Utah collapses early, can't recover late after 13-7 loss to TCU

In what appeared to be a hard-fought matchup on paper, TCU emerged victorious with a 13-7 win over Utah thanks to a confident defensive performance and determined effort from Josh Hoover. The Horned Frogs QB, who threw for 263 yards and rushed for a touchdown, led his team against a strong Utah defense. Despite TCU's offensive struggles, particularly in the second half, their defense stood firm and made key stops to secure the victory.

The story of the night, however, was TCU's defense, which kept Utah off the scoreboard in the first half and limited them to just 86 yards of total offense. That dominant performance frustrated the home crowd at Rice-Eccles Stadium and led to boos as the Utes headed to the locker room at halftime. Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham acknowledged the frustration, stating, “The fans pay their money, they have the right to do whatever they want… the last few games haven't exactly been cause for excitement.”

Hoover's only touchdown came in the second quarter after two precise passes to Eric McAlister and Drake Dabney. Despite its solid passing performance, TCU's offense stalled in the red zone as a lost fumble and a blocked field goal prevented them from capitalizing on scoring opportunities. Kyle Lemmerman made two field goals for TCU, including one in the third quarter that gave them a 13-0 lead.

Utah's offensive problems were evident throughout the game, particularly with freshman quarterback Isaac Wilson, who stepped in after Cam Rising's season-ending injury. Wilson faced tremendous pressure from the TCU defense as he missed several open receivers and held on to the ball for too long. But Wilson finally broke through in the third quarter when he hit Money Parks for a 71-yard touchdown pass that gave Utah some hope. That single goal energized the Utes, but wasn't enough to turn the tide.

Utah's defense managed to keep the game within reach despite the offense's weaknesses. TCU had gone 0-for-7 on third downs in the second half, but converted a crucial four-and-1 late in the game to secure the win. The Utes had their chance in the final moments, but Wilson's interception on a fourth down attempt, followed by an incomplete pass on another fourth down, effectively ended their hopes of a comeback.

Looking back on the game, TCU head coach Sonny Dykes praised his team's defensive performance. “We had to sell out to stop the rush and we did… it's the first time this year we've played free football,” he said. On Utah, Whittingham expressed disappointment but praised its defense, stating, “To hold this team to 13 points… very proud of the defensemen.”

With the win, TCU improved to 4-3 and kept its Big 12 title hopes alive, while Utah fell to 4-3 as they continued to search for answers on offense. Utah's next test will be against Houston in hopes of rebounding from recent troubles.