After a 37-33 upset victory over a fourth-ranked Oklahoma Sooners team that many saw as national title contenders, head coach Gary Patterson acted as if everything was normal.

“You all think this was a shock. I told the guys in the locker room, ‘Why are you guys so excited?’ If you want to be this type of program, you gotta act like you just beat Minnesota or Samford or whoever you played,” Patterson said.

It wasn’t all business for Patterson, however, as he said he might find a private spot tonight to let out a Rose Bowl-esque scream 

“Am I really excited and do I want to go out and scream? Yeah, I do. And maybe somewhere where nobody sees me I might,” Patterson said. “But the bottom line is, the Big 12 title goes through Norman, but it also goes through Waco.”

TCU didn’t appear to have the game secured for much of the fourth quarter, as multiple late-game turnovers saw the Frogs giving the ball back to Oklahoma’s high-powered offense.

“Holy smokes, if you would’ve told me that we would fumble the ball twice in the last four minutes and still win the ballgame, that just doesn’t happen,” Patterson said. 

Patterson expanded on the offense’s second half struggles when asked about the wild nature of the 37-33 victory.

“We didn’t have enough firepower, so it came down to an interception return for a touchdown and then we almost gave it all up with a blocked field goal for heaven’s sake,” Patterson said.

After the TCU defense made multiple crucial stops in the fourth quarter and the ball seemed to bounce the Horned Frogs’ way, Patterson found himself looking up for answers.

“Finally, the football Gods listened after two years and maybe we got a little luck on our side,” Patterson said. 

Patterson added that the Horned Frogs needed a few tricks to win the game, and he said the defense ran formations and plays in the second half that they hadn’t worked on all week in practice to counter Oklahoma’s offensive attack.

In regards to his quarterback, Patterson said junior Trevone Boykin was “tremendous.”

After the game, Boykin said the team is confident in TCU’s chances of winning the Big 12 conference.

“Yeah, we feel like we can win the Big 12 title,” Boykin said. “We’re gonna prepare for Baylor just like we did for Oklahoma because the next week is always the most important week.”

Boykin said the team has been working on its “swagger,” and added that he’s never felt more confident in his abilities.

“I would say [my confidence] is off the charts right now,” Boykin said. “Headed into the game we were confident that we can win, and nothing matters except what those 53 guys in the locker room believe.”

When asked about TCU being underrated and lesser-known across the nation, Boykin said that if people didn’t know about the Horned Frogs before, they will now.

The junior quarterback added that the revitalization of the TCU offensive attack is not just from his play, but due to the “weapons that we have all over the field.”

Games like this one are why the Horned Frogs installed the Air Raid offense this offseason, Patterson said.

“I changed the offense to even the playing field. Some teams, like Oklahoma, you’re not gonna be able to push around, so you’ve got to do something differently,” Patterson said.

The Horned Frogs debuted a new speed option rushing attack for the Oklahoma game, something Patterson said he’s been advocating for in order to keep defenses honest.

TCU’s all-time winningest head coach said he was especially excited about the “unbelievable” atmosphere and the energy from the fans at Amon G. Carter Stadium, adding that “everyone got their money’s worth.”

Patterson stressed that the team can’t get too excited about this game and lose its focus for the marquee matchup against Baylor next weekend.

“We shouldn’t get all excited, we’ve got Baylor next week,” Patterson said. “I’m going to go eat a little bit of dinner and then start on Baylor. That’s not coach-speak, I promise you, that’s whats happening.”