Quick Thoughts: TCU 35, Texas Tech 34

The Horned Frogs complete dramatic comeback to bring home the West Texas Championship

Find A Way

In losses to UCF, SMU, and Houston in the first half of the season, the Horned Frogs found any way possible to lose, but now two weeks in a row the Horned Frogs have found ways to win. Pulling out these games where the you don’t play your best ball gives hope that a corner has been turned and this current version of the Frogs could truly make some magic down the stretch run. Showing no quit is the best sign that the coaching staff message is producing results and that vocal leaders are developing in that locker room. While we’d all love to see the Frogs demolish some teams, and certainly there were plenty of concerning moments on Saturday, the fight shown to take a win from a game like this is an impressive performance and sign of true progress.

Turnover Woes & Turnover Whoas

Josh Hoover further extended his NCAA lead with yet another lost fumble, giving him six through eight games. The TCU QB is on a historic pace – no individual has lost more than seven fumbles in a season over the last five years. The strip sack fumble in the 2nd quarter while pinned deep in it own territory was brutal; TCU was dominating and the game instantly flipped with the TTU fake FG touchdown that followed. TCU’s turnover margin has fallen to minus-11 for the season, ranking second-worst nationally. However the TCU Defense made a huge impact on Saturday, contributing two fumble recoveries of its own, including one of the WHOA plays of the game. With the clock ticking under two minutes and the Red Raiders in straightforward field goal range to eventually attempt the game-winner, backup QB Will Hammond took a keeper and spun out of a tackle into a crushing shot from Hakeem Ajijolaiya, jarring the ball loose, recovered by Markis Deal. It was a season-saving play to keep the Saddle in Fort Worth.

The Strange Case of Dr. Josh & Mr. Hoover

Josh Hoover continues to be a turnover machine; in addition to the most lost fumbles he’s also top-ten most interceptions in college football after adding a pair of brutal picks to his tally to reach 8 on the season. These killer moments of frustration are matched by an equal and opposite force of magical moments when Hoover executes the offense to perfections, making the right reads and dropping dimes all over the field. On Saturday, Hoover completed 66% of his passes for 344 yards and 3 huge touchdowns. He thread the needle to DJ Rogers in the red zone and strikes for long scores to Savion Williams and the game winner to Eric McAlister. He spread the wealth to seven different pass catchers, each with multiple receptions other than McAllister. Hoover dug TCU’s grave with the turnovers, but shocked it back to life, both in this game and going forward for the remainder of the season. If the Frogs get more of the precise scientist the rest of the way and less of the horrifying monster, there will be more big results ahead.

Back Against The Wall, Stand Tall

Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images

A week after shutting down the Utah offense, the TCU Defense had the difficult task of taking on the Red Raiders offense made even more challenging with TTU repeatedly being gifted incredible field position. Tech’s average drive starting position was its own 40 yard line, with three drives starting in TCU territory. On each those three drives, the defense got off the field, forcing field goal attempts in each – one make, one miss, and one fake brought in for a TD. As expected, TTU RB Tahj Brooks accumulated big numbers, but on just 4 yards per carry, while the defense mostly smothered everything else the Red Raiders attempted. Had the unit not made the key play with the forced fumble in the final minutes it would’ve possibly all been for nothing…but the play was made and the defense did its job in sufficiently containing that dynamic offense.