TCU’s showdown with Kansas is set for a 7 p.m. kickoff on Fox, an unusual twist: a primetime national television spot for a matchup of an undefeated team facing an opponent that’s lost five straight.

ABC’s primetime matchup features No. 2 Penn State and No. 19 Michigan. NBC’s has No. 11 Southern California paying No. 13 Notre Dame a visit.

No matter, the Horned Frogs are happy to be on national TV.  

“A night game in the Carter is going to be fun because the fans really come out,” said wide receiver Desmon White.

His teammates agree.

“The fans are more in tune with it because no one likes sitting out in the heat, those 11 and 2:30 games can be brutal,” defensive end Ben Banogu said. “It’s a nice change of pace.”

Banogu said the late kickoff will be an adjustment.

“When you play a night game, you have to know how to treat your body, when to get rest and stay off your feet and the harder things about night games are keeping your mind active, when to keep your mind on the game, and when to keep your mind off the game,” he said. “That can probably the hardest part about it, but you treat it like any other games.”

TCU head coach Gary Patterson said night games detract from his quality of life.

“I get done at about twelve o’clock at night and turn around to be up the next morning at 9 o’clock in the morning, so I would rather play at 11 or 2:30, so you can actually get two or three hours of being a real human being,” Patterson said.

Kansas’ record sits at 1-5, but Patterson said that’s why his team should get fired up to face the Jayhawks.

“You should get up for the games people think you’re supposed to win and let the big games take care of themselves because if you want to win games in succession, that’s the way you have to do it,” Patterson said.