Largest comeback in Bowl games history: When TCU rallied from 31-point deficit vs. Oregon
TCU went into the CFP Championship game 38-7 down at halftime against Georgia. The Bulldogs dominated the first half on offense and defense. On offense, they scored five touchdowns and one field goal on consecutive drives. On defense, they had three turnovers, including two interceptions and one fumble.
However, anyone who has followed TCU over the years will remember the last time they came back to win a game from 31 points down, the exact deficit they faced at halftime in this championship game.
It happened during the 2016 Alamo Bowl when TCU faced Oregon. Oregon scored 21 points in the first quarter and 10 in the second quarter to take a 31-0 lead at halftime. What followed next was unprecedented in their history. They scored 17 unanswered points in the third quarter and 14 points in the final quarter to tie the game at 31-31. That took the game to overtime.
In the first overtime, each team scored 7 points to tie the scores again at 38-38. A second overtime followed and they exchanged field goals to tie it at 41-41. TCU threw for a touchdown in the third overtime and went with for a failed two-point conversion. But it did not matter as they won 47-41.
So you're saying there's a chance? Per @ESPNStatsInfo, FBS teams are 1-530 when trailing by 31 or more at halftime. The lone exception? TCU back in 2016 in Alamo Bowl against Oregon. They trailed 31-0 at the half.
Georgia proves a different marker for TCU
The CFP Championship game was a different proposition. The Georgia Bulldogs were looking to repeat as national champions and are one of the best teams in college football. They scored first during the third quarter to take a 45-7 lead. It never looked likely that the Horned Frogs will claw the deficit back.
The main issue for the Horned Frogs was that they were dominated on defense. They were not been able to stop anything coming their way. There was an astonishing stat mentioned on the broadcast that the Bulldogs had scored 45 points in 45 plays at one point per play.
They could never tighten up their defense and at the end of the day the Bulldogs defeated them 65-7. However, irrespective of how the game ended, TCU has now gained experience by playing at this level.
So TCU is the first Big 12 team to get to the CFP championship game.
Not Texas.
Not Oklahoma.
College football, folks.
They also became the first college football representative in the CFP championship game from the state of Texas and the Big 12 conference. The only way is up. Even though it did not happen for them in this game, they can always keep faith for the future.