TCU 38, Kansas State 28
October 22, 2022
Amon G. Carter Stadium
Texas Christian University
Fort Worth, Texas
Attendance: 47,881 (TCU 's third straight sellout and its longest streak since a run of seven
straight sellouts in the 2014-15 seasons; included a TCU record 6,512 students, which is more than half of TCU’s enrollment and marked a second straight game for a student attendance record).
Box score: here
Game highlights: here
Riff Ram Video: here
TCU head coach Sonny Dykes discusses TCU's win: here
TCU tight end Jared Wiley discusses TCU's win: here
TCU quarterback Max Duggan discusses TCU's win: here
TCU linebacker Johnny Hodges discusses TCU's win: here
TCU running back Kendre Miller discusses TCU's win: here
Kansas State head coach Chris Klieman discusses K-State's loss: here
Kansas State quarterback Will Howard discusses K-State's loss: here
Kansas State linebacker Austin Moore discusses K-State's loss: here
Kansas State defensive tackle Eli Huggins discusses K-State's loss: here
Kansas State wide receiver Kade Warner discusses K-State's loss: here
Kansas State running back Deuce Vaughn discusses K-State's loss: here
Horned Frogs Turn the Tables on Kansas State
By Tom C. "Midnite" Burke
What a difference a year makes.
As well as a little bit of good fortune.
Just over a year ago, on October 30, 2021, a lethargic, disillusioned TCU football team lost, 31-12, to Kansas State in Manhattan, Kansas.
The disappointing loss dropped the Frogs' season record to 3-5.
A day later, on October 31, TCU and long-time head football coach Gary Patterson agreed to part ways.
Patterson had come to TCU in 1998 as the defensive coordinator for head coach Dennis Franchione, whom TCU hired away from the University of New Mexico. When Franchione was hired as Alabama's head football coach in 2000, Patterson was named TCU's head football coach.
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| Tom C. "Midnite" Burke |
The Frogs finished the 2021 season with a 5-7 record, and for the first time in years there were questions about the future of the program.
This past Saturday, October 22, in Amon G. Carter Stadium, in Fort Worth, Texas, the 2022 Horned Frogs, under the direction of first-year head coach Sonny Dykes, remained unbeaten at 7-0 with a hard-fought 38-28 victory over Kansas State, which has been a nemesis for the Frogs since TCU joined the Big 12 in 2012.
To end a three-game losing streak to K-State, TCU had to come back from a first half-deficit of 28-10 and benefit from three blown scoring opportunities by the Wildcats - two missed field goals and a missed touchdown on an overthrown pass to a wide-open receiver in the end zone.
TCU and Kansas State played for the 16th time in their history. Each team now has won eight games. Overall, TCU is 5-3 against the Wildcats in Fort Worth and 3-5 in Manhattan.
Since beginning Big 12 play in 2012, TCU is 5-6 versus Kansas State.
This was the first time since 2014 in the series that both teams were ranked in the Associated Press (AP) top-25. TCU came into the game ranked eighth. Kansas State was ranked 17th.
The win over the Wildcats improved TCU's ranking. TCU is ranked seventh in the AP poll and the Coaches poll. This is the Frogs’ highest ranking since being ranked No. 4 in week eight of the 2017 season.
TCU has joined the 2016 Oklahoma team as the only teams in Big 12 history to win four consecutive games against opponents ranked in the AP poll. The Frogs’ three prior wins were: 55-24 over number 18 Oklahoma, in Fort Worth; 38-31 over number 19 Kansas, in Lawrence; and 43-40, in double overtime, over number 8 Oklahoma State, in Fort Worth).
Combined with its rally from 17 points down on Saturday, October 15, to beat Oklahoma State, TCU became the third team in the past 20 seasons to come back from multiple 17-point deficits against ranked teams in a season.
TCU leads the Big 12 at 4-0. Oklahoma State and Kansas State are tied for second place at 3-1. Texas is in third place at 3-2.
The Frogs are one of the country’s six unbeaten Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams. The others are Georgia (7-0), Ohio State (7-0), Tennessee (7-)0), Clemson (8-0) and Michigan (8-0). On Saturday, UCLA, Ole Miss and Syracuse fell from the ranks of the unbeaten teams.
Promoted as a “Black-out” game by TCU, K-State blacked out TCU in the game’s first half by scoring touchdowns on four consecutive possessions.
The Wildcats’ fast start was led by backup quarterback Will Howard, who replaced starting quarterback Adrian Martinez, who left the game with an apparent injury after K-State’s first possession of the game.
With just over eight minutes left in the first half, Kansas State led, 28-10. The Frogs closed the deficit to 28-17 just before the first half ended.
The second half belonged to the Frogs, offensively and defensively.
TCU scored two touchdowns in the third quarter to take a 31-28 lead. A touchdown early in the fourth quarter (their fourth touchdown in five possessions) proved to be the final points of the Frogs' 38-28 victory.
Coming into the game, Kansas State’s defense only had been allowing 16.6 points per game, which ranked 14th in the FBS.
After giving up 303 yards and 10.1 yards per play in the first half, the TCU defense surrendered just 87 yards on 23 plays in the second half, and held Kansas State scoreless. The prior Saturday, the Frogs' defense did not allow Oklahoma State to score a touchdown in the second half of TCU's 43-40 double-overtime victory.
Wildcats kicker Chris Tennant missed two field goals, a 44-yarder in the third quarter and a 40-yarder in the fourth quarter.
The missed 40-yarder came after Howard overthrew Wildcats receiver Kade Warner, who had broken wide open in the end zone, ahead of TCU cornerback Josh Newton.
Kansas State compiled 390 total yards; 158 yards rushing, 232 yards passing.
The Wildcats came into the game averaging 244.5 rushing yards per game, the best rushing attack in the Big 12 and the seventh-best in the FBS.
Howard completed 13-of-20 passes for 225 yards and two touchdowns.
K-State running back Deuce Vaughn rambled for 83 yards on 12 carries. He had one rushing touchdown, as did Howard.
Warner and Sammy Wheeler caught touchdown passes for K-State. The Wildcats’ leading receiver was Malik Knowles. He had four receptions for 69 yards.
TCU compiled 495 yards; 215 yards rushing, 280 yards passing.
Offensively, TCU was led by the foursome of quarterback Max Duggan, running back Kendre Miller, tight end Jared Wiley and wide receiver Quinten Johnston.
For their performances in the win over K-State, Duggan and Miller earned Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Honorable Mention Player of the Week accolades. Duggan also was named a Manning Award Star of the Week, and a Davey O'Brien Award Great 8.
Duggan, who was named the Big 12’s co-offensive player of the week after TCU’s victory over Oklahoma State and who has been added to midseason watch lists for the Maxwell Award and Davey O'Brien Award, completed 17-of-26 passes for 280 yards and three touchdowns. He did not throw an interception.
Duggan’s three touchdown passes give him a career-high 19 on the season. He has thrown one interception. He is completing 68.9 percent of his passes this season. His consistent performance through seven games has earned him mention as a Heisman Trophy candidate.
Miller ran for a team-best 153 yards on 29 carries, including two touchdowns. His 29 carries were the most by a Horned Frog since Sewo Olonilua had 32 for 194 yards against Cal in the 2018 Cheez-It Bowl.
This was Miller’s fourth 100-yard effort of the season, all in the last five games, and eighth of his career.
Miller has a rushing touchdown in all seven games this season. He has a team-best 10 touchdowns on the season.
Miller’s eight consecutive games with a rushing touchdown rank second all-time at TCU, behind only LaDainian Tomlinson (15, 1999-00).
Wiley had career-highs with five receptions for 74 yards, including a touchdown. His four-yard scoring grab gave him four touchdowns on 12 receptions this season.
Johnston, who was named the Big 12’s offensive player of the week after TCU’s victory over Kansas, caught four passes for 74 yards, including a 55-yard touchdown, which gave him a receiving score in three consecutive games.
Wide receiver Derius Davis had a 65-yard touchdown reception. For the season, Davis has four receiving scores, which tie for the team lead.
Wide receiver Taye Barber had two receptions to give him 138 catches in his career, the most by a current Horned Frog.
Kicker Griffin Kell made a 43-yard field goal. He is 6-of-6 on the season and 35-of-45 in his career.
Defensively, safeties Mark Perry and Namdi Obiazor tied for team-high honors with seven tackles each. Obiazor, who made his first career start, also had the first interception of his career.
Safety Bud Clark had an interception for the second straight game, giving him two on the season and a tie for the team lead.
Cornerback Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson had four tackles and his first interception of the season. Hodges-Tomlinson has been named a semifinalist for the Paycom Jim Thorpe Award, presented annually to the nation's top defensive back. A two-time First-Team All-Big 12 selection, Hodges-Tomlinson was named to multiple preseason All-America teams. The senior from Waco, Texas, has 25 tackles, including one for loss, with three pass breakups and the interception.
True freshman nose tackle Damonic Williams had his first career forced fumble and 1.5 tackles for loss as part of three tackles.
Linebacker Shadrach Banks had his first career forced fumble.
With the victory over the Wildcats, the Frogs have excelled during a treacherous part of their Big 12 schedule, under the leadership of Dykes, who has been added to the watch list for the 2022 American Heart Association and Paul Bear Bryant Coach of the Year award.
Dykes is the second head football coach in TCU program history, joining Francis Schmidt in 1929, to win his opening seven games.
When Dykes was head coach at SMU, prior to coming to TCU in late 2021, he and his staff earned a reputation, deserved or not, as not being able to lead the Mustangs to victories in "big games."
In 2019, Dykes and SMU started the season 8-0, then lost to #24 Memphis. The Mustangs finished the season with a 10-3 record, including a regular-season loss to Navy and a loss to FAU in the Cheribundi Boca Raton Bowl.
In the COVID-19 pandemic season of 2020, Dykes and SMU started the season 5-0, then lost to #9 Cincinnati. The Mustangs lost the final two games of the shortened season to finish with a 7-3 record, with the Tropical Smoothie Café Frisco Bowl canceled.
In 2021, Dykes and SMU started the season 7-0, then the Mustangs lost four of their last five games to finish with an 8-4 record, with the Wasabi Fenway Bowl canceled.
Dykes said that on some teams he has coached in the past that have gotten off to fast starts, there were players that started to feel good about themselves and lost some focus. Dykes said he doesn't think this TCU team is like that.
Dykes and the Frogs now must survive a "trap game" against West Virginia, a lower-level opponent, before a closing stretch of games against; Texas Tech, on November 5, in Fort Worth; Texas, on November 12, in Austin; Baylor, on November 19, in Iowa; and Iowa State, on November 26, in Fort Worth.
Kickoff against West Virginia this Saturday, October 29, is scheduled for 11 am (Central), in Milan Puskar Stadium, in Morgnaanwn, West Virginia. ESPN will broadcast the game.
The game in West Virginia, which joined the Big 12 in 2012 with TCU, marks the last time TCU will leave Texas during this regular season and its third and final flight of the year. The Frogs are 3-0 on the road this season.
TCU and West Virginia will be facing each other for the 12th time. The Mountaineers hold a 7-4 series lead. All but one meeting has come since the schools became Big 12 members. Prior to 2012, the only previous game between TCU and West Virginia was a 31-14 Mountaineers' win in the 1984 Bluebonnet Bowl at the Astrodome in Houston, when Jim Wacker was the Frogs' head coach.
TCU is 2-3 against West Virginia in Morgantown, 2-3 in Fort Worth and 0-1 at neutral sites (the Bluebonnet Bowl).
Morgantown always is a spooky place to place, especially only days before Halloween.
The Frogs have lost their past three games in Morgantown and are 1-5 in their past six games against West Virginia.
Last year, on October 23, in Patterson's next-to-last game as the Frogs' head coach, the Mountaineers slipped past TCU, 29-17, in Fort Worth.
The last time TCU ventured to West Virginia, on November 14, 2020, the Frogs lost, 24-6.
The Frogs' most recent victory in the Appalachian Region was a 31-30 victory over West Virginia on November 1, 2014.
This season, the Mountaineers are 3-4 (1-3 in the Big 12; next-to-last place, just above Iowa State).
On Saturday, October 22, West Virginia lost to
Texas Tech, 48-10, in Lubbock.
West Virginia also has lost to: Pittsburgh, 38-31, in Pittsburgh; Kansas, 55-42 (OT), in Morgantown; and Texas, 38-20, in Austin.
West Virginia has beaten: Towson, 65-7, in Morgantown; Virginia Tech, 33-10, in Blacksburg, Virginia; and Baylor, 43-40, in Morgantown.
West Virginia's offense is averaging 35 points per game, 262 passing yards per game and 174 rushing yards per game.
Redshirt junior quarterback J.T. Daniels (#18) leads the Mountaineers' offense. He has completed 162-of-254 passes. He has thrown 10 touchdown passes and six interceptions.
West Virginia's offensive line has allowed nine sacks.
Redshirt junior wide receiver Bryce Ford-Wheaton (#0) is averaging 74 receiving yards per game. he has caught five touchdown passes.
Sophomore wide receiver Kaden Prather (#3) and redshirt junior wide receiver Sam James are averaging 57 receiving yards per game. Prather has caught three touchdown passes. James has caught two touchdown passes.
Freshman running back C.J. Donaldson (#12) and redshirt sophomore running back Tony Mathis, Jr. (#24) lead West Virginia's rushing attack. Both are averaging 70 rushing yards per game. Donaldson has scored six rushing touchdowns. Mathis has scored five rushing touchdowns.
The Mountaineers are giving up 34 points per game and allowing 276 passing yards per game and 130 rushing yards per game. Their opponents have scored 15 touchdowns through the air and 13 touchdowns on the ground.
West Virginia has the nation's 117th-ranked passing defense.
Junior linebacker Lee Kpogba (#8) leads a West Virginia defense that has registered 14 sacks. Kpogba has recorded 47 tackles, including 3.5 for loss and two sacks.
Sophomore safety Aubrey Burks (#2) has 36 tackles, including two for loss and one sack. He also has one of West Virginia's two interceptions. Freshman defensive back Jacolby Spells (#28) has the other interception.
Sophomore safety Hershey McLaurin (#13) has 33 tackles, including one for loss.
Redshirt junior cornerback Marcis Floyd (#24) has 30 tackles.
Sophomore defensive lineman Sean Martin (#91) has 19 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss and two sacks.
Fifth-year senior defensive lineman Dante Stills (#55) has four tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
Redshirt defensive lineman Taijh Alston (#12) has two tackles for loss and one sack.
Sophomore defensive lineman Lanell Carr (#44) has 2.5 tackles for loss.
TCU is third in the nation in scoring offense (44.7 points per game), total offense (522.1 yards per game) and yards per play (7.4).
The betting line: TCU opened as a seven-point favorite. The over/under is 69 points.
Midnite’s prediction: TCU 41, West Virginia 27
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