sure, TCU doesn’t play again until Oct. 7. No matter. The Horned Frogs coach was already deep into the West Virginia video.
“We know we’ve got a lot of work to do,” Patterson told USA TODAY Sports.
He’s correct, of course. If TCU is the flavor of the week after beating the previous week’s flavor, well, that sort of shows how it all can change pretty quickly, doesn’t it? But in a 44-31 victory, the Horned Frogs provided reason to suspect they might have some staying power.
Big 12 Week 4 power rankings: TCU keeps moving up | ESPN
Stop telling us how good we are. Let us stay under the radar a little while longer please.
After losing seasons in 2004 and 2013, Gary Patterson's teams went a combined 23-2 the following year. The Horned Frogs also had a losing season last year. Which means the rest of the Big 12 better watch out -- especially after TCU's 44-31 upset of Oklahoma State.
Week 5 College Football Power Rankings: The Big 12 Takes Center Stage | Sports Illustrated
#3?! Hey, I will take it.
TCU’s win at Oklahoma State put the Horned Frogs squarely in the conference race, and thus the playoff picture, but they still face upcoming road tests against Kansas State and Oklahoma that will reveal how they handle the newfound spotlight. The difference has been the defense, which picked off Mason Rudolph three times and rarely gave the Cowboys’ receivers any room to make an impact downfield.
College Football Power Rankings: TCU, Washington State get deserved spotlight | CBS Sports
I am still a little irked at Dennis Dodd, who wrote an article full of backhanded compliments and fat jokes. But... I will link to your piece, Dennis, because I like what you said about the Frogs in this one.
Who else has gone on the (true) road twice and beaten Power Five teams, one of them ranked in the top six? The Frogs have. Sonny Cumbie might be the best play caller in the Big 12.