FWST: TCU matchup with South Dakota State offers intriguing subplots
BY JIMMY BURCHÂ jburch@star-telegram.com
When, where:Â 7 p.m. Saturday, Among G. Carter Stadium
TV:Â FSSW
TCU, the top-ranked college football team from Texas in the preseason polls, begins its quest for a Big 12 championship and a College Football Playoff berth with Saturday’s opener against South Dakota State.
The Horned Frogs, who return 13 starters from an 11-2 team, are No. 13 in The Associated Press poll. South Dakota State, the No. 8 team in the FCS preseason rankings, finished 8-4 last season and fell to Montana, 24-17, in the first round of the FCS playoffs.
Where they are similar:Â South Dakota State coach John Stiegelmeier is one of the few men in college football who has overseen his program longer than TCU counterpart Gary Patterson. Stiegelmeier heads into his 20th season at the school with a record of 128-90, including a 12-7 mark in season openers. Patterson, heading into his 16th season, has a 143-47 record at TCU. He is 11-4 in season debuts. In addition, both schools posted victories over Kansas last season. SDSU won, 41-38, in its season opener in Lawrence, Kan. TCU defeated the Jayhawks 23-17 on Nov. 14 in Fort Worth.