Bowl eligibility top storyline for TCU going into Oklahoma State game

Oklahoma State has averaged 567 yards in its last four games, including 600-plus yard performances the last two weeks against West Virginia and Oklahoma.

“It’s a special thing when I go to sleep,” TCU coach Gary Patterson said earlier this week. “Everybody should get an opportunity to be a defensive coordinator in the Big 12.”

For Patterson, though, the sleepless nights are worth it in an effort to get this year’s team to a bowl game. At 5-6, TCU is in a must-win situation against Oklahoma State on Saturday to reach college football’s postseason.

Five things to watch going into the TCU-Oklahoma State game –

For the seniors

Patterson preaches the importance of giving the seniors the best year possible every season. That’s no different this season.

Nobody wants to end their college careers without a bowl berth. It’s something that has only happened twice in Patterson’s first 17 seasons.

“That’s not a great group to be in,” Patterson said. “There’s too many good kids not to try to do what you need to do to try to get to that point.”

The Mule

Grayson Muehlstein is finally getting his moment.

The fifth-year senior handled himself well in helping TCU to a 16-9 victory over Baylor last week, and is getting first-team reps in practice this week.

Of course TCU would prefer to have its top two quarterbacks (Shawn Robinson and Mike Collins) available, but the team and Patterson appreciate a player such as Muehlstein’s story.

Muehlstein joined the program as the No. 4-rated quarterback in Texas, and has stuck with it despite being buried on the depth chart.

Muehlstein understands the offense and, by spending a week with the first-team, should benefit him when he makes his first start Saturday.

“The thing he does give you is a little bit escapability,” Patterson said. “He can run with the football. He’s a strong runner.”

Speaking of running …

As we mentioned earlier this week, the formula to beat Oklahoma State is to establish the running game. That’s what every team that has beaten OSU did.

TCU rebounded from a forgettable rushing game at West Virginia with a 42-carry, 160-yard ground game in its win at Baylor. The Frogs have to do the same this week.

TCU is expected to be without its top two running backs, Darius Anderson and Sewo Olonilua, leaving just one healthy scholarship RB in Emari Demercado. Demercado and Muehlstein will be asked to carry the load against the Cowboys.

“I’m definitely excited to get some more playing time,” Demercado said. “Saturday I’m ready to go if I have to go.”

Defensive love

Oklahoma State is a potent offense, as stated. The Cowboys have posted consecutive 600-yard games.

But, somehow despite all the injuries, Patterson has TCU as the top-ranked defense in the Big 12.

The latest example came against Baylor last week. TCU held Baylor to a season-low nine points and 303 total yards of offense. The week before that Baylor had been getting praise for its 505 total yards of offense against Iowa State.

“We didn’t even make the, ‘We did a great job coaching this week,’” Patterson said, shaking his head.

If TCU’s defense can have a similar performance against Oklahoma State, Patterson and TCU will be in position to garner praise in the form of a bowl berth.

X factors

It should go without saying, but TCU has to win the situational battles once again this week to go bowling.

The Frogs have the best third-down defense in the league, holding opponents to 31.6 percent in those situations. Baylor was just 2-of-13 in those situations last week.

Oklahoma State enters the game converting 44.2 percent of its third downs.

The other factor to watch is the turnover battle. TCU struggled in that department much of the season, but has been better of late.

The Frogs were plus-3 in turnover margin in their win over the Bears last week, and plus-2 in the win over K-State three weeks ago.