Texas Christian quarterback Trevone Boykin looks to throw against Kansas State on Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012, at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas. Kansas State defeated TCU, 23-10. Bo Rader/Wichita Eagle/MCT
On Sunday, it was announced the MSU football team (6-6 overall, 3-5 Big Ten) is headed to Tempe, Ariz., to take on the TCU Horned Frogs (7-5, 4-5 Big 12) in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl. It will be the second meeting in program history for the two teams. For those who are unfamiliar, here’s your introduction to Texas Christian University.
Nickname: Horned Frogs
Conference: Big 12
Team colors: Purple and white
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Head coach: Gary Patterson
2012 regular season recap
The Horned Frogs began the season ranked No. 20 in the nation, but after winning their first four games, TCU stumbled, dropping four of its next six.
TCU struggled with a strong conference schedule — facing five ranked teams — but managed to scrape together a 2-3 record against those teams and earned a bowl berth.
Key game
TCU was able to lock up a bowl berth on the road with a 39-38 double overtime victory over then-No. 23 West Virginia, the first meeting between the two schools as the newest members of the Big 12.
The Horned Frogs sealed a victory when head coach Gary Patterson elected to go for two following a TCU touchdown in the second overtime, and the gamble paid off.
Key player
Freshman defensive end Devonte Fields has had a phenomenal first season with the Horned Frogs, being named a first-team Associated Press All-Big 12 in addition to raking in Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year honors and being named the conference’s top defensive player.
Fields recorded 17.5 tackles for loss — the most in the Big 12 — as well as nine sacks, which is good enough for second in the conference.
Bowl history
TCU boasts a bowl record of 13-14-1 and is 1-1 in BCS games. In 2011, the Horned Frogs topped co-Big Ten champion Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl 21-19.
That win was considered a statement game for TCU, after the program had been disrespected by Ohio State President E. Gordon Gee earlier in the season for its weak schedule.
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