TCU opened Big 12 play with a chance to make a statement, but the Horned Frogs left too many points on the field and came away with a 21-13 loss to UCF on Saturday.
The biggest issue was not a lack of chances. TCU forced multiple turnovers, moved the ball at times and even got a key player back in the lineup, but the offense never found enough rhythm to take advantage. After averaging 47 points over its previous two games, the Horned Frogs couldn’t build on that momentum.
Wide receiver Jordan Dwyer returned for his season debut after missing the first two games because of injury, but TCU still had trouble running the ball and keeping any real consistency on offense.
The game turned messy almost immediately. On TCU’s third snap, Jaden Craig connected with Ed Small, but the play ended in a fumble that UCF recovered. The Knights turned that into an early touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
TCU’s defense kept trying to hand the offense a lifeline. The Horned Frogs forced a fumble on UCF’s third-and-1 in the first quarter, but the next drive ended in a punt. In the second quarter, TCU stopped UCF on a turnover on downs near midfield, then got a 37-yard catch from Jeremy Scott to reach the red zone before settling for a 29-yard field goal from Nate McCashland.
The defense came up with another red-zone fumble before halftime, but again TCU couldn’t turn the takeaway into points.
Self-inflicted mistakes piled up too. The Horned Frogs were flagged 11 times for 86 yards, and the penalties kept hurting them at bad moments.
That showed up again in the fourth quarter, when UCF opened the period with a touchdown after two defensive penalties extended the drive and helped set up the score.
Trying to force a late comeback, Craig threw an interception in UCF territory late in the fourth quarter, which ended TCU’s final push. He finished with 310 passing yards and two interceptions.
TCU now heads back home for its toughest challenge yet, a matchup with No. 9 BYU on Oct. 3.
In Other News...
TCUs Big 12 Hopes Suddenly Look Fragile For One Clear Reason
The 21-13 loss to Central Florida left Sonny Dykes sounding more concerned than frustrated, and it was easy to hear why. TCUs offensive issues have become impossible to ignore, especially on the ground, where the Horned Frogs are producing less than they did a year ago while the front five has struggled to keep the offense on schedule.
In a Big 12 race where every possession matters, those problems loom even larger with No. 9 BYU next on the list. TCU has already put itself behind the pace it needs to stay in the mix, and unless the rushing attack and protection improve quickly, the margin for error is going to keep shrinking. [Read more 🡒]
UCFs Big 12 Win Still Left One Early Concern
TCUs first Big 12 outing of the season ended in a 21-13 loss to UCF, and the box score left at least one obvious question hanging over the Horned Frogs offense. The Frogs actually outgained UCF in total yards, but they never turned that advantage into enough points, in part because the running game never got going and the offense kept putting itself behind the sticks with turnovers and penalties.
Jordan Dwyer, Jeremy Scott and Jeremy Payne each helped move the ball at different points, but inconsistent protection and four turnovers repeatedly interrupted any rhythm. There were encouraging signs on the other side of the ball, too, as TCU held UCF down on the ground and finished with two sacks, yet the defenses work was not enough to cover for an offense that kept missing chances. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Still Exposed One Big Question About TCUs Defense
TCUs defense did plenty to make the night uncomfortable for UCF, particularly with how it handled the ground game and turned a few possessions into opportunities the other way. Vernon Glover Jr. and Kylin Jackson helped spark that effort with key plays, and for stretches it looked like the Horned Frogs were controlling the kind of game they wanted to play.
Still, the bigger question hanging over the performance is whether that was enough to say TCU had truly solved anything. Keyone Jenkins completed 19 of 20 passes, and even with the turnovers and run defense doing real work, the Horned Frogs never fully put UCF away on that side of the ball. [Read more 🡒]