Oregon and TCU came into the season with high expectations, with spots in the College Football Playoff seemingly realistic goals.
Key injuries - including ones to their star quarterbacks - and poor play at different points prevented that from becoming a reality, and the Ducks and Horned Frogs are left to wonder what might have been as they get set to meet in the Alamo Bowl on Saturday night.
If TCU loses, it will have even deeper such sentiments after quarterback Trevone Boykin, along with wide receiver Preston Miller, were suspended for the game after being arrested early Thursday.