TCU got exactly what it needed Saturday afternoon: another heavy dose of defense and just enough offense to survive.
The Horned Frogs beat Kansas 22-16, a result that pushed them back to .500 and fit the shape of their season almost perfectly. When the game tightened late, TCU’s defense delivered one more stop in the closing seconds, and the offense finally found a late touchdown to finish the job.
The defensive numbers told the story. Linebacker Max Carroll scored on a pick-six, defensive end Koron Hayward added another sack to bring his season total to 5.5, defensive tackle Markis Deal recovered a fumble, and safety Jamel Johnson piled up 10 tackles with 1.5 tackles for loss. That side of the ball kept TCU afloat again.
The offense, though, never really found a rhythm. Jaden Craig had his quietest passing day of the season, throwing for 141 yards with no touchdowns while completing 13 of 29 passes, a 44.1% clip. He did provide a spark on the ground, finishing with a career-best 87 rushing yards as a Horned Frog and scoring the game-clinching touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
TCU got very little help from its backs. Jon Denman carried three times for 10 yards, and Amante Martin had seven carries for 15 yards. Kansas also kept top receiver Jordan Dwyer under wraps, limiting him to six catches for 46 yards.
The game was TCU’s first since the dismissal of co-offensive coordinator and offensive line coach AJ Ricker, and the line did show some improvement. The Horned Frogs allowed only one sack, a notable step forward after giving up 11 over the previous three games. Still, with starting running back Jeremy Payne out and possibly unavailable again this week against Arizona, the ground game has yet to settle in.
That has left Craig carrying more of the load. He led TCU with 15 carries against Kansas, and the Horned Frogs may need that kind of involvement again if the offense is going to keep pace over the final stretch.
There was also a flash from Ace Theus, who showed off some Derius Davis-like burst with a 28-yard touchdown run in the second half.
Now sitting at 4-4 overall and 2-3 in the Big 12, TCU enters November out of the conference title race but still in the hunt for a bowl. The road ahead is no joke, either, with ranked matchups against Arizona, Utah and Texas Tech still on the schedule. Kansas State is also still waiting, and even if Avery Johnson does not play, the Wildcats remain a difficult matchup.
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TCUs New-Look Rotation Just Delivered The Start Fans Wanted
TCU opened the season in emphatic fashion at Schollmaier Arena, rolling past Lindenwood 98-59 and giving the Horned Frogs an early look at what this revamped rotation can do. Junior forward Micah Robinson set the tone with 19 points, while senior point guard Brock Harding added 17 points and five assists as TCU controlled the game from the start and gave its home crowd the kind of first-night performance that can settle a team in quickly.
The win also carried a milestone for Jamie Dixon, who picked up his 200th victory with the program in a result that felt as much about momentum as celebration. With the opener out of the way, the bigger question for TCU is how this group builds on a debut that was crisp, balanced and convincing, especially with the season still in its early stages and room for the rotation to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
TCUs Big 12 Title Path Looks Different Heading Into This Season
The Big 12 womens basketball preseason polls from both coaches and media point to a changed race at the top, with Oklahoma State, TCU, Baylor and West Virginia forming the leagues clear first tier heading into the season. The conferences offseason churn is a big reason why, with major additions and returning pieces reshaping the picture for several contenders. Oklahoma State brought in Audi Crooks and Liv McGill, Baylor added Kate Koval and Tianna Thompson, and West Virginia is leaning on Gia Cooke along with newcomers Alexis Bordas and Skylar Forbes.
For TCU, the roster looks different enough to make the title path feel less familiar even after back-to-back regular-season conference crowns. The Horned Frogs have turned to portal help in Jadyn Wooten and Lanie Grant as they try to reload around a new mix of talent, while the leagues lower tier is expected to have a tougher climb with UCF, Cincinnati and Houston projected to struggle. The top of the Big 12 still looks crowded, but the order has shifted just enough to make this race feel wide open again. [Read more 🡒]
TCU Faces A Huge Test Against One Of The Big 12s Best
TCU is heading into a Big 12 matchup that should tell a lot about where the Horned Frogs stand, with No. 24 Arizona bringing a balanced and dangerous profile into the game. The Wildcats have been efficient on offense, with quarterback Noah Fifita steering the attack and wide receiver Isaiah Mizell emerging as a key target, while the defense has earned respect of its own through strong overall rankings.
For TCU, the challenge is as much about handling pressure as it is about matching Arizona score for score. The Wildcats can affect a game at the line of scrimmage and make life difficult for opposing quarterbacks, which means the Horned Frogs will need to be sharp in protection and disciplined against a unit that has already proven it can disrupt even good offenses. [Read more 🡒]