Taking stock of Week 14 in the Big 12:
Team of the week: After stumbling in a narrow win over Kansas, TCU had to bounce back to return to the good graces of the playoff selection committee. The Horned Frogs did that and then some in a 48-10 dismantling of Texas in Austin. The TCU defense gave up only one pass longer than 13 yards and forced Texas QB Tyrone Swoopes into five turnovers. The Horned Frogs might not be as prolific offensively as Baylor or as stout defensively as Texas, but they have demonstrated they have the Big 12's best combination of the two.
Disappointment of the week: Texas had a chance to build on its strong finish to the season against the Horned Frogs. Instead, the Longhorns failed to score a touchdown through the first three quarters and suffered their worst loss to TCU in 58 years. It was also the worst home loss for Texas since the infamous "Rout 66" loss to UCLA in 1997. After a rough start to the Charlie Strong era, the Longhorns had their moments in 2014. None, though, came Thanksgiving night.
Big (offensive) man on campus: Patrick Mahomes didn't beat Baylor. But the Texas Tech true freshman quarterback dazzled in a loss. He threw for six touchdowns and passed for 598 yards, which was the third-highest single-game total of any FBS QB this year. Over his final three games, Mahomes threw 14 touchdowns to just two interceptions, suggesting he might be Kliff Kingsbury's long-term answer at quarterback.
Big (defensive) man on campus: TCU linebacker Paul Dawson was a man possessed once again, punishing Texas with a game-high 10 tackles. He also came up with an interception at the end of the third quarter, which set up a touchdown that put TCU ahead 27-3. In the first quarter, Dawson also drilled Swoopes, who threw a pick to safety Sam Carter on the next play. Dawson has had an All-American-caliber season for the Horned Frogs and should be a lock for every all-conference ballot.
Special-teams player of the week: West Virginia place-kicker Josh Lambert finished off a fabulous sophomore season by nailing three field goals in the 37-24 win at Iowa State. He missed a 49-yarder early in the game, but came back to drill a 46-yard try in the third quarter that gave West Virginia the lead for good. The Lou Groza Award finalist finished the regular season with a Big 12-best 27 made field goals.
Play of the week: After Mahomes heaved a 40-yard touchdown to Bradley Marquez with 1:42 to play, the Red Raiders had a chance to tie Baylor and send the shootout to overtime. But Mahomes couldn't find a receiver open on the two-point conversion attempt and instead scrambled back before taking a sack. Texas Tech failed to recover the ensuing onside attempt, effectively ending a wild game in Jerry's World.
Stat of the week: Dating to 2012, Baylor has now won 20 consecutive games in the state of Texas. With the win over Texas Tech, the Bears also secured back-to-back 10-win seasons for the first time in school history.
Quote of the week: "I'll fight a man with three children and a nice house any day over somebody that's living out of their car." -- Baylor coach Art Briles, on facing a "desperate" team in Texas Tech