TCU’s Patterson puzzled but OK with Saturday’s early start

All things considered, TCU football coach Gary Patterson sounds as puzzled as many fans about why the Horned Frogs (5-4, 3-3) have drawn an 11 a.m. kickoff Saturday on FS1 against No. 13 Oklahoma State (8-2, 6-1) in a matchup between bowl contenders when Big 12 teams with lesser records are playing in more coveted afternoon time slots.

Other Saturday matchups include a pair of 2:30 p.m. telecasts between four schools that do not have a winning record between them: Texas (5-5, 3-4) at Kansas (1-9, 0-7) on WFAA/Ch. 8 and Texas Tech (4-6, 2-5) at Iowa State (2-8, 1-6) on FS1.

"You know, I didn’t quite understand it," Patterson said Tuesday when asked about having the earliest possible start for a game between teams with winning records. "Just the way that all the scenarios, by the way they pick them as far as what the ballgame is supposed to mean.

"But it’s OK with me. It gives me more time after the ballgame to get ready for Texas."

Patterson said he plans to begin videotape study of the Longhorns as soon as possible after Texas’ game concludes in Lawrence, Kan. in preparation for a matchup in Austin on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

This story was originally published November 15, 2016 at 3:55 PM with the headline "TCU’s Patterson puzzled but OK with Saturday’s early start."