Josh Hoover passed for 231 yards and three touchdowns, but it was the TCU defense that was the difference as the Horned Frogs held off rival Baylor 42-36 on Saturday afternoon in a key Big 12 Conference clash in Fort Worth, Texas.
TCU (5-2, 2-2 Big 12) survived three lightning delays in the fourth quarter and a late Baylor surge to get back on track in the conference race. Hoover hit on 22 of his 31 throws, and the Horned Frogs’ defense intercepted Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson (who led FBS in passing yards before Saturday) three times to counteract his 318 passing yards.
Kevorian Barnes rushed for 106 yards and two TDs, including a 14-yard burst up the middle on the first play after the third lightning delay that pushed TCU’s lead to 42-21.
Baylor (4-3, 2-2) committed four of the game’s five turnovers. Robertson had two touchdown passes, but his third interception came with 11 seconds left to play after the Bears recovered a late onside kick.
The Bears struck first, moving 92 yards to a 1-yard scoring plunge by Bryson Washington. Hoover found DJ Rogers with an 8-yard scoring pass as a response four minutes into the second quarter as TCU tied the game at 7.
After a Washington fumble, Barnes shoved his way into the end zone from 5 yards out to give TCU a 14-7 edge with 6:10 to play before halftime. Connor Hawkins then drilled a 42-yard field goal with 2:04 left in the quarter to bring the Bears to within 14-10.
Hoover added a 6-yard TD pass to Jordan Dwyer with 11 seconds to go before the half to make it 21-10 just three snaps after the duo hooked up for a 41-yard connection.
TCU stoked its advantage to 28-10 when it opened the third quarter with a 3-yard touchdown pass from Hoover to Ka’Morreun Pimpton. But the Bears answered with a scoring drive on their first second-half possession, closing to within 28-18 when Robertson found Jadon Porter on an 18-yard TD toss and added a two-point conversion pass to Josh Cameron.
Hawkins kicked a 41-yard FG on the first play of the fourth quarter that cut the Baylor deficit to seven points. The Horned Frogs swung back as Trent Battle raced untouched for a 65-yard TD run that gave them some breathing room.
Then came the weather delays and Barnes’ 14-yard touchdown run that ultimately proved to be the winning points.
Keaton Thomas’ 24-yard return of a fumble by Hoover with 3:08 to play and a 35-yard TD catch by Kole Wilson with 30 seconds left to give Baylor late life.
