2024 Midnite Madness TCU-Baylor Football Game Photos

Photos by Tom C. "Midnite" Burke

McLane Stadium in Waco, Texas, on Saturday, November 2, was the scene of the 120th meeting between TCU and Baylor in a rivalry football game that recently began being called the "Bluebonnet Battle." Baylor broke a four-game losing streak to the Horned Frogs, winning 37-34 on a last-second field goal.

(photos above and below) The TCU Marching Band

(photos above and below) The Baylor Golden Wave Band.

(photos above and below) A flyover before the battle between TCU and Baylor featured a B-52 from the 343rd Bomb Squadron, a United States Air Force Reserve squadron assigned to the 37th Operations group at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. The 343rd is the only B-52 squadron in the Air Force Reserve and the only nuclear certified squadron in the Air Force Reserve.

(photos above and below) TCU Cheer and Super Frog

(photos above and below) Baylor's Bruiser and Marigold

(photos above and below) Baylor promoted its game against TCU as a "Blackout." Baylor fans responded and the game drew an announced attendance of 44,171.

TCU head football coach Sonny Dykes (left) and Baylor head football coach Dave Aranda visit before kickoff of the game between their two Big 12 Conference teams.

(photos above and below) Here comes the "Baylor Line," The Baylor Line is one of the greatest traditions in all of college football and is the core of Baylor Spirit and Traditions as an organization composed entirely of incoming students. The Line, established in 1970, represents the commitment of Baylor Nation to support and cheer for the Bears. New Baylor students represent this tradition by wearing a football jersey with the number of their graduation year and a nickname on the back. Prior to each home football game, the Line gathers at the south end of McLane Stadium and, led by the cheers of alumni and fans, runs onto the field and creates a human tunnel to welcome the football team to McLane Stadium. After each player and coach has entered the stadium, The Line takes their seats in an exclusive Baylor Line section behind the opponent's bench.

Here come the Bears!

(photos above and below) Here come the Frogs!

The TCU offense performed well against Baylor but was unable to take a lead late in the game. TCU had 444 yards of total offense against the Bears. The Frogs had 339 passing yards and 105 rushing yards. TCU scored for the 403rd consecutive game, the second-longest streak in NCAA history. Number one is Florida, at 456 games (1988-present). The Horned Frogs haven't been blanked since November 16, 1991, at Texas (32-0). And for the first time since the third game of the season, TCU did not commit a turnover. The Frogs had 16 turnovers in their preceding five games.

(photos above and below) Sophomore quarterback Josh Hoover (#10), who is on the Davey O'Brien Award watch list, had one of the best games of his career in leading TCU's offense against Baylor. Hoover completed 25-of-34 passes for 333 yards. He threw two touchdown passes and ran for a touchdown. He did not commit a turnover and was sacked only once. Hoover passed for at least 300 yards for the 11th time in 15 career starts and threw for at least two scores for the 12th time.

(photos above and below) Against Baylor, TCU sophomore quarterback Josh Hoover ran seven times, including once for a one-yard touchdown in the second quarter that led to a 17-13 TCU lead. The touchdown run was his fourth of the season and sixth of his career.

(photos above and below) Against Baylor, TCU wide receiver Savion Williams (#3), who was a high school quarterback, was the Frogs' leading rusher for the third consecutive game. He ran eight times for 57 yards, including a long run of 22 yards. Williams also caught eight passes for 92 yards, and he threw one touchdown pass, which was the first of his career. Williams is the first Horned Frog with a receiving, rushing and passing touchdown in the same season since Kenny Hill in 2017.

Not everything went smoothly for TCU wide receiver Savion Williams (#3). He dropped a perfectly thrown pass when he was wide open and streaking toward the end zone.

(photos above and below) TCU senior wide receiver Savion Williams (#3) burned Baylor sixth-year linebacker Matt Jones (#2) and the Baylor defense for 92 yards on eight catches. He had a long reception of 28 yards.

(photos above and below) In the third quarter, TCU senior wide receiver Savion Williams threw a six-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Jack Bech (#18), a transfer from LSU who is on the Biletnikoff Award watch list. The touchdown led to a 27-20 TCU lead over Baylor. Williams is the first Horned Frog with a receiving, rushing and passing touchdown in the same season since Kenny Hill in 2017.

(photos above and below) On this play, TCU senior wide receiver Jack Bech (#18), a transfer from LSU who is on the Biletnikoff Award watch list, caught a 24-yard touchdown pass from TCU quarterback Josh Hoover with 1:55 to play in the fourth quarter. The touchdown was Bech's second of the game and it lifted TCU into a 34-34 tie with Baylor.

(photos above and below) Against Baylor, TCU senior wide receiver Jack Bech (#18), a transfer from LSU, caught five catches for 98 yards and two touchdowns. Bech had two touchdown catches in a game for the third time this season. He has a team-high nine scoring receptions on the year. Bech's nine touchdown catches tie for fifth-most in a season at TCU.

(photos above and below) TCU junior wide receiver Eric McAlister (#88), a transfer from Boise State, caught three passes for 48 yards, including a long catch of 20 yards.

TCU freshman running back Jeremy Payne (#26) rushed seven times for 21 yards against Baylor.

On this play, TCU freshman running back Jeremy Payne (#26) initially was credited with a touchdown, but after review, it was determined that the Baylor defense had tackled him a yard short of the goal line.

(photos above and below) TCU junior tight end DJ Rogers (#0) caught a career-long 40-yard pass from quarterback Josh Hoover against Baylor.

(photos above and below) TCU redshirt freshman wide receiver Jordyn Bailey (#14) caught an eight-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Josh Hoover in the first quarter. The touchdown, which was his second of the season and third of his career, led to a 7-0 lead for TCU.

(photos above and below) TCU senior tight end Drake Dabney (#9), a transfer from Baylor, caught only two passes for 14 yards against his former teammates. While at Baylor, Dabney never was on a winning team against TCU. Now, in his first year as a Horned Frog, Dabney, unfortunately, never has beaten Baylor.

TCU junior running back Trent Battle (#17) ran six times for 18 yards against Baylor.

Against Baylor, TCU freshman kicker Kyle Lemmermann (#34) kicked two field goals -- a 46-yarder in the second quarter and a 47-yarder in the third quarter. His field goal in the third quarter gave TCU a 20-13 lead.

(photos above and below) TCU head football coach Sonny Dykes experienced another disappointing performance by TCU redshirt defensive lineman Zachary Chapman (#42) and his defensive unit teammates. Zachary was not credited with a tackle against Baylor and he and his teammates gave up 499 yards of total offense to the Bears. Baylor amassed 257 rushing yards on 44 carries, an average of 5.8 yards per rush. After TCU's offense had tied the score at 34-34 with 1:55 left in the game, the TCU defense could not prevent Baylor from keeping the football the remainder of the game and winning, 37-34, on a field goal as time expired.

TCU senior linebacker Johnny Hodges (#57), a transfer from Navy, led TCU's defense in tackles against Baylor with eight. He also recorded his first sack of the season. He has six career sacks, with five coming at TCU and one for Navy.

(photos above and below) Against Baylor, TCU sophomore safety Jamel Johnson (#2) had six tackles, tied for second-most among TCU defenders.

TCU senior linebacker Marcel Brooks (#9), a transfer from LSU, attempts to block a pass by Baylor redshirt junior quarterback Sawyer Robertson (#13).

(photos above and below) TCU junior linebacker Devean Deal (#11), a transfer from Tulane, had a sack of Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson (#13). Deal recorded a sack for the third straight game, giving him a team-best 4.5 sacks on the season. Deal also had a tackle for loss among his three total tackles.

Against Baylor, TCU junior linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr (#3), a transfer from Cal, had six tackles, tied for second-most among TCU defenders.

Baylor head football coach Dave Aranda was on the hot seat coming into the season, but with Baylor's 37-34 win over TCU, the Bears have won three consecutive games. Aranda saw his offense total 499 yards against the Horned Frogs, but his defense gave up 444 yards, including 339 passing yards.

(photos above and below) Against TCU, Baylor redshirt junior quarterback Sawyer Robertson (#13) completed 19-of-34 passes for 242 yards. He did not throw an interception. He was sacked twice.

Baylor redshirt junior quarterback Sawyer Robertson (#13) ran for a net 29 yards against TCU's defense, including linebacker Johnny Hodges (#57), defensive linemen NaNa Osafo-Mensah (#54) and Caleb Fox (#90), linebacker Devean Deal (#11) and cornerback Jevon McIver, Jr. (#20).

(photos above and below) Against a soft, uninspired TCU defense, Baylor redshirt freshman running back Bryson Washington (#30) rushed 26 times for 196 yards, an average of 7.5 yards per rush. Washington scored four rushing touchdowns, often running untouched through the heart of the TCU defense. For his performance against TCU, Washington won his second Big 12 weekly honor this season, being named Co-Newcomer of the Week. His 196 rushing yards set a career high by 80 yards and were the most by a Bear since 2016. Washington also became the first Big 12 player to rush for four touchdowns in Conference play this season and he became the first Baylor player to run for a quartet of scores in a game since Terrance Ganaway reached the end zone five times versus Washington in 2011.

(photos above and below) Baylor redshirt freshman running back Bryson Washington (#30) was a one-man wrecking crew against the Horned Frogs. He rushed for 196 yards and had four rushing touchdowns.

Baylor sophomore running back Dawson Pendergrass (#35) rushed eight times for 33 yards and one touchdown against TCU.

(photos above and below) Baylor redshirt junior wide receiver Josh Cameron (#34) was Baylor's leading receiver against the Horned Frogs. Cameron caught four passes for 59 yards, including a long pass of 27 yards.

Baylor senior wide receiver Monaray Baldwin (#4) caught one pass for 40 yards against TCU.

Baylor senior wide receiver Hal Presley (#16) can't hold onto this pass from Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson, much to the relief of TCU senior safety Cam Smith (#29), a transfer from Memphis.

Baylor senior wide receiver Hal Presley (#16) caught three passes for 29 yards against TCU.

(photos above and below) With seven tackles against TCU, Baylor sixth-year senior linebacker Matt Jones (#2) was the Bears' second-leading tackler. Jones also was credited with a pass breakup and a quarterback-hurry.

There were three critical fourth downs in the game between TCU and Baylor. Early in the fourth quarter, with Baylor just recently having tied the score at 27-27, TCU faced fourth-and-two at the Baylor 46-yard line. TCU head coach Sonny Dykes elected to not to trust his offense to get the first down. Instead, he had his team punt the ball to Baylor, putting his faith into the defense holding Baylor, something the Frogs had had trouble doing all game. Baylor ultimately faced its own fourth-and-two on is drive, at the TCU 29-yard line. Rather than punt or settle for a field goal, Baylor head coach Dave Aranda trusted his offense to get a first down, which it did, through a three-yard run by redshirt junior quarterback Sawyer Robertson. Four plays later, Baylor scored a touchdown and took a 34-27 lead. In the fourth quarter, with the score tied at 34-34, Baylor faced a fourth-and-nine at the TCU 44-yard line, with the score still tied at 34-34 and with 16 seconds remaining in the game. Rather than punt and settle for the game likely heading into overtime, Aranda again put his faith in this offense, and again the Bears came through. Robertson completed a 15-yard pass to Baylor redshirt junior tight end Michael Trigg (#1) to the TCU 29-yard line. Two plays later, Baylor had a 37-34 victory. 

(photos above and below) In the fourth quarter, with the score tied at 34-34, Baylor faced a fourth-and-nine at the TCU 44-yard line, with the score tied at 34-34 and with 16 seconds remaining in the game. Rather than punt and settle for the game likely heading into overtime, Baylor head coach Dave Aranda put his faith in this offense, and the Bears came through. Baylor redshirt junior quartback Sawyer Roberston completed a 15-yard pass to Baylor redshirt junior tight end Michael Trigg (#1) to the TCU 29-yard line. Two plays later, Baylor had a 37-34 victory, when Bears' kicker redshirt junior Isaiah Hankins (#98) kicked a 33-yard field goal as time expired. Hankins' game-winning kick earned him the Big 12 Conference's Co-Special Teams Player of the Week honor.

(photos above and below) Baylor players and fans celebrate the Bears' last-second 37-34 victory over TCU.

Baylor's 37-34 victory over TCU ended the Bears' four-game losing streak to the Frogs. TCU now has won eight of its previous 10 games against Baylor. Since beginning Big 12 play in 2012, TCU is 9-4 versus Baylor, with a 5-2 mark in Waco. TCU holds a 59-54-7 advantage in the rivalry's history.