What Does It Mean For Alabama?

TCU fell from the ranks of the unbeaten on Saturday when Max Duggan and the Horned Frogs came up short against Kansas State in the Big 12 championship game.

Despite a heroic effort from Duggan, who had 15 rushes for 110 yards and a touchdown and completed 18-of-36 passes for 251 yards and a score, the Horned Frogs lost 31-28 on a 31-yard field goal by Ty Zentner in overtime.

Instead of coasting into Sunday’s College Football Playoff Selection Show (noon, ESPN), TCU (12-1) will now have to wait to see what the selection committee decides. Are they in with one loss? Or does a two-loss Alabama team (10-2) jump into the top 4 from the No. 6 spot. With USC losing the Pac-12 title game Friday night to Utah, it drastically increased the probability that No. 5 Ohio State will move into the top 4 ahead of the Trojans.

“We shouldn’t be punished for coming to the Big 12 Championship,” TCU coach Sonny Dykes told reporters following the overtime loss.

He added: “To go back to 2014, TCU has been through this… I’m concerned obviously, but I’ve got faith in the committee. I believe that we deserve to be in so I guess we’ll wait and see.”

Both TCU and Alabama have a win over Texas on the road, while Alabama’s best wins came at Texas, against Ole Miss and Mississippi State, now ranked No. 25.

TCU ended up splitting two games with Kansas State, and also owns victories over then-No. 8 Oklahoma State, then-No. 18 Oklahoma and at then-No. 19 Kansas.

The committee could decide that Alabama is worthy of being in the top 4 based in part on pedigree. Nick Saban’s teams have won three of the eight national championships under this current format. But Alabama didn’t win the SEC West, lost to a three-loss LSU team and a two-loss team has never made the Playoff before.

Many industry experts believe TCU will get the nod.

The College Football Playoff semifinals will be played Dec. 31 at the Fiesta and Peach Bowls, with the national championship game Jan. 9 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif.