OSU-TCU: Three Storylines
BY JIMMIE TRAMEL World Sports Writer
Saturday, October 27, 2012
10/27/12 at 6:31 AM
Same story, different characters
Of course, it will be interesting - again - to watch what transpires at the quarterback position for OSU.
First-year freshman Wes Lunt started the first three games of the season. Redshirt freshman J.W. Walsh shined while starting three games in place of Lunt, who was injured in a Sept. 15 game against Louisiana.
Now Walsh is out with a season-ending injury and the who-will-play-QB question shifts to Lunt (cleared to play, but not 100 percent healthy) and junior Clint Chelf, whose 11 previous game appearances came when the outcomes had already been decided.
Since coach Mike Gundy said Lunt could have played last week against Iowa State, then why wouldn't the best available quarterback return to duty against TCU? Expect the Horned Frogs, who rank 21st nationally in sacks, to test Lunt's mobility.
Even if Chelf doesn't take the first snap, he needs to be on standby.
The other QB
TCU starting quarterback Casey Pachall left the team to do some self-help work following a drunken driving arrest earlier this month.
The Horned Frogs had won 12 games in a row before Pachall's exit. They dropped their first game with replacement quarterback Trevone Boykin at the helm. The redshirt freshman threw three interceptions in a home loss to Iowa State.
Immediate overreaction: TCU is done.
Instead, Boykin responded with a job well done. In subsequent starts against Baylor and Texas Tech, he became the first quarterback in TCU history to throw four touchdown passes in back-to-back games. He'll come to Stillwater after throwing for a career-best 332 yards in a triple-overtime loss to Texas Tech.
Boykin was 13-of-13 on third-down passes against Baylor. And he hit 7-of-9 passes, including a 60-yard strike on third-and-20, as TCU rallied from a 10-point deficit to force overtime against Texas Tech.
Watch the clock
Time of possession was an insignificant stat for OSU in recent seasons. A quick-strike offense was responsible for so many points that clockwork didn't matter.
But time of possession could be a factor - at least that's what TCU is counting on.
TCU leads the nation in time of possession and has won 61 of its last 66 games when wielding a time of possession advantage.
Time of possession is equated with offenses holding the ball. But just as important is TCU's ability to make defensive stops and get "enemy" offenses off the field. The Horned Frog defense ranks second nationally (behind Florida State) in forcing an average of 6.1 three-and-out possessions per game.
OSU's offense will likely need to keep the ball long enough to prevent defenders from working overtime and getting fatigued. In a victory over Iowa State last week, the Cowboys posted their biggest time of possession advantage since a 2009 victory over Baylor.
