TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) All those years TCU was winning conference championships and busting the BCS, the Horned Frogs' accomplishments were always couched with this caveat: Look at who they played against.

All it took was one middle-of-the-pack season in the Big 12 to change perceptions.

"The interesting thing is perception-wise, as far as the media and the fan base, I think we gained more respect being 7-5, than we did 11-2 last year," TCU coach Gary Patterson said. "In people's minds, they didn't know whether we could compete ... on a week-to-week basis. I think our kids showed us we can do that."