Texas Wins Battle of the Horns; Frogs Look To Rebound Against Iowa State

Still trying to wash away the weirdness that is Austin, while preparing for a Cyclone in Fort Worth this Saturday ...

They were assumed to be contenders.

They proved themselves to be pretenders.

Two losses after four games, including last Saturday's (September 22) 31-16 meltdown in Austin to the University of Texas, unfortunately have put the Frogs out of contention for this season's College Football Playoff and, quite possibly, the Big 12 Conference championship.

With just a third of the season in the record books, TCU has disappeared from the Top 25. The Frogs have been relegated to the dubious "Others Receiving Votes" category, along with such teams as North Texas. That Denton powerhouse, by the way, has a 4-0 record under third-year head coach Seth Littrell.

When it comes to the Big 12 standings, TCU is looking up, from the bottom. Joining the Frogs in the cellar are Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State and Iowa State, whom the Frogs play in Amon Carter this Saturday (September 29).

Buoyed by wins over Southern and SMU and a hard-fought loss to Ohio State the previous Saturday, the Frogs went into Austin this past weekend seeking a record fifth straight win over the Longhorns. Instead, the Horned Frogs headed home licking their wounds and searching for their pride. TCU and head coach Gary Patterson lost to a coach (Tom Herman) in his second year at UT and in only his second year as a head coach at a Power 5 school.

As a result, after the loss to the 'Horns, Patterson penned a song. Listen here. 

The embattled Herman, whose Longhorns have not exactly inspired Texas fans until consecutive victories over Southern California and TCU, penned a song that reflected his mood. Listen here. 

The Frogs lost for the second consecutive week to a team they led at the half and to a team they could have, and probably should have, beaten. Once again, mistakes and a dismal third quarter doomed the Horned Frogs.

At the center of the flame-out was TCU quarterback Shawn Robinson. Again. Apparently he and the Frogs can't stand prosperity.

In the Ohio State game, Robinson had three turnovers; two interceptions and a fumble. The fumble was recovered for a touchdown and one of the interceptions was returned for a touchdown. After trailing TCU 14-13 at the half, the Buckeyes scored 20 unanswered points in a four-minute stretch early in the second half. Ohio State scored on a 63-yard pass, a pick-six and a blocked punt in TCU territory that gave their offense excellent starting position. It was enough for the Buckeyes to secure a 40-28 win.

In the loss to the Longhorns, Robinson again had three turnovers; one fumble and two interceptions. One of the interceptions nearly was returned for a touchdown. After trailing TCU 13-10 at the half and then 16-10 early in the third quarter, Texas scored two touchdowns in less than 20 seconds to take 24-16 lead late in the third quarter. The 'Horns iced the game with a final touchdown that came with less than four minutes to play.

Against Texas, an interception also was thrown by receiver KaVontae Turpin, on a trick play.

Through four games, Robinson, who is a sophomore and for the first season is leading the Horned Frogs as their starting quarterback, has completed 74 of 122 passes for 841 yards. He has six touchdown passes and five interceptions (he also was intercepted in the SMU game). Robinson has at least one touchdown pass in each of his five career starts at TCU. He also has rushed for 176 yards on 27 carries, with three touchdowns.

Texas mostly shut down a TCU running game that had gained at least 200 yards in each of its first three games. Against Texas, Robinson was the Frogs' leading rusher. He had 57 yards on nine carries. Running back Sewo Olonilua had 55 yards on 12 carries. Running back Darius Anderson, who had a record-breaking performance against Ohio State, had only 15 yards on eight carries.

The Frogs' only touchdown against Texas came on a one-yard pass from Robinson to receiver Jalen Reagor, who had eight receptions for 96 yards, including a long reception of 50 yards. Seventeen of Reagor's team-best 23 receptions have resulted in a first down or touchdown. Reagor’s 5.8 receptions per-game average thus far this season have him on pace for TCU’s second-best receiving season

TCU's other points against Texas came on three field goals by Jonathan Song, who apparently has replaced Cole Bunce as the Frogs' field-goal kicker. Against Texas, Song had a career-long 46-yard field goal on TCU's opening series. His previous best was 39 yards at Kansas State last season. Song added 23- and 29-yard field goals and is now 11-of-12 in his career on field goals.

The Frogs' defense played well enough to keep the Frogs within striking distance, until late in the game. The defense had three sacks, including 1.5 sacks by defensive end Ben Banogu, who now has 11 sacks in his two seasons as a Horned Frog. He also had two quarterback hurries.

For the second straight game, however, the defense had no takeaways. Also, against Texas, the defense continued to give up the big play, including a 31-yard TD pass to wide receiver Collin Johnson that was the first of the 'Horns two scores in less than 20 seconds in the third quarter. Earlier in the game, Johnson had a 45-yard reception. For the game, he had seven receptions for 124 yards.

Texas wide receiver Lil'Jordan Humphrey had four receptions for 77 yards, including a diving 38-yard touchdown reception between two TCU defenders in the fourth quarter.

Longhorns quarterback Sam Ehlinger managed the game well for Texas. He completed 22 of 32 passes for 255 yards and had the two touchdown throws. Ehlinger also had one rushing touchdown. He had no turnovers.

This Saturday, the 29th, after three straight games away from home, and the two consecutive losses, the Frogs begin working on salvaging their season with a 6pm kick off scheduled in The Carter against Iowa State.

The fact that the game is being played at night is a good sign. In the 18-season tenure of Patterson, TCU is 43-7 in home night games. Also, TCU is 37-13 in regular-season games following a loss under Patterson, who is 5-2 as a head coach versus Iowa State. The Horned Frogs have lost three games in a row in the same season just once (2013) under Patterson, and TCU has a seven-game home winning streak.

The Cyclones have a one-game winning streak. On Saturday, the 22nd, they beat Akron, 26-13, in Ames. Previously, Iowa State had lost to Oklahoma, 37-27, and to Iowa, 13-3. The Cyclones' first game of the season, against South Dakota State, was cancelled due to adverse weather.

It's an entirely different scenario this year, than last year's game against these two teams in Ames. At that time, TCU was undefeated and fourth-ranked. Iowa State, thanks in large part to an upset victory against Oklahoma in Norman, was 25th-ranked. TCU's offense, led by quarterback Kenny Hill, had a horrendous day and the Frogs were upset by the Cyclones, 14-7.

This Saturday, neither team is ranked. Both merely will be looking to avoid remaining in the cellar of the Big 12 Conference.