College Football Around the Region Preview, Week 13: TCU seeks undefeated regular season vs. Iowa State while Texas Tech hosts Oklahoma

No. 4 TCU HORNED FROGS (11-0, 8-0 Big 12)

Last Week: Won, 29-28 at Baylor

This Week: Saturday, 3 p.m. CT vs. Iowa State (4-7, 1-7 Big 12)

TV/Radio: FOX/SiriusXM channel 199

The TCU Horned Frogs survived their biggest scare of the season last Saturday on the road in Waco, topping the Baylor Bears on a scramble drill field goal as time expired to keep their undefeated season alive. Now just two wins away from the Horned Frogs’ first-ever College Football Playoff appearance, TCU welcomes lowly Iowa State to Fort Worth for senior day at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Given the Frogs’ massive, last-second win a week ago and the Cyclones’ record as they come into town, it would be understandable for TCU to be caught with their pants down, overlooking Iowa State in favor of next week’s Big 12 Championship game. Despite ISU’s 1-7 record in Big 12 play, they’ve been competitive in almost every game they’ve played. Only Oklahoma has defeated the Cyclones by more than one score this season, largely because Iowa State’s defense has done such an effective job of keeping games close. Iowa State has allowed only 16.7 points per game this season, good enough for eighth best in the country, and will surely create issues for the Horned Frogs if they don’t bring forth their best effort. History is also working against TCU, as the Cyclones have beaten them each of the last three seasons – including a 48-14 blowout in Ames a year ago. With no bowl game in sight, Saturday’s trip to TCU is ostensibly ISU’s last hurrah – energy TCU will need to match in a conference where no win is automatic.

TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS (6-5, 4-4 Big 12)

Last Week: Won, 14-10 at Iowa State

This Week: Saturday, 6:30 p.m. CT vs. Oklahoma (6-5, 3-5 Big 12)

TV/Radio: FS1/SiriusXM channel 200

The Oklahoma Sooners’ visit to the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Jones AT&T Stadium Saturday night is theoretically a meaningless game, played between teams who clinched bowl eligibility last weekend in their first year under a new head coach. In reality, it’s a game that will weigh heavily on the minds of fans, players, and coaches alike due to the significance of finishing the regular season with a winning record. Joey McGuire’s first season at the helm in Lubbock ought to be considered at least a moderate success, juggling an immediate quarterback injury with an incredibly tough schedule while still managing a bowl berth. Despite Oklahoma’s identical record in Brent Venables’ first season as head coach, it’s nearly impossible to make the same argument for the Sooners’ 2022 season. The Sooners entered 2022 having won nine or more games in seven straight seasons and 11 of the past 12 and have already clinched their lowest regular season win total since 1999. Texas Tech is surely licking their chops with this version of Oklahoma coming to town, a program the Red Raiders have lost to in 10 consecutive years while allowing 49 or more points in each of their last seven matchups. A win over the Sooners would put a bow on a strong season for Tech, setting the stage for their first bowl appearance under Joey McGuire.

BEST OF THE REST AROUND TEXAS

Rice at North Texas, 1 p.m. CT

Memphis at SMU, 2:30 p.m. CT

UTEP at UTSA, 2:30 p.m. CT

Louisiana at Texas State, 4 p.m. CT