TCU demolishes Kansas State, but it still won't be enough to crack CFP top four

A week ago, TCU quarterback Trevone Boykin apologized to his teammates for a poor performance in a one-point victory against West Virginia.

On Saturday, he was celebrating one of the best performances of his career with a career high with 123 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 17 carries and 219 yards passing and another score in 41-20 win against No. 7 Kansas State.

The performance couldn’t have come at a better time as the No. 6 Horned Frogs needed to add yet another signature win to their College Football Playoff resume.

TCU has defeated four ranked teams this season, but it still might not be enough to push the Horned Frogs into the coveted top four.

TCU was already behind No. 5 Alabama, which won in overtime at LSU. No. 3 Auburn lost, which means the Tide probably will slip into the top four leaving the Horned Frogs on the outside looking in, at least for the time being.

Saturday’s win against Kansas State was TCU’s last opportunity for a marquee win. It's final three games are against Kansas, Texas and Iowa State. Of those teams, Texas has the best record at 5-5; the other two teams have five wins combined.

Every other team ahead of the Horned Frogs faces at least one ranked team before the final playoff rankings are decided, which could help or hurt the Horned Frogs depending on the outcomes.

Still, TCU has done everything it can to be considered one of the nation’s top teams and Saturday’s win against Kansas State just accentuated that point.

TCU jumped out to a 17-7 lead in the first half and then, on the first possession of the second half, Boykin scrambled for 19 yards, met two defenders at the goal line and flipped head over heels into the end zone. Boykin added a 24-yard touchdown run in fourth quarter and he got lots of rushing help from Aaron Green, who had 18 carries for 171 yards, which included a 65-yard touchdown run.

Even if TCU wins out, it might not make the playoff. It’s clear it needs at least one of the teams ahead of it to lose to find its way in. Still, if TCU falls short, it won’t because the Horned Frogs didn’t make a valiant effort. With the exception of a stunning loss to Baylor, the Horned Frogs have answered every bell.

They just might not get rewarded for it.

For more TCU news, visit PurpleMenace.com.

For more Kansas State news, visit GoPowerCat.com.

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Graham Watson is the editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email her at dr.saturday@ymail.com or follow her on Twitter! Follow @YahooDrSaturday

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