Think TCU might have been motivated by their playoff snub? The Horned Frogs played Ole Miss out of the park in Wednesday's Peach Bowl, putting together the most dominating performance of the postseason in a 42-3 victory. The Rebels gave up 168 points in the regular season, and TCU totaled 25% of that output in Wednesday's game.
TCU made the game's first three big plays early on, setting the tone for the rest of the game. Ole Miss quarterback Bo Wallace was picked off by Chris Hackett over the middle on the Rebels' first drive, and TCU was able to capitalize with a double pass touchdown to Aaron Green. Green scored another touchdown on the Frogs' next drive, and TCU expanded their lead to 21-0 with an early second quarter passing touchdown.
TCU's domination continued through the second quarter, forcing an interception from Bo Wallace within his own end zone. At that point, the Horned Frogs had 28 points compared to 13 total yards of offense for the Rebels.
The demolition continued in the second half. TCU scored with 90 seconds, lobbing a ball into the end zone for their fifth touchdown of the game. On their next drive, Trevone Boykin lobbed another deep ball for a touchdown to make it 42-0. Ole Miss kicked a field goal in the fourth quarter to break the shutout, prompting sarcastic applause from the Rebel faithful.
via ESPN
For TCU, it's their first bowl win since 2011, and their first ever as a Big 12 team. The loss ends Ole Miss' streak of six straight bowl wins, going back to 2002.
Three things we learned
1. Watch out for TCU in 2015. This is Gary Patterson's third 12-win season since 2009 and fourth top-10 finish since 2008. It's his second major bowl win with the school, each coming in a different conference. The Horned Frogs look like they're just going to keep on building in the Big 12, with most of their main contributors returning on both sides of the ball.
TCU graduates just two offensive starters -- left tackle Tayo Fabuluje and tight end Cliff Murphy -- and returns an absurd amount of talent from one of the nation's most explosive scoring attacks. The damage is a bit more significant on defense, with five starters departing, but the Horned Frogs should be a popular pick near the top of next season's preseason polls.
Ole Miss 39-point loss ties for most lopsided defeat in SEC bowl history with Georgia-Nebraska in 1969 Sun Bowl.
— Jon Solomon (@JonSolomonCBS) December 31, 2014
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2. Trevone Boykin will be a major 2015 Heisman contender. With Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston almost certainly gone to the NFL next season, Boykin is the clear favorite for "familiar quarterback with great stats leading a top team," the easiest path to winning the Heisman.
TCU had the most improved offense in the country this season, and with all those weapons returning around Boykin, it looks like they could be even better next year.
3. Ole Miss still has reason for hope next year. Barring early NFL entries, Ole Miss brings back every offensive starter besides quarterback Bo Wallace. The Rebels struggled to move the ball consistently this season, but returning all five offensive lineman and injured star wide receiver Laquon Treadwell could help bring more scoring production to the team. Ole Miss loses four starters from their dominant defense, and are particularly hurt in the secondary with the losses of Senquez Golson and Cody Prewitt.