The No. 3 TCU Horned Frogs will welcome the Iowa State Cyclones to Amon G. Carter stadium Saturday morning for the final game of the regular season. In just their third season in the Big 12, the Frogs will be playing for their first conference championship at home on Senior Day. The stadium will be buzzing as TCU looks to close out an incredible season with a resounding win over a struggling Iowa State team. Here are three players to watch for both teams on Saturday.
Iowa State
Sam Richardson, Junior, Quarterback
With elite quarterbacks such as Bryce Petty and Trevone Boykin stealing the spotlight in the Big 12 each week, other quarterbacks around the league are sometimes forgotten. However, despite Iowa State’s abysmal 2-8 record this season, junior quarterback Sam Richardson has been outstanding for the Cyclones. Currently ranked fifth in the Big 12 in total offense (295 yds/game) and second in completions per game (23.8), Richardson has put together an impressive junior season. Last week, Texas quarterback Tyrone Swoopes struggled mightily to generate any sort of momentum on offense through the air. Facing a more poised and polished quarterback in Richardson on Saturday, the TCU secondary will likely play a bigger role than they did a week ago.
E.J. Bibbs, Senior, Tight End
The talisman and star of the Iowa State offense, senior tight end E.J. Bibbs is one of the highest-ranked tight ends in all of college football. Bibbs ranks fourth in the Big 12 with eight touchdown receptions this season and leads Iowa State with 45 total catches. Last week, Bibbs was unable to play against West Virginia as he was sidelined with a knee injury. Currently, he is listed as day to day. However, one would think in his last game as a Cyclone it would take something significant to keep him off the field. Even in a limited role, Bibbs would play a major factor on offense and would serve as a major threat to the TCU secondary.
Aaron Wimberly, Running Back, Senior
Iowa State’s leading rusher in 2014, senior running back Aaron Wimberly is averaging close to 60 yards per game on the ground and has scored seven touchdowns on the season, four of those coming in his last two games. Although ultimately too little too late, Wimberly is heating up towards the end of the season. As Saturday
will be his last game in an Iowa State uniform, Wimberly will be one of many looking to spoil the CFP party for the Horned Frogs.
TCU
David Porter, Senior, Wide-Receiver
While he may not receive the same amount of attention as fellow wideouts Josh Doctson and Kolby Listenbee, senior David Porter has made a significant impact in his final season as a Horned Frog. TCU’s third leading receiver in 2014, Porter has 34 catches and three touchdowns this season, averaging 33.3 yards per game. Porter has touchdown receptions in 2 of his previous 3 games, and has stepped up in the absence of the injured Deante Gray to serve as yet another outlet for quarterback Trevone Boykin. It would seem that Porter has saved his best for last in his senior season, and with the playoffs on the horizon, his timing couldn’t be better.
Sam Carter, Senior, Safety
In his final home game at Amon G. Carter Stadium, senior safety Sam Carter will look to neutralize quarterback Sam Richardson. A poacher in the secondary, Carter has hauled in four interceptions this season and has amassed 50 total tackles in his 11 starts. With major playoff implications on the line, Carter and the rest of the TCU defense will want to make sure ISU doesn’t get the opportunity to keep the game even remotely close on saturday. After a subpar Kansas offense was able to gash TCU for 30 points just three weeks ago, Carter and the rest of the defense were able to rally against Texas on Thanksgiving. There is no doubt they will seek to do just as well if not better this weekend against Iowa State.
Paul Dawson, Senior, Linebacker
Senior linebacker Paul Dawson will play his final game at Amon G Carter Stadium on Saturday, capping off an exceptional career for a player who will surely be recognized as one of TCU’s all-time defensive greats. Once again in 2014, Dawson leads the Frogs in total tackles with 115, and ranks second in sacks with five in 11 starts. Last week, Dawson stepped up when it mattered most against Texas and anchored the TCU defense in their best performance of the season. Dawson will almost certainly be an All-Big 12 player at the end of the season, and many believe he should be in consideration for the All-American team as well. In his final game on Saturday, Dawson will be tasked with keeping a somewhat weak ISU offense at bay and leading the Frogs into the College Football Playoff promised land.
Prediction
Sitting pretty at No. 3 in the country, it would appear that the Frogs only need to win against Iowa State to earn a spot in the inaugural College Football Playoff. ” At 2-9 without a single conference win, Iowa State will have nothing to lose entering Saturday’s game, which could prove troublesome for a TCU team with its entire season on the line. However, playing in front of what is sure to be a capacity crowd at Amon G. Carter Stadium on senior day, the Frogs will look to close out the regular season in style and punch their ticket to either New Orleans or Pasadena. TCU 51, ISU 23
