Sonny Dykes argues TCU's case for the College Football Playoff after Big 12 Championship loss

TCU entered Saturday ranked No. 3 in the penultimate College Football Playoff rankings and poised for a spot in the top four. Then, Kansas State pulled off the upset of the Horned Frogs, putting their CFP hopes into question.

Sonny Dykes sure thinks his team deserves to make it.

After the game, Dykes made the case for his team to make the CFP. The Horned Frogs fell to Kansas State 31-28 in overtime on Saturday after an undefeated regular season, and Dykes said that record — especially in the Big 12 — should be enough to put his team in the field.

“I think we’re certainly deserving,” Dykes said. “I think the (Big 12) is one of the best leagues in the country. To go through undefeated in the (regular season), certainly we ought to get in. I don’t think we should be punished for coming to the Big 12 Championship game.”

TCU mounted a comeback thanks to quarterback Max Duggan, who led a game-tying drive to end regulation and capped it off with an eight-yard touchdown run and completed the ensuing two-point conversion. However, the Horned Frogs’ attempt in overtime came up short and K-State made the game-winning field goal to seal the upset.

Now, TCU will await its CFP hopes when the final rankings come out Sunday at noon ET on ESPN.

Stan Van Gundy makes College Football Playoff case for USC, TCU despite title-game losses

The College Football Playoff picture was thrown for a loop on Friday night when Utah beat USC for the second time, this time in the Pac-12 Championship Game, potentially clearing the way for one-loss Ohio State or even two-loss Alabama to join the top four teams on Sunday.

TCU also lost in the Big 12 Championship Game against Kansas State on Saturday, though the Horned Frogs can presumably remain in the mix for a playoff berth with only one loss.

But at least one prominent TV analyst believes it’s a bit of a farce that either team should drop from last week’s College Football Playoff ranking simply because they earned the right to play in their conference championship game.

“To me the College Football Playoff makes no sense to me,” TNT NBA analyst Stan Van Gundy said. “Playing in your conference championship game should never work against you. Why should it be advantage for Ohio State and Alabama to sit home while USC and TCU have to play an extra game against a nationally ranked team?”