TCU envisions Big 12 title running through FW as OU game nears

TCU defensive end Josh Carraway says the Horned Frogs are motivated by Saturday’s matchup against Oklahoma, the defending Big 12 champion, and will carry a “Why not us?” approach into the contest as they survey what appears to be a wide-open race for the league title.

No. 21 TCU (3-1, 1-0 in Big 12) and No. 13 Baylor (4-0, 1-0) share the top spot in the league standings heading into this week’s first full week of league games. Oklahoma (1-2, 0-0), which began the season at No. 3 in the preseason polls before losing nonconference games to No. 2 Ohio State (3-0) and No. 6 Houston (4-0), will be playing its first conference game of the season.

Every game between the teams during TCU’s tenure in the Big 12 has been close, including last year’s 30-29 victory by OU in Norman, Okla. that decided last year’s league title.

“We’re excited. We’ve always played close games against Oklahoma,” Carraway said during Tuesday’s news conference. “They’re a team you respect. You know that if somebody doesn’t play up to their level, you can get beat by 50.”

On the flip side, Carraway said a victory could go a long way toward winning a title and TCU likes its chances in this year’s race.

“You think that every year, ‘Why not us?’ We take each game that way.” Carraway said. “Everybody wants a trophy. In order to get the trohy you have to get a piece of their trophy. Right now, Oklahoma has the Big 12 trophy and we’ve got to take it from them.”

This story was originally published September 27, 2016 at 12:29 PM with the headline "TCU envisions Big 12 title running through FW as OU game nears."