SAN ANTONIO – Valero Alamo Bowl Storylines
1. Two high-octane offenses will be looking to put a bushel of points on the scoreboard when TCU - without suspended senior quarterback Trevone Boykin - faces Oregon in the Valero Alamo Bowl on Saturday. The Horned Frogs average 41.7 points per game and scored 50 or more points on five occasions while Oregon checks in with a 43.2 average and four outings of over 50. The Ducks are shaky on defense - allowing 36.8 per contest - despite ending the regular season with six consecutive victories.
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2. Boykin was suspended two days before the contest after being arrested outside a San Antonio bar and charged with assault on a public servant, a third-degree felony. Boykin, who passed for 3,575 yards and 31 touchdowns, allegedly fought employees of the bar as they attempted to get him to leave and could also face charges of resisting arrest and public intoxication. Either senior Bram Kohlhausen (369 yards, three touchdowns, one interception) or redshirt freshman Foster Sawyer (155 yards, two touchdowns, three interceptions) will start in Boykin's place.
3. Ducks sophomore running back Royce Freeman somehow flies under the national radar despite racking up 1,706 yards and 14 touchdowns. Freeman posted 10 100-yard rushing games this season and needs an even 100 yards to break the school's season-single rushing mark set by LaMichael James in 2011. "He's a guy that I think was very overshadowed, unfortunately, with kind of some early losses," Oregon coach Mark Helfrich told reporters. "He was out of any talk for individual awards and accolades. I know that doesn't mean a ton to him, but it's unfortunate for him."
TV: 5:45 p.m. CT, ESPN. LINE: Oregon -7
ABOUT OREGON (9-3, 7-2 Pac-12): Senior quarterback Vernon Adams overcame an early season finger injury to pass for 2,446 yards and 25 touchdowns and the offense took off once he was healthy. Junior wideout Bralon Addison caught 58 passes for 775 yards and 10 touchdowns, while big-play sophomore Darren Carrington averaged 20.1 yards per catch and had five touchdowns in six games after returning from an NCAA suspension for failing a drug test prior to last season's College Football Playoff title game. Senior defensive end DeForest Buckner is the star of the defense with 16 tackles for losses (including 9.5 sacks) with senior linebacker Tyson Coleman (10 tackles for losses), senior inside linebacker Joe Walker (team-best 82 tackles) and sophomore strong safety Tyree Robinson (team-high three interceptions) also being key figures.
ABOUT TCU (10-2, 7-2 Big 12): Senior receiver Josh Doctson was enjoying the best receiving season in school history - 79 receptions for 1,327 yards and 14 touchdowns - before breaking his left wrist in early November. He was recently ruled out for the contest and his absence takes away more firepower from an offense that also has a strong running back in senior Aaron Green (1,171 yards, 10 touchdowns). The Horned Frogs allow 26.1 points per game and had to patch holes on defense most of the season due to injuries but have a couple of dependable standouts in senior free safety Derrick Kindred (79 tackles, team-best two interceptions) and junior defensive end Josh Carraway (team-leading eight sacks).
Be sure to watch the KSAT 12 News Nightbeat at 10 p.m. for highlights of the game.