The Big 12 is coming to Fort Worth - and it's almost here.

TCU and Iowa State are less than 20 hours away from Saturday's 2:30 p.m. kickoff at Amon G. Carter Stadium.

With that in mind, here's 20 pregame observations, thoughts and notes leading up to the start of the Horned Frogs' first Big 12 home game:



1. Let's get right to it: Casey Pachall's absence Saturday changes things up for the TCU offense. Will it limit the Frogs? Maybe. But, as Patterson said Thursday, backup Trevone Boykin does give TCU a few more options, especially on the ground. Boykin is more versatile and can do more things outside the pocket than Pachall can. Might sound overly simple, but if TCU puts Boykin in situations where he can thrive, and Boykin doesn't let the nerves get to him, he should be sufficient enough to keep the offense afloat.

2. Two weeks ago, after the Frogs' win at Kansas, cornerback Jason Verrett gave the TCU defense a solid "B" grade for the season. His teammates haven't been so generous. Safety Sam Carter, after the Virginia win, gave the Frogs a "D," which was given again this week by Elisha Olabode. Tough graders, I guess.

3. October's here, and it brought some cooler temperatures with it. Saturday's forecast calls for a high of 55 degrees with a 20 percent chance of rain. Could be chilly, but if the rain holds off, it could be a decent day for football if you have a jacket.











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