For the past week we've been coming up with dream and nightmare scenarios for every Big 12 team. Of course, reality will likely fall somewhere in the middle. But imagine a season in which every single possible domino fell into place. And likewise, if all that could go wrong, well, did.
We continue the series with the TCU Horned Frogs:
Dream scenario
The 2014 version of Trevone Boykin was dang good. The 2015 version of Boykin is darn incredible. The best offense in TCU history falls into place around the school’s best quarterback since Davey O’Brien and Sammy Baugh. Josh Doctson has the look of an NFL-level wideout, completely overpowering cornerbacks downfield. On the other side, blazer Kolby Listenbee emerges as the most-improved playmaker in the league. Running back Aaron Green averages more than seven yards per carry again, and a veteran line simply steamrolls the opposition.
In the opener, the Patterson Purple People Eaters drop off seven touchdowns in the first quarter at Minnesota before quickly calling off the Frogs out of respect for Gary P.'s good friend, Gophers coach Jerry Kill.
TCU, however, holds nothing back (again) three weeks later at Texas Tech. After a scoreless first quarter on both sides, the Frogs outscore Tech 28-3 in the second quarter, 31-7 in the third and 21-6 in the fourth, coming a field goal away from breaking their own Big 12 single-game scoring record (set last season vs. Tech).
Sweeping into October, the Fighting Frogs of Fort Worth lead the nation in scoring. But it's the defense that is about to make its mark. Spearheaded by Freshman All-Americans Mike Freeze and DeShawn Raymond, TCU delivers back-to-back-to-back shutouts of Texas, Kansas State and Iowa State.
Grind-out wins in Stillwater and Norman set up the game of the year in college football, pitting No. 3 Baylor against the top-ranked Frogs on a Fort Worth Black Friday.
Early on, it looks as if the moment might be too big for TCU. The fast-break offense hits the skids against Shawn Oakman and Andrew Billings, while the defense labors to keep up with Corey Coleman and K.D. Cannon. The Frogs trail by 21 in the fourth quarter after Coleman takes TCU’s seventh punt of the night to the house.
But that’s when Trevone “the Don” awakens. He wills TCU to a touchdown drive. Then another. Then another. Suddenly, the bout is tied in the final minute. Baylor goes for it on fourth down near midfield to try to escape with a win, but Seth Russell’s pass sails to the turf. Art Briles argues that Coleman’s jersey was being held, but officials don’t see it that way. Three plays later, the Frogs are in field-goal range, and Jaden Oberkrom nails the 52-yard game-winner.
There’s no debate this time about TCU making the College Football Playoff, and in a Jerry’s World rematch from two years ago against LSU, the Horned Frogs advance to the title game behind Cameron Echols-Luper’s second-half punt return touchdown.
Ohio State is there waiting in the championship game. But Boykin ends any lingering doubts he’s the best QB in the country, outshining Cardale Jones in the first half, J.T. Barrett in the third quarter and Braxton Miller in the fourth to lead the Frogs to the national championship.
TCU boosters buy another billboard in Columbus that reads “Congratulations to TCU for their playoff title! -Little Sisters of the Poor.” Patterson is national coach of the year for a second straight season. Boykin captures the Heisman. Jim Schlossnagle leads TCU to a national title in baseball. Brandon Finnegan picks up the save in Game 7 of the World Series.
Nightmare scenario
Without Paul Dawson and Chucky Hunter and Kevin White and Sam Carter and Chris Hackett, a TCU defense is mediocre for the first time since Patterson arrived in Funkytown. The Horned Frogs escape the Twin Cities unscathed but surrender 35 points -- a sign of defensive lapses to come.
Patterson keeps a finger in the dam the following two weeks. But in Lubbock, the walls come down. Pat Mahomes leads Tech to a 56-42 shootout victory, dimming TCU’s Big 12 title and playoff hopes. In early November, Oklahoma State douses them for good. The Frogs have no answer for Cowboys quarterback Mason Rudolph, who outduels Boykin.
Two weeks later, TCU falls at Oklahoma as well, this time on Charles Tapper’s fourth-quarter pick-six of Boykin, leaving the Frogs teetering into their tilt with Baylor. Against the Bears, a frustrated Boykin delivers his worst performance since 2013, as Baylor cruises 49-21. Afterward, Orion Stewart plants a “BU” flag through the eye of the midfield Horned Frog logo.
TCU ends the season 8-5 after a loss to Arkansas in the Liberty Bowl. Baylor goes on to win the national title, then steals three of TCU's top commitments the week of signing day. Co-offensive coordinators Sonny Cumbie and Doug Meacham take jobs elsewhere. Billy Bob’s relocates to Austin.