Sonny Dykes says TCU belongs in CFP despite OT loss to Kansas State

ARLINGTON, Texas — Shortly after No. 3 TCU’s first loss of the season, a 31-28 loss in overtime in the Big 12 championship game against No. 10 Kansas State, Sonny Dykes said he was confident the Horned Frogs would have a berth would have earned in the College Football Playoff when the selection committee rankings are announced tomorrow.

“Of course I do,” Dykes said. “We went through the Big 12 12-0. … I don’t think we should be penalized for coming to the Big 12 championship game. I don’t think the conference championship games are designed to penalize teams and prevent them from making the playoffs [No.] 3 last week. My hope is that we stay at 3 and serve and see how we do.”

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TCU, as they have done several times this season, fell behind Kansas State and was 28-17 at the start of the fourth quarter. But behind quarterback Max Duggan, the Horned Frogs staged a wild comeback to tie the game at 28-28 with 1:51 on the rules.

In overtime, Duggan tried for a possible touchdown on the second down, but officials decided he was close to the goal line. In third place, the Wildcats stopped TCU, who again briefly ran back Kendre Miller in another game that was being reviewed to see if he had scored (although the game was not stopped for review). Miller was stopped again on a handover in fourth place.

Kansas State then kicked a field goal to victory and gave the Wildcats their third Big 12 title in league history.

Dykes said he was disappointed that the Horned Frogs were unable to complete the comeback and is now relying on the committee’s verdict.

“We were literally an inch away from winning the game or at least having a chance and being 13-0,” said the coach. “My hope is that they see it the same way I do and realize that the CV is good enough and we deserve to be a part of it. Our hope [was] not having to rely on a beauty pageant. Our hope was to kick down the door and make sure we were Big 12 champions and there was no discussion about it.”

Year, TeamConf.In Title Game?’16 Ohio StateBig TenNo ’17 AlabamaSECNo ’20 Notre DameACCYes ’21 GeorgiaSECYes

Kansas State coach Chris Klieman said after the game he agreed with Dykes.

“The TCU should be in the CFP,” he said. “They are one of the top four teams.”

But now TCU must await the committee’s decision, an uneasy feeling for Frogs fans after being bypassed and left out of the field by Ohio State last weekend in 2014.

“[There’s] probably a little scary for all of us,” Dykes said. “But again, I have great faith in the committee. I know they have a very difficult thing to do, but I think these guys are going to look at what we’ve been able to achieve, what this team looks like and what we’ve done and what we’ve put ourselves into. My hope was to celebrate a Big 12 championship tonight and not worry too much about it. But you know, it’s going to be a different approach.”

Duggan was 18 of 36 for 251 yards with a touchdown and an interception and also rushed for 110 yards and another TD, including a 95-yard rush on an 80-yard drive due to penalties. He then threw the game-winning 2-point conversion to Jared Wiley.

After the game, he was emotional and disappointed that he wasn’t able to bring a conference championship to TCU after a stellar senior season in which he could be a Heisman Trophy finalist. He said, fighting back tears, he wasn’t sure where the frogs would stand in the rankings.

“I think if we came in we’d put up a friggin’ fight and I think our competitiveness will take over,” Duggan said. “I don’t really care, especially at this moment. Wherever they tell us to play, we will go play.”