Dykes says TCU belongs in CFP despite loss

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Shortly aft No. 3 TCU's archetypal nonaccomplishment of the season, a 31-28 overtime decision successful the Big 12 title crippled to No. 10 Kansas State, Sonny Dykes said helium is assured the Horned Frogs merit a spot successful the College Football Playoff erstwhile the enactment committee's rankings are revealed tomorrow.

"For definite I do," Dykes said. "We went done the Big 12 12-0. ... I don't deliberation we should beryllium punished for coming to the Big 12 title game. I don't deliberation the league title games are designed to punish teams and forestall them from getting successful the playoffs. We were [No.] 3 past week. My anticipation is that we would enactment astatine 3 and spell tee it up and spot however we do."

TCU, similar it has respective times this season, fell down Kansas State and trailed 28-17 aboriginal successful the 4th quarter. But down backmost Max Duggan, the Horned Frogs mounted a chaotic comeback to necktie the crippled astatine 28-28 with 1:51 near successful regulation.

In overtime, Duggan scrambled for what looked similar a imaginable touchdown connected 2nd down, but officials ruled helium was down abbreviated of the extremity line. On 3rd down, the Wildcats stopped TCU moving backmost Kendre Miller abbreviated again connected different play that was reviewed to spot if helium had scored (though the crippled was not stopped for the review). Miller was stopped again connected a handoff connected 4th down.

Kansas State past kicked a tract extremity to win, giving the Wildcats their 3rd Big 12 rubric successful the league's history.

Dykes said helium was disappointed that the Horned Frogs were not capable to implicit the comeback and present trust connected the committee's judgment.

"We were virtually an inch distant from winning the game, oregon surely having a accidental to, and being 13-0," the manager said. "My anticipation is that they spot it the aforesaid mode I saw it and recognize the resume is bully capable and we merit to beryllium portion of it. Our anticipation [was] to not person to trust connected a quality contest. Our anticipation was to footwear the doorway down and marque definite that we were Big 12 champs and determination was nary treatment astir it."

Kansas State manager Chris Klieman said aft the crippled helium agrees with Dykes.

"TCU should beryllium successful the CFP," helium said. "They're 1 of the champion 4 teams."

But present TCU has to hold for the committee's decision, an uncomfortable feeling for Frogs fans aft they were bypassed by Ohio State and near retired of the tract connected the past play successful 2014.

"[There's] astir apt a small spot of anxiousness for each of us," Dykes said. "But again, I've got a batch of religion successful the committee. I cognize they've got a precise hard happening to do, but I judge that those guys volition instrumentality a look astatine what we've been capable to accomplish, and what this squad looks similar and what we've what we've done and enactment america in. My anticipation was to observe a Big 12 title contiguous and not interest excessively overmuch astir it. But, you know, it's going to beryllium a antithetic people of action."

Duggan was 18-of-36 for 251 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception and besides ran for 110 yards and different TD, including rushing for 95 yards connected 1 80-yard thrust owed to penalties. He past threw the game-tying 2-point conversion to Jared Wiley.

After the game, helium was affectional and disappointed helium wasn't capable to bring a league title to TCU aft a stellar elder play successful which helium could beryllium a Heisman Trophy finalist. He said, choking backmost tears, helium wasn't definite wherever the rankings would spot the Frogs.

"I deliberation if we got in, we would springiness 1 heck of a combat and I deliberation our competitiveness volition instrumentality over," Duggan said. "I don't truly care, particularly astatine this moment. Wherever they archer america we're playing, we'll spell play."