Quick Thoughts: TCU 38, Kansas 27

Horned Frogs improve to 1-1 in Big 12 play with timely defensive stands, a special teams TD, and another prolific outing from QB Josh Hoover

Defense Stands Tall

After a game and a half of horrendous defending from the Horned Frogs, TCU bounced back in a major way on Saturday. While far from perfect, and there were certainly some rough moments especially in the first half, the defensive side of the ball held up its end of the bargain and picked up the slack when the offense put it in bad spots. Of the three Frog turnovers the offense gave away, Kansas only turned one into a touchdown – and not the interception returned inside the 10. The Jayhawks entered the game with a top-20 rushing offense nationally, averaging over six yards per rush and 239 yards per game on the ground. TCU held that superb attack to just 4.9 yards per carry and only 167 yards rushing. After getting gashed by UCF & SMU, the unit was roundly criticized, but it was a huge step forward to show the ability to slow a run game as strong as the Jayhawks’. Superstar running QB Jalon Daniels was held to just six total yards rushing while completing just 44% of his passes, with just one TD and the game sealing interception thrown to LaMareon James.

TCU forced the Jayhawks into difficult situations, with an average third down distance of 7.6 yards and critically got off the field when it mattered most, not allowing a touchdown after the first drive of the 2nd half, including forcing a 3rd quarter punt that led to the turning point of the game:

Special Teams Magic

The Horned Frogs have been begging for that one play where the ball bounces just where they need it, where the call goes your way, where the light turns on and shines brilliance onto the field, where the stars align and the whole momentum of a season gets flipped. TCU had such a season altering moment on Saturday, trailing by three points nearing the end of the third quarter, KU was driving near midfield after the Frogs missed a long field goal, but that TCU Defense held firm and forced a punt. It was a booming boot, blasted 50+ yards to the TCU 10 yard line where JP Richardson catches and begins his weaving run through the KU coverage team, eventually breaking free and into the endzone to TCU a lead it would not relinquish. Sometimes you need that one spark to change the trajectory of a game – of a season – on Saturday it was Richardson and the punt return unit delivering that moment of greatness.

Bech & McAlister, Attorneys at Ball

While likely not on many radars as one of the top receivers in the Big 12 with names like Tetairoa McMillan, Travis Hunter, Kobe Hudson and others in the league, Jack Bech has become a breakout superstar for the Horned Frogs in 2024. Going for over 130 yards and a TD in each FBS game this season, Bech again was a sure-handed go-to target for TCU QB Josh Hoover, reeling in 10 catches for 131 yards and two touchdowns. He was there to convert first downs, he was there on short throws and long, he was there on the boundary and over the middle. Jack Bech was everywhere and could not be stopped.

His partner on the outside in this game was played with sweet perfection by Eric McAlister, delivering 100 yards and a monumental 59-yard catch-and-run touchdown to add to the Frogs’ lead in the fourth quarter. Now with consecutive 100+ yard games and three straight with a touchdown, McAlister has established himself as a deadly weapon in this offense and the Frogs can legitimately claim to go four deep with WR1-level pass catchers.

For the day, QB Josh Hoover threw for 356 yards and three touchdowns while completing 76% of his passes. Despite a pair of interceptions, it was a dominant performance over a Kansas secondary that featured two Preseason All-Big 12 cornerbacks.

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NEXT: The Horned Frogs host the 1-4 Houston Cougars under the Friday night lights at Amon G. Carter Stadium on October 4 at 6:30 PM on ESPN.