By Jason Fleck
This week’s Big 12 Game of the Week will feature the Kansas State Wildcats against the TCU Horned Frogs. Kansas State is running away with the Big 12, while TCU has struggled at times especially in conference play. TCU has gone 2-3 since losing star quarterback Casey Pachall, who was suspended and later left school and entered himself into a treatment facility stemming from a drunk driving arrest. Most would have counted TCU completely out, but they have refused to give up.
These two teams are having completely different seasons but have some similarities when it comes to being counted out. Kansas State wasn’t expected to beat Oklahoma but somehow pulled it out, people didn’t really start to take their chances seriously until a few weeks ago. Now they are seen as one of the favorites to play for the national championship, most likely against the defending champs Alabama. The Horned Frogs weren’t expected to win at all after losing Pachall, but instead decided to rise to the challenge and with their exciting double overtime thriller over West Virginia became bowl eligible. TCU dealt with losing their QB and now Kansas State might have to do the same. With Collin Klein suffering a mysterious injury in their win over Oklahoma State they too might have to overcome adversity and rely on someone beside their Heisman front runner to keep their dream season alive this weekend in Ft. Worth.
Instead of featuring two star quarterbacks like it was expected when the schedule came out, it might instead be two freshmen battling it out. If that’s the case this game will turn out to be another test for both schools and would ultimately crown the Big 12 champion of resiliency. It has not yet been determined if Klein will play or not, but most of his teammates believe it would be almost impossible to keep him from playing. The truth about the injury will most definitely come out soon enough.
The other story of this game is that Kansas State has a chance to clinch the Big 12 with this win and an Oklahoma loss, while TCU will look to improve their position to receive an even better bowl bid than they are expected to get. A lot is on the line this week, especially for the Wildcats. Which team can pull it out and truly prove to the nation that they should have never been doubted?
Game Info:
#2 KANSAS STATE vs. TCU
SAT. NOV. 10 – 6:00PM / FOX
AMON G. CARTER STADIUM