TCU belonged in the College Football Playoff, but it’s better that they’re not

The Big 12 was left out of the first College Football Playoff. The 12-1 records of TCU and Baylor were deemed inferior to the 12-1 records of Alabama, Oregon, and Ohio State.

Baylor coach Art Briles toed the line of belligerence in his criticism of the Big 12’s decision to name his team and TCU co-champions. It was a decision the playoff committee ultimately penalized the two teams for. While Briles fumed, TCU coach Gary Patterson kept his sentiments simple.

“It’s one of those things if you didn’t want to be disappointed you need to be undefeated,” Patterson said. “It’s the only way you can control your own destiny and we didn’t do that.”

TCU then spent the next three weeks preparing for No. 9 Ole Miss.