Despite having back-to-back losses in October and looking awful in a come-from-behind win at Kansas, No. 18 Texas was quietly still keeping itself alive in the Big 12 title race.
That officially ended tonight in a 20-13 loss to TCU. The Longhorns committed four turnovers and once again needed backup quarterback Case McCoy to come in for a struggling David Ash. Ash did sustain a rib injury in the fourth quarter and did not return, but his night was tough from the start. McCoy ended up throwing the game-deciding interception, UT’s third of the night, but he also led a nine-play, 82-yard touchdown drive in the fourth quarter.
The loss eliminates UT from at least a share of a Big 12 championship. Had the Longhorns won tonight, they still would have needed a win over Kansas State next week and a loss from Oklahoma against either Oklahoma State or TCU to force a three-way tie. A four-way tie that would have sent Texas to the BCS was also possible with a win tonight. Instead, K-State, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are now the only Big 12 teams still alive for the conference championship.
TCU is not in the running for a league title, but the Horned Frogs got a signature win in their first year in the Big 12. That would be courtesy of TCU’s defense, which held Texas under 100 yards rushing in addition to the four forced turnovers. Outside of the aforementioned touchdown drive led by McCoy, TCU kept Texas’ offense in check all night.
TCU, on the other hand, was held under 100 yards passing on the night; the Horned Frogs attempted just 10 passes for the game, but rushed for 221 yards.