The TCU Horned Frogs and Baylor Bears could finish the season tied atop the Big 12 and the lack of a conference title game could harm either's shot at the College Football Playoff (CFP).

According to ESPN, the Big 12 could recognize the two teams as co-champions if they both win on Saturday, a move that figures to help either one be selected for the CFP. However, if both finish 10-1 and neither are selected to play for the national title, the conference could acknowledge Baylor as the rightful champ, given their head-to-head victory over TCU.

The CFP committee has TCU ranked fifth currently, though they may rise into the top four after Mississippi State's loss. The CFP has Baylor ranked seventh and they could get a bump as well. Due out Tuesday evening, the CFP will release their penultimate rankings before unveiling the final set on Sunday, Dec. 7.

"That's the prerogative of the selection committee," Bowlsby told ESPN. "It's not our prerogative for us to tell them who is our best team. They can choose from an array of teams that are available and qualified for the playoff."

The CFP committee has previously stated that they would favor teams with tougher schedules and who win their conference title game. Ranked first and second, Alabama and Oregon are locks to make it in if they win the SEC and Pac-12, respectively. TCU and Baylor are a group of fringe teams that will need to win and hope the committee votes their way.

"It's not within our prerogative to bind the selection committee that way. They're going to select who they think is the best team. This is an important distinction. Because the committee's charge is not to select the most deserving team," Bowlsby said. "The committee's responsibility is to select the four best teams based upon their objective and subjective criteria. And each one of the committee members may feel different about how exactly that process works... They can certainly select from any of ours.

"The only reason we apply the tiebreaker later on is because we have to, we're the ones who designate who goes into one of those host bowls.

"In the case of the College Football Playoff, they're the ones who designate who goes into those games."