TCU left Waco with a win that won’t light up any highlight reels for offense, but it got the job done where it mattered. The Horned Frogs beat Baylor 17-6 in the lowest scoring Revivalry game since 1979, grabbing their first Big 12 win of the season in the process.
The game’s first punch came from Jaden Craig, who connected with Ed Small on a 25-yard touchdown to put TCU on the board first. That early strike set the tone for a night in which the Frogs did just enough on offense and leaned hard on a defense that kept Baylor from ever getting comfortable.
TCU’s defense held Baylor to 310 yards and made life rough on quarterback DJ Lagway, who finished with 256 yards and one interception while completing 22 of 53 passes. The Bears also struggled badly on the ground, managing only 54 rushing yards on 34 attempts.
Offensively, the Horned Frogs didn’t explode, but there were signs of progress. One of the biggest came from a more aggressive approach downfield, something TCU clearly used to stretch the field. That showed up on the drive that led to its second score, when Craig hit Jordan Dwyer for 67 yards before the series ended with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Ka’Morreun Pimpton.
Afterward, head coach Sonny Dykes said he was proud his team didn’t let the surrounding “hate” get in the way of its performance. He also made clear the win didn’t erase every issue, noting that TCU still has plenty of work ahead.
The victory moved the Horned Frogs to 3-3 overall and 1-2 in Big 12 play. Next up, TCU hosts West Virginia at 11 a.m. Oct. 24 on ESPN2.
In Other News...
TCU Just Sent Baylor A Message Fans Needed To See
For TCU, Saturdays 17-6 win at McLane Stadium was more than just a rivalry result. It snapped Baylors four-game run in the series and gave Sonny Dykes another important marker against the Bears, moving the Horned Frogs to 4-1 against their in-state opponent under his watch.
The defense set the tone from the start and never really let Baylor find a rhythm, with Koron Hayward turning in a disruptive night up front. Jaden Craig did his part on the other side by keeping the offense moving and finding the end zone twice, giving TCU the kind of balanced road performance that can change the feel of a rivalry fast. [Read more 🡒]
Baylor Still Has One Harsh Problem After Rivalry Loss
The Revivalry in Waco gave TCU exactly what it needed: a return to the win column and a defensive performance that set the tone from start to finish. Baylor never found much room to breathe against a Horned Frogs front that kept disrupting the backfield, while TCUs offense leaned on a new line configuration that still had some rough edges to smooth out in the run game.
Hayward was at the center of it all for the Frogs, piling up pressure and making life difficult for Baylors offense on a night when TCU controlled the game in the trenches. For Baylor, the frustration was less about one bad possession than the same lingering issue that has haunted plenty of teams after rivalry losses: finding a consistent answer up front before the schedule keeps moving. [Read more 🡒]
Baylors Offense Has A Problem The Defense Cant Keep Covering Up
TCUs 17-6 win over Baylor was built on a familiar formula in this rivalry: a defense that set the tone and an offense that did just enough to stay ahead. Baylors defense actually created some disruption of its own, piling up four sacks, 10 tackles for loss and an interception, but the Frogs never let the game tilt the other way because Baylors offense could not sustain anything for long stretches.
DJ Lagway spent much of the day dealing with tight coverage and pressure, and the Bears never found enough balance to ease the burden. Gavin Freeman was the most reliable target with seven catches for 76 yards, but the offense as a whole stayed stuck in the mud, with the line struggling to hold up against TCU and the ground game offering little relief. As Baylor keeps searching for answers, the issue is becoming harder to ignore. [Read more 🡒]