If there is one team shocking the college football world in 2022, it's the TCU Horned Frogs. After starting the season unranked, they are No. 4 in the latest AP Top 25 poll. Not only that, TCU is one of the four remaining undefeated schools in the 2022 season, joining top-five schools and College Football Playoff hopefuls in Ohio State, Georgia, and Michigan.

Because of its surprising year so far, the Horned Frogs now have hopes of making it to the College Football Playoff. The problem is that, even at 8-0 at the time, the initial CFP rankings had TCU as No. 7, below a one-loss Alabama Crimson Tide team.

Fast forward one week, TCU had another important win, this time over Texas Tech. On the other hand, Alabama lost in heartbreaking fashion against LSU in overtime. This is perhaps the best chance of seeing TCU in the top four of the CFP rankings, but there are still question marks, especially after seeing what the committee did last week.

With that being said, here are three reasons why the College Football Playoff committee must respect the TCU Horned Frogs.

3. TCU has one of the hardest schedules in FBS

Usually when smaller schools are undefeated and shining, one reason the committee has to write them off is the lack of a strong schedule. That's not the case for TCU in 2022. The Horned Frogs have faced four ranked teams, all in consecutive weeks. Despite the gauntlet of a schedule, TCU came out victorious in all four contests, further cementing their status as being the real deal.

Firstly, TCU blew out the then-No. 18 Oklahoma Sooners 55-24. The Horned Frogs followed it with an important 38-31 road win vs. then-No. 19 Kansas Jayhawks in ESPN's College GameDay. In the next game, they defeated the then-No. 8 Oklahoma State Cowboys in a 43-40 double-overtime thriller. Finally, they won 38-28 against the then-No. 17 Kansas State Wildcats. No matter what team has come across TCU this season, Max Duggan and Co. have found a way to get the job done.

That stretch alone should give the Horned Frogs the spotlight. Not only that, but TCU still has Texas and Baylor on its schedule. So far, the team has proven it is great on the field and can play big opponents. The Horned Frogs are earning the respect they are getting in the college football community, but they still need more from the CFP committee. They can get just that with wins over Texas and Baylor

2. The Horned Frogs are shining in a stacked Big 12

Going a perfect 9-0 record and 6-0 in conference play will get the attention of the CFP committee no matter when. But if it happens in a Power Five conference, it makes the feat even more impressive.

While some have come to expect that type of success from big schools such as Alabama and Georgia in the SEC, TCU is doing it in a stacked Big 12 conference. Seven out of the 10 teams in the conference were ranked at some point in the 2022 CFB season. Currently, four of them are in the CFP rankings.

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In the Big 12 media poll, TCU was voted to finish seventh in the conference. Now, the Horned Frogs are ahead of all their opponents and boast legitimate chances of winning the conference title.

1. TCU is doing all that in the middle of a rebuilding phase

The 2022 season represents the start of a new era in Fort Worth, Texas. After nearly 10 years under head coach Gary Patterson, the Horned Frogs made a big change by hiring Sonny Dykes out of SMU.

With Patterson, TCU won a conference title in 2014 and made it to seven bowls. Additionally, the team finished No. 3 in the final rankings in 2014 after blowing Ole Miss out 42-3 in the Peach Bowl.

In four full seasons under Dykes, the Mustangs appeared in three bowls. He combined for a 30-18 record and 18-13 in the AAC.

While some teams struggle after changing longtime leadership, TCU is proving doubters wrong. The Horned Frogs are playing their best football in almost a decade, all in its first year without Patterson. On the other hand, teams such as Auburn are having problems since parting ways with their longtime head coaches. Since firing Gus Malzahn in late 2020, the Tigers are on pace for a second straight losing season.

Also, Dykes' scheme has paved the way for breakout seasons for quarterback Max Duggan and running back Kendre Miller. Duggan already has his best college numbers, throwing for 2,407 yards and 24 touchdowns against just two interceptions. Miller has over 1,000 rushing yards and is No. 11 in the nation with 12 scores.

TCU is having a breakout season, all under a new head coach. The situation was once seen as an obstacle, but now it only shows how much the Horned Frogs are having a great year. The narrative should show the CFP committee that TCU is ready for the big stage, even in a rebuilding year.