TCU shook off a slow opening and found its footing quickly enough to take control of Grambling by halftime, 28-7, in its first home game of the 2026 season.
The Horned Frogs had spent two weeks waiting to get back on the field after opening the year with a loss, and the pause looked like it might linger early. But once the offense got moving, TCU settled in and started stacking plays, with the students helping bring some life to a hot afternoon in Fort Worth even as the stands were less than sold-out.
TCU got the ball first and wasted little time turning the game in its direction. Kari Ashley was a central figure on the opening series, and he and Craig hooked up for a 37-yard gain that put the Frogs in position to strike. Major Everhart then took advantage of the edge with a rushing touchdown, putting TCU on top 7-0.
Grambling answered with a pair of quick gains of 52 and 16 yards to reach the red zone, but the TCU defense held firm near the goal line. The Tigers settled for a field goal attempt, and Ansel Din-Mbuh blocked it, preserving the shutout and giving the Frogs their first blocked field goal since 2024.
After that, the night began to tilt further toward TCU. One drive stalled after the Frogs moved about half the field and were forced to punt, but the defense came right back with a stop of its own, pinning Grambling in its own end and giving the offense a shorter field to work with.
Then came a big moment that nearly broke the game open even earlier. Jeremy Payne ripped off a run of more than 30 yards and looked set to score, but the ball was punched loose at the one-yard line and rolled out of the end zone for a touchback, handing possession back to Grambling heading into the second quarter.
TCU’s offense found a cleaner rhythm in the second period and scored on its first two possessions. That stretch included the first passing touchdown of the year, when Craig hit tight end Ka'Morreun Pimpton for a nine-yard score.
Grambling finally got on the board with just under 4 1/2 minutes left in the half, and the Tigers did it by exploiting the secondary. A 62-yard pass on a blown coverage set up the touchdown, and the score itself came with blown coverage again.
TCU answered right back. Kari Ashley sparked another drive with a 32-yard catch, and the Frogs finished it with their third rushing touchdown of the night, this one from Joe Pitchford to make it 28-7.
The defense closed the half with another stop, and TCU took that 28-7 cushion into the break with momentum finally looking a lot more like what it wanted from the start.
In Other News...
TCU Landed In A Blue-Chip Guard Battle That Just Got Tense
Malik Olajuwon has put himself right in the middle of a crowded late-summer recruiting race, trimming his list to six schools as he heads into his senior season at IMG Academy. The four-star shooting guard, son of Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon, is trying to carve out his own name on the hardwood while weighing a group that includes TCU, SMU, Texas Tech, Kansas State, Virginia Tech and Minnesota.
The tricky part for the Horned Frogs is that five of those programs already have official visits lined up, while TCU is still waiting on a date to be set. In a battle this tight, timing can matter almost as much as interest, and the longer the wait goes on the more important that eventual visit becomes for a program hoping to stay firmly in the mix. [Read more 🡒]
TCU Just Landed A Big Chance With A Fast-Rising 2027 Guard
TCU has jumped into the mix for one of the faster-rising guards in the 2027 class, with Elijah Paez recently picking up an offer from the Horned Frogs and setting an official visit for Sept. 18-20. The timing matters, because early offers can shape a recruitment before it gets crowded, and TCU is now positioned to make a real impression as Paez continues to sort through a growing list of high-major options.
Paez also has visits lined up to UConn and DePaul, and the Huskies have clearly caught his eye as he follows Danny Hurleys program closely. TCUs challenge will be to use that fall visit to separate itself in a recruitment that is still taking shape, especially with other Class of 2027 guards like Javion Tyndale also drawing attention after a strong summer and a recent stop at St. Bonaventure. [Read more 🡒]