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Baylor vs TCU will be the game of the year in college football

By Cody Williams

Oct 11, 2014; Waco, TX, USA; Baylor Bears running back Shock Linwood (32) during the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at McLane Stadium. The Bears defeat Horned Frogs 61-58. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 11, 2014; Waco, TX, USA; Baylor Bears running back Shock Linwood (32) during the game against the TCU Horned Frogs at McLane Stadium. The Bears defeat Horned Frogs 61-58. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /
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Baylor facing off with rival TCU will go down as the game to remember from the 2015 college football season.

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While the college football world has kept their focus on the traditional rivalries from around the country, the Baylor Bears and TCU Horned Frogs have been developing yet another feud in the state of Texas. This is a rivalry filled to the brim with points, offensive talent, and offensive gurus calling the plays from the sidelines.

Last season’s meeting between the two teams delivered in an instant classic. In a contest where the two teams combined for 1,267 yards of total offense, Baylor trailed by 21 points with just over 11 minutes remaining. However, they rose to the occasion in a massive way to score 24 unanswered points and kick a 28-yard field goal as time expired to get the 61-58 victory.

Don’t expect this year’s meeting between the two Big 12 schools to be a letdown by any means. When the Bears and Horned Frogs take the field in Fort Worth on November 27, fans and viewers should prepare themselves for what’s going to be the game of the year for 2015.

In the 2014 season, Baylor and TCU finished first and second respectively in terms of points scored per game. That goes with Baylor finishing fourth in the nation in passing yards per game and 29th in rushing yards. The Horned Frogs weren’t far behind, finishing seventh in the country in passing yards and 36th in rushing yards.

While you might be saying that last season’s statistics don’t matter, they certainly do in this case. For TCU, they’re returning their most dangerous weapon in senior quarterback Trevone Boykin. As a dual-threat quarterback, Boykin will keep their offense ticking and will have another year of experience under his belt. Meanwhile, Boykin will have his leading rusher (Aaron Green) and his three leading receivers (Josh Doctson, Kolby Listenbee, and Deant Gray) from last year back this season alongside him. Their offense won’t miss a beat.

There’s a bit more of a reason to be skeptical about Baylor’s offense being at the same high level this season after graduating quarterback Bryce Petty. However, Sean Russell looked ready to step into Petty’s shoes in limited work last season and has the tools to shine as he’s handed the reigns this season. Like Boykin at TCU, Russell will have a multitude of weapons returning, including the Bears’ leading rusher (Shock Linwood) and three of their four leading receivers (Corey Coleman, Kd Cannon, and Jay Lee) from last year.

It’s a fair opinion to believe that a 61-58 game isn’t going to happen again this season. Even if it doesn’t, Baylor and TCU are teams whose styles of play always seem to result in a shootout when the two programs collide. No matter how good their respective defenses are, they aren’t powerful enough to stifle the opposing offense. This year’s installment in their budding rivalry may not result in a combined 119 points, but it’s going to be a wild, high-scoring affair.

Game of the year is a subjective term in the purest form. If you’re all about seeing a defensive struggle that ends 3-0, then TCU/Baylor may not be for you. However, crazy offensive production and potency piques the interests of the majority of fans. In that regard, there won’t be a better game this season than the Bears facing off with the Horned Frogs.

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