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Rarely does college football’s game of the year take place before the first Saturday of the season.  But it may very well have this year.

If you missed Friday night’s classic between #14 TCU and Baylor, you may have missed the best football game of the season.  This game had so many elements, even before kickoff.

For starters, the defending Rose Bowl champions were out to prove that another undefeated season should mean a national championship appearance.  Baylor made its first bowl game in 16 years in 2010 and was looking to build its program.  TCU head coach Gary Patterson said Baylor “truly hates us.”  And indeed they do.  The in-state rivalry has boiled over in 107 meetings.

Also take into account something rare – usually America roots for the “little guys” in games like this.  Not on Friday.  The “little guys,” usually from the non-power conferences, were the big, bad Horned Frogs.  With two BCS appearances the past two years and a preseason ranking, the boys in purple were looking to bully Big 12 perennial doormat Baylor, who hadn’t beat a ranked team since 2004.

Baylor tugged at America’s heartstrings Friday night, winning a 50-48 classic to all but put TCU out of contention for a third straight BCS appearance.

It began with a trick play where Baylor receiver Kendall Wright actually threw a 40 yard touchdown pass fewer than two minutes in.  TCU scored the next 13 points and appeared to be in control before the Bears connected on another long TD pass – Wright on the receiving end this time.  The Bears countered a TCU field goal with another touchdown to take a 21-16 lead.

Then the first quarter ended.

Baylor built a 34-23 lead and added 13 more in the third quarter to take what looked like an insurmountable 47-23 lead into the fourth.  That’s when an already good game became great.

TCU scored 25 unanswered points in the fourth to take a 48-47 lead.  Those 25 points came in a span of fewer than 11 minutes.  Baylor countered with an 11-play, 60 yard drive that ended with a go-ahead field goal.

The Frogs had one more chance and moved it into Baylor territory before Casey Pachall, starting his first game ever, was intercepted with 12 seconds left.

Fans stormed the field.  The Mountain West monster had been defeated in a wild and wacky shootout.  Robert Griffin had 359 yards passing and five touchdown tosses.

I wouldn’t have blamed you for turning off your TV when Baylor was up 24 in the fourth quarter.  But that’s the beauty of college football.  Anything can happen.  Anyone can beat anyone.

Will there be a better game this season?  Maybe, but that one will be difficult to top.