The Kansas State Wildcats shook up the college football world on Saturday, as they took home their first Big 12 title since 2012 after picking up a three-point win over the No. 3 ranked TCU Horned Frogs.

Kansas State not only came into this conference showdown with an eye on clinching a spot in a New Year’s Six bowl game, but it also looked to avenge its 10-point road defeat to TCU earlier in the season. The Wildcats did just that, as Will Howard anchored five scoring drives, and the defense held TCU to a 2-15 mark on third downs.

There is now much discussion on whether TCU, who holds a 12-1 record, should secure a spot in this season’s College Football Playoff. Even with the loss to his team, Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman believes that the Horned Frogs deserve to make an appearance in the CFP for the first time in school history.

“TCU should be in the CFP,” Klieman said during his postgame press conference.

“They’re one of the best four teams. And we went toe to toe with them. I thought we could go toe to toe with them and found a way to win. It was an exceptional football game.”

In the big picture, Klieman was much pleased with the performance from his team against the Horned Frogs.

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“A lot of ups and downs, between both teams, and great resolve by our guys,” Klieman said. “And the overtime stop, it's incredible.

“We get a third-and-1 and fourth-and-1, as good as they are up front and good run game as they have — and our defensive line stood up and stuffed them back-to-back plays. … Credit to our leaders. Credit to the culture that they've created. Credit to player ownership, the power of belief, all those things, because we've had a lot of tough times. A lot of people doubted that team after we lost to Tulane and said must not be very good.

“And they took it to heart.”

The Big 12 has not had a representative in the College Football Playoff since the 2019-2020 campaign when Oklahoma clinched the No. 4 spot in that season’s final rankings.

All eyes are now set on Sunday’s College Football Playoff Selection Show.