TCU denies Baylor shot at Big 12 with 2OT win

The offensive shootout we expected from TCU and Baylor got washed away by a torrential downpour in Fort Worth. In their natural habitat, the Horned Frogs avenged last season’s loss to the Bears with a 28-21 win in double overtime, essentially knocking Baylor out of the College Football Playoff conversation and putting the Big 12’s chances for a bid in the hands of Bedlam on Saturday.

The game got off to a fast start with Baylor jumping out to a 14-7 lead after just over seven minutes of play, but once the rain picked up and the field conditions worsened, the two offenses got stuck in the mud.

Both teams went 16 straight offensive possessions without a score from the 7:28 mark in the first quarter until the end of regulation. The only points came when TCU returned a fumble for a touchdown with 12:55 remaining in the second quarter to tie the game at 14-14. For the next 42:55, neither team made a dent in the scoreboard.

Once in overtime with short fields, the offenses suddenly came to life — as the rain let up — and both got in the end zone in the first overtime period. In double overtime, TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin found KaVontae Turpin wide open in the back of the end zone to put the Horned Frogs up 28-21.

Baylor’s double-overtime possession ended after TCU stuffed the Bears twice on a fourth-and-1 attempt — the first one was negated as Baylor coach Art Briles called a timeout before the snap.

The game billed to be an epic offensive battle that would rival the 61-58 shootout from 2014 didn’t live up to expectations due to the weather conditions. Instead of offensive fireworks, both teams were just trying to cling to the ball for dear life.

The best play of the game was, arguably, an 8-yard punt by TCU that the punter got off while being drilled by Shawn Oakman.

The two offenses were already dealing with injury issues. Baylor was giving third-string quarterback (and former wide receiver) Chris Johnson his first career start, while Boykin was clearly bothered by an ankle injury for TCU.

Even so, the two offenses appeared ready to give us a show early, but the rain and field conditions put an end to that idea quickly.

Baylor had more punts (10) than completions (7) for the game, and TCU’s ratio wasn’t much better (13 punts to 18 completions). It was a hideous game to watch and looked like a miserable game to play in, but TCU’s players will at least be warmed up by that W in the win column.

With Friday’s outcome, the Big 12’s “One True Champion” will default to the winner of No. 3 Oklahoma at No. 11 Oklahoma State. The game is set for Saturday at 8 p.m. ET in Stillwater.

TCU outlasted Baylor in the rain on Friday night. (USATSI)

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