‘A special team.’ TCU becomes first team from Texas to reach College Football Playoff

TCU will play for the national college football championship.

The College Football Playoff selection committee announced Sunday that TCU is one of the four playoff teams that will compete in the semifinals on New Year’s Eve.

The third-seeded Horned Frogs will face the second-seeded Michigan Wolverines in the Fiesta Bowl in Glendale, Arizona, at 3 p.m. Dec. 31.

The top-seeded and defending champion Georgia Bulldogs will play fourth-seeded Ohio State Buckeyes in the Peach Bowl at 7 p.m. in Atlanta.

The two winners will meet in the national championship game Jan. 9 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California.

TCU coach Sonny Dykes had a nervous but optimistic energy as he and the rest of the team waited for the announcement at a watch party in the Legends Club & Suites at Amon G. Carter Stadium.

“I had a good feeling about it, but you never really know,” Dykes said. “I’m really just happy for our players, it’s great when a group like this gets the recognition, gets an opportunity because it really is a special team.”

TCU finished the regular season with a 12-1 record, falling 31-28 in overtime to Kansas State on Saturday in the Big 12 championship at AT&T Stadium. Some pundits projected the Horned Frogs (12-1) would fall out of the final four with the loss. In the end, the CFP committee picked the four teams with the best records. Georgia (13-0) and Michigan (13-0) are unbeaten, TCU and Ohio State (11-1) have only one loss.

“After last night I think we had a sleepless night, but I appreciate the committee’s confidence in our players and our program,” Dykes said. “I know our guys were disappointed last night and there was some concern, but I appreciate them giving us an opportunity to go and compete for a national championship.”

With the playoff berth, TCU added another historic accolade as the Horned Frogs became the first program from Texas to make the final four. For Dykes, whose roots run deep in the state, it makes the moment even sweeter.

“It feels good, being a Texas guy, obviously the state of Texas means a lot to me,” Dykes said. “The history of college football in the state of Texas means a lot to me. To be the first team from Texas is quite an honor.”

Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said he’s looking forward to facing the Horned Frogs.

“I couldn’t be more impressed with them,” Harbaugh said. “Watching them throughout the season; yesterday’s ballgame ... that quarterback (Matt Duggan) was unbelievable in terms of a competitor.”

Dykes was also complementary of the Big 10 champions.

“We’ll do our best to play well and compete at a very high level against Michigan,” Dykes said. “They’re a really good football team that I think our guys will be excited to play.”

While Dykes and the program are appreciative of the achievement, they’re not satisfied with just a berth in the playoff. The Horned Frogs believe they can compete for a national championship.

“I know we’ll be prepared,” Dykes said. “Our coaches will have them ready, our players will be excited and ready to go. We’ll go out and play really hard. This is a talented team, this is a tough team and we’re going to play our tails off, I can tell you that.”