TCU heads into Saturday afternoon needing a cleaner, sharper finish, and Kansas arrives in Fort Worth with a little more spring in its step after a one-point escape against Baylor.
That’s the setup for a Big 12 meeting between two teams sitting at 3-4 overall and 1-3 in conference play, with both still chasing the three wins they need over their final five games to become bowl eligible.
For TCU, last week’s 24-20 home loss to West Virginia was a familiar kind of frustration. The Horned Frogs piled up 484 yards of offense, but the big plays came with the costly mistakes attached.
Jaden Craig threw for 372 yards, added a passing touchdown and also ran for a 2-yard score that put TCU in front late in the third quarter. Kari Ashley finished with 118 receiving yards on six catches, while Jordan Dwyer hauled in 10 passes for 113 yards.
But the game slipped away in the details. Craig was sacked and fumbled at the WVU 14-yard line with 34 seconds left, ending TCU’s last shot. The Horned Frogs also missed a field goal in the second quarter and turned it over on downs in the fourth.
"The biggest thing for us right now is just an inability to be able to finish on offense," TCU coach Sonny Dykes said. "It's just a matter of not being able to make plays in critical situations, and it's happened over and over to us this year."
That loss was part of a pattern. All four of TCU’s defeats have come by eight points or fewer.
On Monday, the program made a change, firing co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach A.J. Ricker.
Kansas, meanwhile, comes in after a win that felt like a shot of energy. The Jayhawks beat Baylor 25-24 at home last week when Isaiah Marshall scored on a 15-yard rushing touchdown with 1:13 remaining. The defense then closed the door when Blake Herold blocked Baylor’s 45-yard field-goal try with 18 seconds left.
"Going out there, being able to get a win, it was really boosting us up to go get one on the road," Kansas linebacker Trey Lathan said.
Marshall completed 17 of 29 passes for 212 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions as Kansas snapped a two-game losing streak. It was the Jayhawks’ biggest win of the season, and their other victories came against FCS-level Long Island and Middle Tennessee.
"The difference between winning and losing is a fine line," Kansas coach Lance Leipold said. "We've had a lot of those go the other direction in the last couple years.
Is there a win that can propel you into some things? Hopefully, (beating Baylor) is one that can do that."
In Other News...
Tyran Stokes Is Bringing Kansas The Kind Of Buzz Fans Crave
Kansas basketball is already getting the kind of early buzz that tends to travel fast in Lawrence, and Tyran Stokes is a big reason why. ESPN pegged the freshman at No. 4 in its top 100 college basketball players entering the 2026-27 season, a striking spot for a player who arrives as a consensus No. 1 recruit and the kind of versatile talent fans immediately start circling on the schedule.
Stokes brings the profile Kansas has long valued under Bill Self, with size, athleticism and the ability to impact the game in more than one way. His high school resume and international experience only add to the anticipation, but the real test begins once he makes the jump to Division I and settles into a roster where expectations are always high and every new face is measured against the standard in Allen Fieldhouse. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Heads Into The Season With One Big Roster Concern
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The bigger question hanging over the group is not just how quickly the newcomers fit, but whether the Jayhawks will have everyone available when it matters. White and Council are the names to watch there, with their eligibility tied to a court ruling that could change the look of the rotation before the season really gets rolling. For a team trying to sort out roles and establish chemistry after an exhibition slate against strong opponents, the answer to that issue could shape a lot more than just the opening week. [Read more 🡒]
Kansas Heads Into TCU With Fresh Questions In Two Key Spots
Kansas and TCU have already put their first availability reports on the board ahead of Saturdays matchup, and for Kansas the list is enough to complicate a game plan before the teams ever kick off. The Jayhawks are set to be without center Kasen Carpenter, along with several other players, as the Big 12s standardized reporting system continues to give both sides a clearer look at who is likely to be available.
For Kansas, the biggest concern is less about the headline names on the report than what those absences can mean in the trenches and in depth planning going into a road test. TCUs report carries its own intrigue as well, with the Horned Frogs potentially missing leading rusher Jeremy Payne, and the next update will matter plenty for a game where availability could shape everything from the opening snap to the late-game rotation. [Read more 🡒]