Oklahoma State vs. TCU: How Cowboys' Loss Will Shake Up Week 9 Rankings

The process of elimination in the Big 12 has begun.

Trevone Boykin and the electric Josh Doctson did their part to put on a show for fans in attendance in Fort Worth, Texas, on Saturday. They combined for two scores as the No. 12 TCU Horned Frogs defeated the No. 15 Oklahoma State Cowboys 42-9. Boykin threw for 410 yards and three touchdowns. Doctson's scores went for 84 and 77 yards, and he had 225 receiving yards on the day.

The duo's efforts coupled with a standout performance from the defense led to the big conference win.

Looks like Horned Frogs head coach Gary Patterson got what he expected.

The Cowboys likely saw their faint College Football Playoff hopes go by the boards. The result was more of a confirmation than anything. Heading in, the Horned Frogs were obviously ranked higher and playing at home.

For all intents and purposes, they were supposed to win. The win keeps TCU's hopes of rising into the top four by season's end alive, though the Horned Frogs will certainly need some help. No. 11 Oklahoma lost to No. 15 Kansas State earlier in the day, so TCU could presumably move up a spot, but there's also the possibility that K-State will swap places with Oklahoma.

In any case, TCU doesn't stand to make a major power move on Sunday morning with the new rankings.

With only one game remaining against a team that is currently ranked in the AP Top 25, there aren't a great deal of statement-making games on the schedule.

Perhaps adding to the team's uphill battle is the fact that its one loss was made to look a little worse on Saturday. Baylor—the team TCU lost to 58-51 last week—was upset 41-27 by unranked West Virginia. We don't know how far Baylor will drop, but it would be a shock to see the Bears sink below a team they just beat a week ago.

As a one-loss squad, TCU will have to run the table and have multiple teams in front of it pick up a loss the rest of the way to gain strong consideration.

There simply isn't time or opportunity to vault teams on the strength of impressive wins.

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

As for Oklahoma State, it is probably playing for a berth in the Fiesta or Peach Bowl at this point. Those are likely the highest hopes for at-large bids in NCAA selection committee postseason games. In terms of conference affiliation bowls, the Cactus and Alamo Bowls might be even more realistic options.

Every week it seems another Big 12 team sees its chances of reaching the CFP get weaker. This week it was Baylor, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma. TCU and Kansas State might be the conference's best bets, but they play each other on Nov. 8 in a game that will likely end one of the team's dreams—if both haven't already lost before the game arrives.

Stay tuned.