TCU ends Baylor's Playoff hopes in double OT 28-21

Breaking down No. 16 TCU’s 28-21 overtime victory Friday against No. 7 Baylor:

THE BIG PICTURE: Even though both teams have had star-crossed seasons, Baylor would have been very much alive for a Big 12 title had it won Friday, needing only Oklahoma State to beat Oklahoma on Saturday to be named outright champions.

That may not have really mattered to the College Football Playoff committee, especially with Baylor down to third-string quarterback Chris Johnson. But at 11-1 with a Big 12 title and maybe some chaos to come, Baylor might have had an argument.

That’s all moot now, though, as TCU pulled out a game with plenty at stake to finish its season 10-2. Given the injuries Gary Patterson’s team sustained on defense all year long and to its star offensive players late in the season, that’s a tremendous coaching job. Though TCU will fall short of the playoff again, it's at least some consolation to end the league title hopes of a hated rival.

Now, the winner of “Bedlam” on Saturday in Stillwater, Okla., will be the outright Big 12 champion.

WHAT WE’LL BE TALKING ABOUT: After waiting all season for a rematch of Baylor’s classic 61-58 victory last year, we got a game between Baylor’s third-string quarterback and a banged-up Trevone Boykin played in wind and steady rain. In other words, it was a complete mess.

Frankly, the game wasn’t very entertaining and we didn’t learn much about either team. But it had to be played and was fascinating in its own way because every snap had the potential for folly.

With two days of precipitation hitting the Fort Worth area, the field was basically a slick mud pit. Combined with a waterlogged ball, passing became almost impossible, which is a problem given how much both of these spread offenses rely on speed and perimeter throws. And the rain was worse in person than it looked on television.

Frankly, the game wasn’t very entertaining, and we didn’t learn much about either team. But it had to be played and was fascinating in its own way because every snap had the potential for folly.

THE DECIDING PLAY: Facing third-and-goal from the 8-yard line in the second overtime, Boykin found freshman receiver Kavontae Turpin streaking through the back of the end zone all alone for a touchdown. It was only Boykin’s 18th completion in 33 attempts on a tough day, but it was a massive play that gave TCU a 28-21 lead.

The Horned Frogs then stopped Baylor running back Devin Chafin behind the line of scrimmage on fourth down to win.

TOP PLAY: One of the most amazing punts you’ll ever see occurred with 5:04 left. TCU’s Ethan Perry had to field a bad snap off the ground but had Baylor defensive end Shawn Oakman barreling down on him at 6-foot-9, 275 pounds.

Oakman, maybe not realizing Perry was still going to try to kick it, went for the tackle rather than a block. Oakman got a clean lick, but Perry was able to get his foot on the ball. Though it was just an eight-yard punt, TCU avoided disaster on the play in a tie game.

KEY STAT: The teams combined to go a remarkable 5-of-35 on third-down conversions in regulation, with TCU converting just one of 16. Baylor made up for it a bit by converting all three fourth-down tries, including a pair on their opening drive of the game that resulted in a touchdown. But it came up short on their final fourth-down attempt in overtime.