2024 Midnite Madness TCU-UCF Football Game Photos

Photos by Tom C. "Midnite" Burke

In their second home game and first Big 12 Conference game of the 2024 football season on Saturday, September 14, in a blacked-out and sold-out Amon G. Carter Stadium, the TCU Horned Frogs lost to UCF, 35-34, after the Knights staged an improbable comeback in the fourth quarter. Attendance for the game, which was a feature of TCU's annual "Family Weekend," was announced at 48,889, the seventh largest football crowd in TCU football history. The game marked the beginning of TCU’s 13th season in the Big 12 Conference. This was first time TCU and UCF had met on the gridiron.

The TCU-UCF game was broadcast nationally in prime time by FOX Sports.

TCU head football coach Sonny Dykes (right) meets with UCF head football coach Gus Malzahn prior to the kickoff of TCU's game versus UCF in Amon G. Carter Stadium, in Fort Worth, Texas. Dykes is in his third year as head coach of the Frogs. Malzahn is in his fourth season as head coach of the Knights.

TCU head football coach Sonny Dykes visits with referees prior to kickoff of the game between the Frogs and the Knights.

(photos above and below) Pregame ceremonies of the TCU-UCF contest in Fort Worth featured a flyover by two Ospreys. The Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey is an American multi-mission, tiltrotor military aircraft with both vertical takeoff and landing and short takeoff and landing capabilities. It is designed to combine the functionality of a conventional helicopter with the long-range, high-speed cruise performance of a turboprop aircraft.

Pilots and support staff of the two Ospreys that were featured in a flyover of Amon G. Carter Stadium prior to the Big 12 Conference football game between TCU and UCF.

UCF’s mascot, Knightro, is operated by the school's Team Knightro Mascot Squad, which consists of three to five students who don the mascot armor for sports events and special appearances.

As usual, TCU mascot Super Frog energized and entertained Horned Frogs fans.

(photos above and below) Here come the Knights!

(photos above and below) Here come the Frogs!

TCU captains (from left to right) Bud Clark (#21), Savi0n Williams (#3), Chase Curtis (#81) and Josh Hoover (#10), were joined for the coin flip by honorary captains Tim and Terrence Maiden. The twin brothers were standout football players at TCU in the late 1990s, and instrumental in their teams’ conference championships. Terrence and Tim are now thriving in commercial banking and real estate entrepreneurship careers while also continuing their lifelong commitment to supporting their communities.

(photos above and below) The TCU student section, decked out in the spirit of the game's blackout theme, was packed and rockin' for TCU's football against UCF.

In its game against UCF, TCU scored for the 397th consecutive game, the second-longest streak in NCAA history. No. 1 is the University of Florida, at 451 games (1988-present). The Horned Frogs haven't been blanked since November 16, 1991, at Texas (32-0).TCU's offense racked up 460 offensive yards against the Knights; 402 yards through the air and 58 yards on the ground. However, the Knights were able to mount a game-winning comeback in the second half, during which TCU's offense scored only 13 points, including being held to a field goal, instead of a potential game-clinching touchdown, with 8:44 to go in the game. After that offensive failure by the Horned Frogs, UCF's offense scored the game-winning touchdown and extra point about eight minutes later.

(photos above and below) TCU sophomore starting quarterback Josh Hoover led TCU's offense against UCF. Hoover completed 35-of-52 passes for 402 yards. He threw four touchdown passes, had a long completion of 50 yards and was not sacked. Hoover’s four touchdown passes tied a career-high set last season against BYU in his first career start. Hoover topped the 400 mark for the third time in nine career starts. All three of his 400-yard games have been at home. Hoover tops the nation in pass attempts (119) without an interception.

(photos above and below) TCU senior wide receiver Jack Bech (#18), a transfer from LSU, had career-best totals of nine receptions for 200 yards, including a 50-yard touchdown in the third quarter that gave TCU a 28-7 lead. Bech is the first Horned Frog to reach 200 yards receiving since Quentin Johnston had 206 receiving yards at Kansas in 2022. Bech topped 100 yards for the second time this season and in his career. He had a then personal-best 139 yards on six receptions in the season opener at Stanford. Bech’s 50-yard touchdown marked a career-long catch and was accomplished despite the efforts of UCF defensive backs Brandon Adams (#0), Braeden Marshall (#4) and Demari Henderson (#9). For his performance against the Knights, Bech  was named Texas Star of the Week by the Shrine Bowl.

TCU junior wide receiver Eric McAlister (#88), a transfer from Boise State, scored TCU's first touchdown against UCF, on a 14-yard reception. The touchdown was McAlister’s first touchdown as a Horned Frog and it was the first touchdown scored in a Big 12 Conference game this season. McAlister had nine receiving touchdowns at Boise State. Against UCF, McAlister had four receptions for 54 yards.

(photos above and below) TCU Senior wide receiver Savion Williams (#3) caught four passes for 37 yards and two touchdowns against UCF. It was Williams' first multiple-touchdown game of his career.

(photos above and below) Against UCF, TCU senior wide receiver Savion Williams made two highlight-reel touchdown catches of 18 and 16 yards, despite the defense of the Knights' Antione Jackson (#7) and Mac McWilliams (#20).

TCU senior wide receiver JP Richardson (#7), a transfer from Oklahoma State, beat UCF linebacker Ethan Barr (#32) and his defensive teammates for five receptions for 46 yards, which gave him at least one catch in 30 consecutive games. The streak entered the game tied for seventh longest in the nation.

(photos above and below) TCU's running game against UCF was nearly extinct. The Frogs did not score a rushing touchdown and only totaled 58 rushing yards on 17 attempts against the Knights' defense. TCU sophomore running back Cam Cook (#4) rushed 11 times for 35 yards. He had a long run of only eight yards. Junior running back Dominique Johnson (#20), a transfer from the University of Arkansas, carried the football two times for 14 yards. He had a long run of 10 yards.

(photos above and below) TCU true-freshman kicker Kyle Lemmermann (#34) converted two-of-three field goal attempts against UCF. He made a 31-yard field goal in the third quarter and a 24-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.

In only the third game of his collegiate football career, TCU true freshman kicker Kyle Lemmermann (#34) had an opportunity to make a game-winning field goal. However, his 58-yard field goal attempt sailed wide right as time expired, enabling UCF to celebrate a 35-34 Big 12 Conference road victory.

(photos above and below) TCU's defense was shredded by UCF's offense, particularly in the second half when the Knights averaged 8.4 yards per play and stormed back from a 31-13 deficit to win the game, 35-34. TCU's defense surrendered 519 total offensive yards to UCF. The Knights rushed for 289 yards and passed for 230 yards. On the positive side, TCU's defense blocked two field goals and an extra-point attempt.It's the first time on record for that accomplishment in a game in TCU football history. The last previous school to block three kicks in a game was Oklahoma State in its 2023 season opener against Central Arkansas. Before Oklahoma State, it was Miami (Fla.) blocking three field goals at Clemson in 2020.

TCU senior defensive lineman Caleb Fox (#90), a transfer from Stephen F. Austin, blocks a 47-yard field goal attempt by UCF junior placekicker Colton Boomer (#35) in the first quarter to preserve a 7-0 TCU lead.

(photos above and below) TCU senior cornerback LeMareon "Scud" James (#6), a transfer from Old Dominion, blocks a 27-yard field goal attempt by UCF junior placekicker Colton Boomer (#35) in the second quarter to preserve a 21-7 TCU lead.

TCU junior safety Bud Clark (#21) and TCU senior cornerback LeMareon "Scud" James (#6) celebrate Clark's block of of an extra point attempt by UCF junior placekicker Colton Boomer in the third quarter. TCU led, 28-13.

TCU's secondary, including senior cornerback JaTravis Broughton (#13), a transfer from the University of Utah, gave up 230 passing yards to the Knights and incurred several pass interference penalties. Broughton led TCU with a career-high 12 tackles. Broughton’s 12 tackles surpassed his previous career best of nine for Utah against Oregon State in 2020. Broughton played in 47 games with 29 starts at Utah. He was All-Pac-12 as he totaled 126 tackles, including 5.5 for loss, with 11 passes defended, an interception and fumble recovery as a Ute.

Against UCF, TCU junior linebacker Johnny Hodges (#57, a transfer from Navy, had two tackles for loss among his eight tackles.

TCU senior linebacker Namdi Obiazor (#4) had 11 tackles in TCU's 35-34 loss to UCF.

(photos above and below) A critical play occurred in the fourth quarter of the game with less than 1:30 left in the game and TCU leading UCF 34-28. After a reception of eight yards, the Knights' Randy Pittman, Jr. (#5), lost the football when he was tackled by TCU linebacker Namdi Obiazor (#4) and cornerback JaTravis Broughton (#13). TCU recovered the loose football. However, the play was not ruled a fumble by the referees. After a review, the call on the field was confirmed that it was not a fumble because one of the runner's knees touched the ground before he lost the football. UCF had a first down at the TCU 32-yard line. Four plays later, the Knights scored the game-tying touchdown. The ensuing successful extra-point kick proved to be the difference in a 35-34 UCF victory.

(photos above and below) Fifth-year quarterback KJ Jefferson (#1), a transfer from the University of Arkansas, directed a prolific UCF offense. Jefferson completed 13-of-22 passes for 230 yards and three touchdowns. He was not intercepted and he was not sacked.

UCF quarterback KJ Jefferson (#1) rushed nine times for 46 yards against TCU.

(photos above and below) UCF fifth-year running back RJ Harvey (#7), a transfer from the University of Virginia who leads the Knights' top rushing attack in the country, rushed 29 times for 180 yards and two touchdowns against TCU. The 180 rushing yards were the third most in Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) games for the week. Harvey also caught a 29-yard touchdown pass to eclipse 200 total yards in the game. His performance earned him the Big 12's Offensive Player of the Week Award.

(photos above and below) UCF running back RJ Harvey (#7) rushed for two touchdowns and caught one touchdown pass in the Knights' 35-34 victory over TCU.

(photos above and below) Against TCU, UCF fifth-year wide receiver Kobe Hudson (#2), a transfer from Auburn University, was the Knights' leading receiver. He caught six passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns, including a 20-yard touchdown that tied the game at 34. The successful extra point attempt gave UCF a 35-34 lead with 36 seconds remaining in the game.

(photos above and below) UCF's swarming defense held TCU's rushing attack to 58 yards. TCU sophomore running back Cam Cook (#4) only managed 35 yards on 11 rushes.

UCF placekicker Colton Boomer (#35) had two field-goal attempts and an extra-point attempt blocked by the Horned Frogs, but ultimately, he had the last laugh. Boomer's successful extra point with 36 seconds remaining in the game proved to be the deciding point in a 35-34 comeback victory for the Knights.

(photos above and below) Then-head football coach Dennis Franchione and members of the TCU football team that won the 1998 Sun Bowl, 28-19, over USC, were honored during the TCU-UCF football game on September 14. The Sun Bowl victory is credited by many with being the catalyst for where TCU's successful football program, and its successful athletic program, is today. 1998 was Franchione's first year at TCU, after being recruited to Fort Worth from the University of New Mexico, where he was the head coach. Franchione brought with him to TCU from the University of New Mexico a defensive coordinator named Gary Patterson, who replaced Franchione as the Frogs' head coach in 2000 and led TCU until late into the 2021 season. Franchione details the highs and lows of his football coaching career in his new memoir, 𝘛𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘛𝘪𝘮𝘦𝘴 𝘕𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘢𝘤𝘩 𝘍𝘳𝘢𝘯 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺.

The stars of the Riff Ram video played during the TCU-UCF game were actors Luke Wilson and Greg Kinnear, who star in “You Gotta Believe,” a movie that recently premiered in Fort Worth and which chronicles the journey of the Fort Worth Westside Little League team’s qualification for the 2002 Little League World Series.

(photos above and below) The 30th birthday of the infamous TCU Frog Horn, which was a gift to TCU by Fort Worth-based Burlington Northern Railroad in 1994, was celebrated during the TCU-UCF football game. Read about the history of the Frog Horn: here