TCU’s late-night trip to Arizona had the shape of a breakthrough in spots, but the Horned Frogs left still searching for the cleaner version of themselves. The offense put up its most points against a Power Four opponent this season, leaned hard on its best weapons and found a few sparks in the run game, yet the mistakes piled up again and swallowed the good work.
The game plan was obvious from the start: get the ball to Jordan Dwyer and Kari Ashley. With the rushing attack limited by injuries and season-long struggles, TCU had to live through the air, and the Frogs were not shy about it.
Dwyer and Ashley were the only two players targeted in the first half. Dwyer finished that stretch with five catches for 52 yards on eight targets, while Ashley had eight receptions for 56 yards on nine targets.
The Frogs also got creative with Ashley’s usage, moving him around the formation and even sliding him into the backfield at times. That kind of flexibility made sense given how explosive he has been with the ball in his hands, and it showed TCU was willing to keep finding ways to feature him even when the passing game wasn’t smooth.
Freshman running back Amante Martin added a little life to the ground game, too. He ran with toughness downhill and popped off multiple double-digit gains, giving an offense without a true rushing threat something to lean on.
But the growing pains showed as well. Martin was flagged for holding and had trouble identifying a free defender in pass protection, reminders that the talent is there but the details are still catching up.
Those details hurt TCU in a big way. A drive late in the first quarter gave the Frogs their first real push into Arizona territory, all the way to the Wildcats’ 24-yard line.
After a 7-yard pass to Ashley set up third-and-3, TCU ran up the middle for two yards and faced fourth-and-1. The Frogs hurried to the line for a QB sneak, then called timeout to reconsider.
Coming out of the timeout, they were hit with a false start, and Kyle Lemmermann’s 37-yard field goal try - his second attempt of the season - sailed wide right.
That was only one of the missed chances. TCU also had a blocked field goal on a 50-yard attempt, and then came the sequence that helped decide the night.
With 1:45 left, Arizona scored but missed the two-point conversion. On the ensuing squib kick, Ed Small muffed it and the Wildcats recovered at the TCU 26-yard line, setting up the winning position.
Jaden Craig had his own issues throughout the night. He had protection often enough, but he didn’t consistently step into the pocket, and those moments turned into sacks.
Other times, he held the ball too long and missed open receivers. His pocket presence continues to be a problem, and it showed again here.
Even with all that, the TCU defense kept giving the Frogs a chance. Arizona came in ranked No. 21 in scoring offense, No. 17 in yards per game, No. 18 in yards per play and No. 5 in third-down conversions, but TCU still made the Wildcats work. The Frogs bent plenty, especially in the passing game, where Arizona found open space and easy completions, but they didn’t break.
There were bright spots all over that side of the ball. Paul Oyewale helped generate pressure off the edge, Koron Heyward continued to look like a revelation, Hudson Hooper delivered a 93-yard pick-six, and TCU finished with three sacks while forcing Noah Fifita out of the pocket repeatedly.
The defense wasn’t perfect, but it was strong enough to keep the game within reach. The problem, once again, was everything around it.
In Other News...
TCU Fans Now Have One Big Question About A 2022 Star
Kendre Millers NFL path took another turn this week, and it leaves TCU fans watching closely. The former Horned Frogs standout and 2023 third-round pick by the New Orleans Saints was waived after a stretch in which injuries and limited playing time kept him from ever fully settling in with the team.
For TCU followers, the intrigue is obvious because Miller was one of the programs most recognizable stars in 2022 and still carries plenty of name value. New Orleans opened the roster spot by activating rookie wide receiver Jordyn Tyson from injured reserve, but Millers next stop is now the bigger question, with his status hanging in the balance as the waiver process plays out. [Read more 🡒]