All attention has been on TCU parting ways with longtime football coach Gary Patterson this week, and the search to find Patterson’s replacement.

But TCU (3-5, 1-4 Big 12) is still in the middle of its season and hosts No. 14 Baylor (7-1, 4-1) on Saturday afternoon.

It’ll be a surreal scene without Patterson on the sidelines, but the Frogs are preparing for the moment.

Veteran defensive line coach Dan Sharp is expected to lead the team out of the tunnel. From a defensive play-calling perspective, defensive coordinator Chad Glasgow will call it from upstairs with safeties coach Paul Gonzales signaling from the field.

Patterson has been around the team this week to help with game preparations. He is still all-in on the 2021 season, hoping his guys can find a way to salvage a bowl berth by winning three of the final four games.

But it’s not going to be an easy road, especially with Baylor coming to town. The Bears are riding a three-game winning streak and harbor their own dreams of playing in the Big 12 championship game next month.

With that being said, here’s everything you need to know going into it:

THE DETAILS

Kickoff: 2:30 p.m. Saturday

Where: Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth

TV: FOX (Tim Brando, Spencer Tillman)

Radio: WBAP/820 AM, Sirius 98, XM 200 (Brian Estridge, John Denton, Landry Burdine)

Spanish Radio: Zona MX/99.1 FM (Miguel Cruz, Elvis Gallegos)

The line: Baylor by 7 points, over/under 58 (per VegasInsider.com’s consensus line Friday)

DID YOU KNOW?

TCU is playing its first game without Gary Patterson on the sidelines since the 1997 season. Patterson joined TCU as its defensive coordinator in 1998 and was elevated to head coach in December 2000. ... Interim coach Jerry Kill last served as a head coach during the 2015 season at Minnesota. ... TCU has won five of its last six games against Baylor. ... The Frogs lead the all-time series 56-53-7. ... This will be the 117th meeting between TCU and Baylor. TCU hasn’t played any other program more than Baylor in its history. ... The Bears have the Big 12’s top-ranked rushing offense, averaging 237.4 yards per game. They are led by running backs Abram Smith and Trestan Ebner.

PREDICTION

TCU is entering the post-Gary Patterson era against a Baylor team that is confident. The Bears defeated No. 19 BYU and then Texas in their last two games. Given the coaching change and injury issues facing TCU, Baylor shouldn’t have any issues getting to 8-1. Baylor 41, TCU 20.

This story was originally published November 5, 2021 at 3:39 PM.

Drew Davison

Fort Worth Star-Telegram

Drew Davison was a TCU and Big 12 sports writer for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram until 2022. He covered everything in DFW from Rangers to Cowboys to motor sports.