TCU Horned Frogs Hold Off Jayhawks 22-16 in Fort Worth Thriller

A Late Surge Secures the Win

Jaden Craig’s 17-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth quarter proved decisive, giving the TCU Horned Frogs a 22-16 victory over the visiting Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth. The home team, now 4-4, overcame a significant deficit to take control of the game in the final minutes of play.

The win improved TCU’s standing while Kansas dropped to 3-5 on the season. With 32,549 fans in attendance, the contest featured a dramatic shift in momentum that favored the Frogs late in the fourth quarter.

Jayhawks Build Early Lead

Kansas struck first and often in the first half, establishing a commanding lead. Martin Connington kicked a 34-yard field goal in the first period to give the Jayhawks a 3-0 advantage. In the second quarter, Connington extended the lead with a 42-yard field goal, making it 6-0.

Kansas then capitalized on a big play when Cole Ballard connected with Cam Pickett on a 29-yard pass for a touchdown, followed by a successful kick by Martin Connington. This drive put Kansas up 13-0 heading into halftime.

Ballard finished the game with 285 passing yards on 20 of 35 attempts, including one touchdown and one interception, while Nahzae Cox led the receiving corps with 145 yards on five catches.

Defensive Turn and TCU Response

The tide turned in the third quarter when Max Carroll returned an interception 60 yards for a touchdown, cutting Kansas’s lead to 13-7. Kyle Lemmermann added the extra point to make it 13-7. TCU answered immediately with a 28-yard rushing touchdown by Ace Theus, also followed by a Lemmermann kick, to take the lead 14-13.

Craig, who rushed for 87 yards on 15 carries, provided a spark on the ground, while Kari Ashley added 50 receiving yards on three catches. The back-and-forth nature of the game continued into the fourth quarter, with Kansas regaining a narrow lead before TCU’s final offensive drive.

Closing the Game

In the fourth period, Martin Connington kicked a 27-yard field goal to make it 16-14 in favor of Kansas. However, TCU responded with a two-point conversion drive. Jaden Craig rushed in for a 17-yard touchdown and then converted the two-point attempt with a pass to Jordan Dwyer.

This play scored eight points, bringing the final margin to 22-16. Craig finished with 141 passing yards on 13 of 29 attempts. The result leaves TCU at 4-4 and Kansas at 3-5, capping a Saturday afternoon of high-scoring defensive and offensive exchanges at Amon G. Carter Stadium.

Sources

ESPN