TCU's blowout win over Texas wasn't as dominant as it appeared
Don't let the final score fool you. TCU's 48-10 blowout win over Texas on Thanksgiving was a lot closer than it looked.
Based on the way TCU's offense played against Texas prior to their 28-point fourth quarter, one wouldn't have known that the Horned Frogs were the second-highest scoring team in the nation.
Sure, they managed to pile on 48 points against the Longhorns, but through three quarters they were baffled by Texas's defense - especially when you consider that seven of their 20 first half points came courtesy of the defense.
Simply put, until the fourth quarter came around, this wasn't the same high-octane offense that we've come to know over the course of the season.
Credit must be given where credit is due, and Texas's defense played an incredible game, doing everything in their power to keep the Longhorns within striking distance. But with no help from the offense, TCU's 13-point first quarter lead may as well have been 45.
To say that Tyrone Swoopes had a rough Thanksgiving would be putting it lightly.
The sophomore quarterback failed to capitalize on his defense's stellar play, as his inability to lead the offense on a successful drive coupled with his four turnovers - he threw three interceptions and lost a fumble which turned into 24 points for the Horned Frogs - crippled the Longhorns.
If Swoopes managed to lead the offense to a first-half touchdown, this could have been a very different game.
As is the case when playing an elite offense, the Longhorns' defense was unable to contain TCU in the fourth quarter and Trevone Boykin and co. finally turned the corner and opened up the floodgates.
The result was a 48-10 win that, through three quarters, was much closer than the final score indicates.
At the end of the day, the No. 5 team in the nation needed to leave Austin with a decisive win, and they did just that. But they'll need to put on a dominant performance against Iowa State in their season finale (or hope for Mississippi State to lose) if they want to find themselves in the playoffs.
If they do make it into the tournament, they'll need to find their offensive groove before the fourth quarter if they hope to advance against teams like Alabama, Oregon and Florida State.