TCU Routs Iowa State
FORT WORTH, Texas — TCU’s dominant performance on Saturday was enough to convince at least one guy that the Horned Frogs belong in the inaugural College Football Playoff.
“Yes,” TCU coach Gary Patterson said when asked if his team belonged. “The bottom line is we’ve done everything we can do.”
Quarterback Trevone Boykin threw four touchdown passes in the second half and caught a scoring pass for No. 3 TCU, which certainly did nothing to hurt its chances of a berth in the CFP semifinals in 55-3 victory over Iowa State on Saturday.
The Horned Frogs (11-1, 8-1) captured a share of the Big 12 Championship.
Boykin, a Heisman Trophy candidate, completed 30 of 41 passes for 460 yards in leading TCU’s 722-yard attack. He scored TCU’s first touchdown on a 55-yard reception from wide receiver David Porter, who took a lateral from the quarterback and tossed it back to him.
Boykin threw touchdown passes of 54, 45, 14 and 18 yards to running back
Aaron Green, Deante Gray, Ja’Juan Story and Josh Doctson, who made a game-high nine receptions for 151 yards.
Green led all rushers with 104 yards and added a rushing touchdown for the Frogs, who outscored the Cyclones 38-0 in the second half after an imperfect first half.
Iowa State (2-10, 0-9) closed its season with a sixth consecutive loss. The Cyclones, held to 236 yards, including 98 in the second half, struggled to sustain drives the entire game.
Quarterback Sam Richardson passed for 152 yards, completing 15 of 37 passes with an interception, which was returned by 44 yards for a touchdown by safety Derrick Kindred in the third quarter.
TCU’s season will continue, although where and when has been yet to be decided.
The CFP will announce its final rankings on Sunday.
The Frogs’ only slip this season was a 61-58 loss to Baylor, sparking a fever-pitched nationwide debate about which team should be ranked higher.
So far, the committee has given the nod to TCU. Baylor entered play Saturday at No. 6.
“I think Baylor (should be in, too),” Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads. “That’s not a Big 12 bias. I’ve had an opportunity to go against both of them.
“Through 12 games … I do believe TCU is the best team.”
The Horned Frogs dominated the first-half stat sheet but appeared anything but dominant. TCU led 17-3 at intermission, but the Frogs converted only one of six third-down attempts and turned the ball over twice.
Boykin threw an interception in the end zone to kill a scoring chance at the end of the half.
Another drive stalled in the red zone.
“Here’s what I told them (at halftime),” Patterson said. “‘Quit worrying about style points. I thought they were a little bit too tight. Just go play and win a conference championship.’ That’s why you play four quarters. You have to do what you have to do.”
Iowa State was unable to take advantage of either turnover.
The Cyclones had 138 yards in the first half, including 86 on their only scoring drive, capped by Cole Netten’s 26-yard field goal. Iowa State staggered in the second quarter, managing on 31 yards on 17 plays.
Boykin, who caught 26 passes last season as a wide receiver, displayed that versatility on TCU’s first scoring drive that covered 70 yards in two plays and 28 seconds.
On second down, Boykin tossed a lateral to wide receiver David Porter, who passed it back across the field to the quarterback. Boykin had plenty of room and used it, sprinting 55 yards for the touchdown and 7-0 lead.
“I feel like we’ve done everything on our end to be one of those top teams,” Boykin said. “But at the end of the day, we’re Big 12 champs and I’m excited about that.”
