The Big 12 Conference title is still in play for No. 18 TCU Football, and, with several breaks, so is making the College Football Playoff. But coach Gary Patterson told the media on Tuesday that his program will not jeopardize the health of quarterback Trevone Boykin or wide receiver Josh Doctson to win out.

“Our kids want to win a conference title, but I don’t think you do it at the sake of playing somebody when they’re not ready to go,” Patterson said.

Officially, Boykin and Doctson are considered questionable for Saturday’s showdown in Norman against No. 7 Oklahoma, but the quarterback, who hurt his ankle in the first half against Kansas last week, won’t practice until Thursday at the earliest, if he goes at all. Doctson, who is recovering from a wrist injury, will visit with a specialist again this week.

“We’ll know by Thursday or Friday,” Patterson said.

If Boykin can play, the coach said practicing at the end of the week is sufficient. In the meantime, backup players, notably quarterback Foster Sawyer, who came on in relief of Bram Kohlhausen versus the Jayhawks, will get all the snaps and prepare as if they’re the starters.

“We’ll be more prepared for that situation this week,” the coach said, adding that the Frogs had a good Sunday practice after a sluggish performance against Kansas. “Somebody said we didn’t have any emotion. I think we had a letdown because of Senior Day and a little bit of hangover from Oklahoma State. As the game went on, they became more emotional, had to overcome Trevone and Doc not being in a whole lot.”

Without Boykin and Doctson this week, the Horned Frogs would be heavy underdogs, which Patterson labeled, “perfect.”

The Frogs sprung a big upset in the 2005 season opener in Norman over the Adrian Peterson-led Sooners, but Patterson said Oklahoma’s 2015 team reminds him more of the juggernaut 2008 edition that humbled the Frogs, 35-10.

But this year, Oklahoma is just the next game in a November stretch that’s would test the Frogs, healthy or not.

“Going into these last four weeks, we knew what it was going to be like,” he said about the gauntlet of ranked foes Oklahoma State, Oklahoma and Baylor.

The Sooners may be playing the best of any school in the conference, Patterson said, noting that Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield is leading his team with “swagger.”

“We have quite a task,” Patterson said. “They’ve been playing good defense all year.”

Asked about the Sooner running back duo of Semaje Perine and Joe Mixon, the coach acknowledged that Oklahoma, like other foes, would “come right at us.” Patterson also noted Sooner receiver Sterling Shepard being difficult to cover one-on-one.

“I don’t think there’s any advantages in this matchup that go to us,” he said. “But anything can happen. This group here is not going to quit.”

Notable

• Patterson acknowledged that third-string quarterback Foster Sawyer had “an edge” over second-stringer Bram Kohlhausen, based on the spark the Frog offense had in the fourth quarter against Kansas. Sawyer threw a 42-yard touchdown pass to Shaun Nixon for TCU’s only offensive TD.
• TCU’s next victory will earn the Frogs their sixth 10-win season in the past eight years.
• Wide receiver Ty Slanina will be held out the rest of the year and seek a medical redshirt. Previously, it was believed that Slanina could return this week against Oklahoma.
• Offensive tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai is expected to return this week, but offensive guard Jamelle Naff is lost for the season.