TCU 38-27 Kansas (September 28, 2024) Game Recap

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Josh Hoover threw for 356 yards and three touchdowns, JP Richardson returned an 89-yard go-ahead punt in the second half and TCU topped Kansas 38-27 on Saturday at Arrowhead Stadium.

Jack Bech had 131 yards receiving and two touchdowns, and Cam Cook had a touchdown run to help the Horned Frogs (3-2, 1-1 Big 12) rally against the Jayhawks (1-4, 0-2). 11-1 to improve. since they became conference rivals 12 years ago.

“We just kept fighting. There was no panic,” said TCU coach Sonny Dykes, whose defense had allowed just 101 combined points in back-to-back losses to UCF and SMU. “The boys stepped up and were tougher and braver and more determined to win, and sometimes teams who lose two games in a row don’t respond that way.”

The Horned Frogs shut out Jalon Daniels, who was 15 of 34 for 179 yards with a touchdown and a pick. Daniel Hishaw and Devin Neal had TD runs for Kansas, but they were unable to carry the load alone.

The Jayhawks, who have lost four straight games, play their Big 12 home games at the home of the Kansas City Chiefs. And their recent losing streak could have been a big reason why there were a lot of red and yellow spots.

“Extremely depressed, but why wouldn’t you? “We put in so much time and we can’t get it done,” Jayhawks coach Lance Leipold said. “It starts with the head coach. I can’t do it and I need to get better.”

Leipold spent much of the second half angry with referee Michael VanderVelde. Officials initially overturned a long third-down catch by the Jayhawks after discussing the play, and the on-field call stood based on video review. A few minutes later, Hoover was hit from behind and fumbled, but VanderVelde nullified that call and gave the ball back to TCU.

“Did it change the dynamics of the game drastically? Yes. Did we still have to make plays and didn't we? “Yes,” said Leipold, who spent several minutes bashing the incumbent. “You can fine me today. I don’t really care.”

Thanks to a few TCU turnovers, Kansas was fortunate to trail 21-17 at halftime – a fumble on the opening series that Daniels turned into a touchdown pass to Luke Grimm and a pick by OJ Burroughs that turned into a field goal .

Otherwise, the Jayhawks couldn't slow down Hoover and the Horned Frogs.

The productive sophomore was 21 of 26 for 227 yards and two touchdowns in the first half alone. His favorite target was Bech, who had seven catches at the time, including a 35-yard TD reception and a 7-yard scoring strike with 12 seconds left.

The teams traded points early in the second half – Hishaw had a TD run for Kansas, Richardson answered with his punt return to take the lead for TCU. But ultimately the Jayhawks failed again due to mistakes and missed opportunities.

Their biggest missed opportunity came early in the fourth quarter when the Horned Frogs led 28-24. Kansas had to settle for a field goal instead of taking the lead with a touchdown. Two plays later, Hoover hit Eric McAlister near the sideline and slipped tackles from Burroughs and Mello Dotson en route to a 59-yard touchdown reception.

“We had some adversity today and fought through it,” Hoover said. “I’m really proud of our boys.”

Kyle Lemmermann made up for his earlier miss with a 29-yard field goal with 3:02 left to tie the game.

“I can’t say enough about our players,” Dykes said. “I'm proud of them because they worked hard all week. They never batted an eyelid, just about all the stuff last week because they turned their backs on me personally. I really appreciate it.”

The takeaway food

TCU overcame three turnovers thanks largely to a defense that was able to control the Kansas passing game. “Very rarely you win a football game by turning the ball over three times,” Dykes said. “We were very lucky.”

Kansas only had six penalties for 50 yards, but at particularly bad times. And when open players drop passes and the defense squanders assignments, the accumulated mistakes become too much to overcome.

Next

TCU returns to face Houston on Friday night.

Kansas travels to Arizona State on Saturday.

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