The TCU Horned Frogs got what they needed in Waco: a win over Baylor, and a convincing one at that. In the 122nd meeting of the “Revivalry,” TCU handled the Bears 17-6 and returned to the win column against a rival separated by less than 100 miles.
The Frogs spent the two weeks leading into the game trying to sort out their offense, and head coach Sonny Dykes had hinted that some changes were coming. One of the biggest was up front, where TCU rolled out a new offensive line of Ben Taylor-Whitfield at left tackle, Noah McKinney at left guard, Jaheim Buchanon, Witten Van Hoy at right guard and Kilian Registe at right tackle.
On paper, the idea made sense. In practice, it didn’t solve the problem.
TCU still struggled badly to run the ball, finishing with just 33 rushing yards. The protection issues were just as glaring, with the Horned Frogs allowing 10 tackles for loss and four sacks.
The line has now gone through enough shaky stretches that the problem looks bigger than simply changing the combination. The group just hasn’t looked cohesive, and too many plays are being lost because of missed assignments and beaten blocks.
Even with those issues, TCU did manage to find the end zone twice and string together a few strong drives. But the offense is still searching for something closer to consistency.
If the Frogs can get more push from the trenches, there’s at least a path to a better rhythm. That showed up in flashes against Baylor, even if it never fully came together.
What did come together again was the defense, and at the center of it was transfer edge rusher HAYWARD. The Western Kentucky transfer was quiet in camp, but he’s been impossible to ignore once the games started, and this was his biggest night yet. He posted five tackles and three sacks, both season highs, and those three sacks were the most by a Horned Frog since Dylan Horton in 2022.
That kind of impact changes everything for the unit around him. TCU’s defensive front is already the engine of a group that has been one of the best in the country, and Hayward gives it another real weapon. Once he starts getting home, it opens the door for everyone else to take turns in the backfield.
This defense has been so strong that it’s reached the point where it’s fair to say it out loud: this group really is the best in the conference. It hasn’t been a one-game fluke, either.
Coming into the Baylor game, TCU was already a top-10 defense in points allowed per game and ranked in the top 20 in almost every major statistical category. Against the Bears, it looked even sharper.
Baylor had shown it could score in bunches, but TCU made that disappear. The Bears’ offense looked ordinary, just as BYU did two weeks earlier.
That’s the kind of consistency that makes this defense feel real. At this point, if the offense can give the Frogs 14 to 17 points, they have a chance to win most nights.
So TCU walks away with a much-needed victory, and it came in a place that should make it feel even better. There’s still work to do on offense, plenty to clean up, but the fight is clearly still there. And right now, a win is a win.
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TCU Just Sent Baylor A Message Fans Needed To See
TCU walked out of McLane Stadium with a 17-6 win over Baylor, and it was the kind of result Horned Frogs fans have been waiting to see in this rivalry. Baylor had won four straight in the series, but TCU leaned on a defense that set the tone early and kept the Bears from ever finding much rhythm on offense.
Koron Hayward was a constant problem in the backfield, helping pressure Baylor throughout the night, while Jaden Craig gave the Frogs enough balance on offense to control the game. Craig connected on key throws, including a long strike to Jordan Dwyer, and finished with two touchdown passes as TCU improved to 4-1 against Baylor under Sonny Dykes. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Fans Still Havent Forgotten These Revivalry Gut Punches And Highs
The Revivalry has spent plenty of time living up to its name, with Baylor and TCU trading blows in games that have shaped the modern feel of the matchup. From Robert Griffin IIIs 2011 showcase to the tense, back-and-forth meetings that have defined the series in recent years, the rivalry has been built on the kind of pressure-filled moments that stick with fans long after the final whistle.
Baylor supporters still have reasons to circle this one every season because the stakes never seem to stay ordinary for long. The Bears have been on both ends of the drama, including some especially cruel finishes and a recent breakthrough that reminded everyone just how thin the margin can be between a breakthrough and a gut punch in this series. [Read more 🡒]
Baylors Offense Has A Problem The Defense Cant Keep Covering Up
Baylors defense did enough to keep the game in reach against TCU, but the offense never found a way to carry its share in a 17-6 loss. The Bears got solid work from the front seven, with four sacks, 10 tackles for loss and an interception, yet the bigger issue was on the other side of the ball, where TCU kept the pressure steady and made every possession feel tight.
DJ Lagway spent much of the afternoon trying to fit passes into crowded windows, and the line had a hard time giving him clean answers. Gavin Freeman was the most dependable option with seven catches for 76 yards, but the run game never offered much relief, leaving Baylor stuck trying to manufacture offense one hard throw at a time. [Read more 🡒]