TCU escapes Baylor as College Football Playoff hopes remain alive

TCU needed to go on the road and hold serve at Baylor on Saturday as the Horned Frogs looked to remain undefeated and stay in the top 4 of the College Football Playoff rankings. The Horned Frogs did it in dramatic fashion on Saturday with a 29-28 victory on a 40-yard field goal as time expired.

That came after Baylor delivered counter punch after counter punch, and TCU dropped a 2-point conversion swing pass attempt that would have tied the game. TCU scored a touchdown with 2:07 remaining. That came after a missed extra point attempt in the third quarter. Baylor took the lead in the fourth quarter with back-to-back touchdowns to lead by 8 points.

The development breathed new life into the argument that the SEC would get 2 or 3 teams in the Playoff, as Tennessee fans rejoiced over the Horned Frogs’ troubles. It also caused Big 12 fans to recall that Baylor has dashed TCU’s postseason hopes before.

TCU REMAINS UNDEFEATED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!??? pic.twitter.com/KLRw8sJZB0

— ?????? @???????? (@FTBeard7) November 19, 2022

It was a contrast in styles as Baylor rang up more than 230 rushing yards, and TCU mustered less than 100 with less than 2 minutes. The turnovers were even, but Baylor held a 9-minute edge in time of possession, as it tried to drain the clock down the stretch.

Here’s a sampling of the reaction to the loss as they immediately shifted at the end:

What poise by the @TCUFootball kicker to have to run onto the field and kick a game winner. Terrible clock management by TCU, but what a win! Sets them up to lose next week to @CycloneFB because we like to break playoff systems

— Sarah Stephas (@SStephas) November 19, 2022

I understand you have to put an undefeated conference champion in the playoff, but TCU is going to get destroyed in the playoff

— Ben McGreevy (@McGreevyBen) November 19, 2022

I can’t believe people watched that game and think TCU deserves to be on the same field as Georgia in a playoff game ???

— Blake (@LaMuertePeludaX) November 19, 2022

TCU stands no chance against any other top 10 teams so why give them a playoff spot @PatMcAfeeShow @ToneDigz

— Preston Nunnally (@PrestoNNunnallY) November 19, 2022

SMH. Come on TCU. Missed PAT. Dropped 2 pt. Conversation. Not a playoff team.

— Peak Work Archie (@JoshHarris25) November 19, 2022

A missed XP and a drop 2pt is the reason TCU won’t make the playoffs – and why I lost this over ??‍♂️

— Capping Goat™️ (@cappinggoat) November 19, 2022

TCU better clutch up on this defensive possession or they can kiss the playoffs goodbye

— Pink + White (@IMS0PRADAY0U) November 19, 2022

The SEC really about to get 3 teams in the playoffs aren’t they.

Hope Michigan and TCU pull it together

— Zen (@Zen_Playin) November 19, 2022

Can baylor ruin another TCU playoff opportunity?

— John Dyer ?? (@spursnsalsa) November 19, 2022

Would be a bummer if this Big 12 didn’t get a playoff representative, but Baylor keeping TCU out twice in a decade is incredibly funny.

— Jesse Pound (@jesserpound) November 19, 2022

Keith Farner

A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.