Max Duggan, TCU embracing underdog role again in national championship

Max Duggan knows TCU has the underdog role once again going into Monday’s national championship game against Georgia.

Regardless of what the outside world thinks of the Horned Frogs, Duggan and the team have their focus straight ahead on the final game. The Bulldogs are the favorite and look for their second straight national title, which would put them in the history books.

But it’s business as usual for Duggan, head coach Sonny Dykes and the rest of TCU just days away from the biggest game of their life.

“I’m just preparing the same way that we have all year,” Duggan said on Sirius XM. “And I think it’s something that coach Dykes has done a great job of, you know, it’s business as usual. I think we’re doing the same job or the same things that we’ve done, whether it’s, practice, meetings, preparation, lifting, nutrition, recovery, things of that sort. So it’s just being confident and what we’ve done to get to this position and I think just doing the same thing goes on in this game.”

TCU was in the same position against Michigan in the semifinals at the Fiesta Bowl. But, the Horned Frogs struck early and often in the 51-45 upset.

Simply put, nothing’s changed.

“Yeah, it’s kind of a position that we’ve been in all year,” Duggan said. “I think a lot of people have not given us an opportunity or given us a chance to be in this position. But it’s something that we don’t really really focus too much on about anything outside of our program. We don’t worry about it. We see ourselves how we see ourselves and I think that’s all it matters.”

Duggan finished the semifinals 14-of-29 passing for 225 yards, two touchdowns, two interceptions, 57 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns.

On the season, the Heisman finalist had 3,546 yards, 32 touchdowns, six interceptions, a 63.7% completion percentage, 461 rushing yards and eight rushing touchdowns.

Perhaps a key to the game could be the connection with wide receiver Quentin Johnston, a pass catcher the Bulldogs defense must be aware of or it could be a long day.

Johnston had six catches for 163 yards and a touchdown against Michigan.

Running back Kendre Miller is still day-to-day and practically 50-50 to play Monday against the Bulldogs. But if the star running back is in the lineup, it’s just another weapon for the stout Georgia defense to worry about.

CLICK HERE to subscribe for FREE to the On3 YouTube channel

No. 3 TCU (13-1) and No. 1 Georgia (14-0) square off for the national title Monday at 7:30 p.m. ET.