TCU-Colorado 2025 Game Photos

Photos by Tom C. "Midnite" Burke 

(photos above and below) TCU opened the home-conference portion of its 2025 season when it hosted the Colorado Buffaloes on Saturday, October 4, in Amon G. Carter Stadium, on the TCU campus in Fort Worth, Texas. The Horned Frogs defeated Colorado 35-21 in the third all-time meeting and second Big 12 Conference meeting of the two schools. TCU leads the series 2-1. The win improved TCU to 4-1 overall, 1-1 in the Big 12. Coming off a loss to Big 12 foe Arizona State on September 26, with the win over Colorado, TCU avoided its first 0–2 conference start since 2013. TCU has now scored in 412 consecutive games, the second longest streak in NCAA history - trailing only Florida (466).The loss dropped Colorado to 2-4 overall, 0-3 in the Big 21. The announced attendance for the game, which kicked off at 6:30 pm (Central), was 43,160, including Dallas Wings (WNBA) guard Paige Bueckers and Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark. TCU won despite falling behind Colorado 14-0 in the second quarter. This was the first time this century that TCU has won a game by 14 or more points after trailing by 14 or more points.

(photos above and below) Las Ranas (Hispanic Heritage Day) was celebrated during the TCU-Colorado football game on October 4.

(photos above and below) With a bright moon as its backdrop, a drone show highlighted halftime of the TCU-Colorado football game.

During TCU's game with Colorado, a contingent from Dublin, Ireland, promoted TCU's Aer Lingus College Football Classic game against the University of North Carolina, which is scheduled to be played in Dublin on August 29, 2026.

Former TCU baseball pitcher Payton Tolle, who was called up to baseball's Major Leagues this season by the Boston Red Sox, was featured in the Riff-Ram video played during the TCU-Colorado football game. A year ago, Tolle was starring for the Horned Frogs. Just a week ago, he was pitching against the New York Yankees in Major League's Baseball's playoffs. Tolle pitched in game 2 of Boston’s 2025 Wild Card Series against the Yankees. He entered the game in a high-pressure relief situation. The Yankees had the bases loaded. There were two outs. Tolle successfully navigated the jam, inducing a ground-out from Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham to end the inning. The Yankees eventually won the series, to advance to face the Toronto Blue Jays.

There was a large TCU student attendance at the game against Colorado. The students enthusiastically participated in the "Black Out." 

(photos above and below) God Bless America, and God Bless TCU!

(photos above and below) Here come the Horned Frogs!

Here come the Buffaloes!

For the coin toss of the TCU-Colorado football game, honorary captain Eddie Garcia (right), who is Fort Worth's newly named police chief, joined TCU captains (left to right) Devean Deal (#11), Colton Deery (#51), Chase Curtis (#81) and Josh Hoover (#10). There were unfounded rumors that Chief Garcia told the Buffaloes they would be arrested if Colorado defeated TCU.

(photos above and below) These are not prime times for University of Colorado football coach Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders. With the loss to TCU, Colorado's overall record this season dropped to 2-4. His Buffaloes are 0-3 in the Big 12. After starting the 2024 season 8-2, Colorado is 3-6 in its past nine games. Colorado now is 15-16 overall under Sanders, who is in his third year leading the Buffs. After the TCU game, Sanders said he believes he is suffering from blood clots. "Cat’s out of the bag, all right. I think I’ve got more blood clots,” Sanders, 58, told the media in Fort Worth. “It don’t make sense. I’m hurting like crazy. I’m not getting blood to my leg. That’s why my leg is throbbing." On Tuesday, October 7, Sanders underwent a surgery to remove multiple blood clots from his left leg. During this past off-season, Sanders, who in recent years has battled various health issues, including amputation of two toes in 2022, was diagnosed with an aggressive form of bladder cancer. He had his bladder removed and a neobladder created from his small intestine. Doctors have since declared him cured of the cancer.

(photos above and below) With the victory over Colorado on October 4, TCU head football coach Sonny Dykes improved to 1-1 against the Buffaloes and Deion Sanders. In 2023, Sanders and Colorado upset Dykes and the Horned Frogs in Fort Worth, in Sanders' first game as Colorado's head football coach. TCU defeated Colorado in Boulder in 2022, prior to Coach Prime's arrival in 2023. 

TCU's offensive line, anchored by senior co-captain Coltin Deery (#51) wasn't dominant against Colorado's defensive line, but it did enough to allow TCU's offense to gain 369 total yards against the Buffaloes. TCU had 275 passing yards and 94 rushing yards. The Frogs did not commit a turnover, for the first time this season.

(photos above and below) TCU's offense against the University of Colorado was led by junior quarterback Josh Hoover, who bounced back from a disastrous game against Arizona State on September 26 and who accounted for the five touchdowns the Horned Frogs scored against Colorado. Against the Buffaloes, Hoover completed 23-of-33 passes for 275 yards and four touchdowns. He also had a rushing touchdown. He did not commit a turnover. He was sacked twice. For his performance against Colorado, Hoover was named the Big 12 Conference's co-Offensive Player of the Week. This was the seventh time in his career that Hoover has thrown for four or more touchdowns, the most by any active Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) quarterback. 

(photos above and below) TCU sophomore tight end Lafayette Kaiuway (#12) signals a touchdown on TCU quarterback Josh Hoover's (#10) one-yard touchdown run in the second quarter against the University of Colorado. The Horned Frogs cut the Buffaloes' lead to 14-7.

After making a reception against the University of Colorado, TCU senior wide receiver Eric McAlister (#1) signals a first down for the Horned Frogs. McAlister returned to action after a hamstring injury caused him to miss much of TCU's previous game, a 27-24 loss to Arizona State in Tempe, Arizona. In the Colorado game, McAlister had four catches for 65 yards and two touchdowns, including one in the second quarter and another in the fourth quarter. McAlister was one of 11 Frogs to catch a pass against the Buffaloes. TCU has had at least six receivers catch a pass for 46 consecutive games. It is a streak that spans back to the Kansas game on November 20, 2021.

(photos above and below) TCU senior wide receiver Eric McAlister (#1) caught a 23-yard touchdown pass from Josh Hoover in the second quarter, when the Horned Frogs were able to erase a 14-point deficit and tie Colorado 14-14 at halftime. 

TCU senior running back Kevorian Barnes (#2, photo above) returned to the Horned Frogs' offense after missing the previous two games because of a lower-body injury. Against Colorado, Barnes ran 16 times for 48 yards. This 13-yard run by him (#2, photo below) set up TCU quarterback Josh Hoover's one-yard touchdown run in the second quarter.

(photos above and below) In the victory over the University of Colorado, TCU senior wide receiver Joseph Manjack IV (#14) caught five passes for 65 yards, including the Horned Frogs' game-winning touchdown in the fourth quarter. Manjack has caught a pass in 32 consecutive games, dating back to his time at Houston. It is the sixth-longest active streak in the nation.

(photos above and below) TCU senior wide receiver Joseph Manjack IV (#14) caught the game-winning touchdown pass in the fourth quarter against the University of Colorado. The 18-yard reception on a throw from quarterback Josh Hoover resulted in a 28-21 lead for the Horned Frogs, who went on to win the game 35-21.

Against the University of Colorado, TCU sophomore tight end Lafayette Kaiuway (#12, photo above) caught one pass. It was a huge reception. It was a 10-yard touchdown catch on a throw from quarterback Josh Hoover that gave TCU a 21-14 lead over the Buffaloes in the fourth quarter, much to the delight of fellow tight end Chase Curtis (#81, photo below), who is a senior co-captain. This was Kaiuway's first career touchdown catch and his second career reception.

TCU failed to take a 3-0 lead in the first quarter against the University of Colorado when sophomore Horned Frogs kicker Nate McCashland (#99) missed a 30-yard field goal attempt. McCashland is filling in for injured sophomore kicker Kyle Lemmermann.

TCU starting offensive tackle Ryan Hughes (#70), a redshirt-freshman, suffered a knee injury during the first half of TCU’s game with Colorado. Unfortunately, he needs surgical repair and will miss the rest of the season.

TCU's defense, which features senior linebackers Kaleb Elarms-Orr (#3) and Namdi Obiazor (#4), allowed the University of Colorado's offense to total 343 yards (126 rushing yards and 217 passing yards) and convert nine-of-14 third-down opportunities. But, on the strength of three interceptions, a fumble recovery and several timely plays, the Frogs' defense limited the Buffaloes to three touchdowns. TCU recorded three interceptions for the first time in a game since against SMU on September 25, 2021. It also is the first time TCU has had a game with three or more interceptions and two or more sacks since November 29, 2019, vs. West Virginia. TCU's defense ended Colorado's streak of  having three or fewer turnovers at 35 straight games. It was the Buffaloes' longest such streak since at least 1996.  

Against the University of Colorado, senior TCU linebacker Namdi Obiazor (#4) had an interception (photos above and below), 10 tackles, including a tackle for a loss and a sack, a forced fumble and a pass breakup. For his performance in the Horned Frogs' win over the Buffaloes, Obiazor was named the Big 12 Conference's co-Defensive Player of the Week. The interception was Obiazor's first of this season and second of his career. 

Against the University of Colorado, TCU senior safety Bud Clark (#21) had an interception (photos above and below), five tackles, one quarterback-hurry and two pass breakups. The interception was his second of the season and 13th of his career.

In TCU's 35-21 victory over the University of Colorado, TCU junior safety Jamel Johnson (#2, photo above) had an interception (#2, photo below), 10 tackles and a pass breakup. The interception was his third of the season.

Colorado senior quarterback Kaidon Salter (#3) needed a helping hand from his friends, as the TCU defense sacked him two times.

(photos above and below) In his team's 35-21 loss to TCU, Colorado senior quarterback Kaidon Salter (#3) completed 18-of-29 passes for 217 yards and two touchdowns. He also had a rushing touchdown. Salter was intercepted three times and sacked twice.

(photos above and below) Despite the efforts of TCU senior linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr (#4), Colorado senior quarterback Kaidon Salter (#3) scored a touchdown on a 10-yard run in the second quarter, as the Buffaloes took a 14-0 lead over the Horned Frogs. 

In the second quarter, Colorado junior wide receiver Omarion Miller (#4) scored Colorado's first touchdown (photos above and below) against the Horned Frogs on a six-yard reception. In the fourth quarter, Miller scored Colorado's third and final touchdown of the game on a 31-yard reception, as the Buffaloes tied the score at 21-21. Miller was Colorado's leading receiver. He caught six passes for 89 yards.

(photos above and below) Colorado running back Dallan Hayden (#7) was Colorado's leading rusher in the loss to the Horned Frogs. Hayden rushed nine times for 61 yards. 

Colorado's physical defense held TCU senior running back Trent Battle (#6, photo above) to 16 yards rushing on six carries and TCU redshirt-freshman running back Nate Palmer (#21, photo below) to three yards rushing on three carries. Overall, the Buffaloes held the Horned Frogs to 94 rushing yards on 35 carries, for an average of 2.7 yards per run.

(photos above and below) Colorado's defense sacked TCU junior quarterback Josh Hoover (#10) twice. The Buffaloes' defense also was credited with seven tackles-for-loss and three quarterback-hurries. 

TCU's next game is a Big 12 battle against Kansas State in Manhattan, Kansas, on Saturday, October 11. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 pm (Central). FOX Sports will broadcast the game. K-State leads the series between the two teams, 10-8. The Wildcats have won three of the past four games. The last time the two teams met was on October 21, 2023, in Manhattan, Kansas. The Wildcats mauled the Frogs, 41-3.  

(photos above and below) TCU's next home game is against Baylor University, on Saturday, October 11, in Amon G. Carter Stadium, on the TCU Campus. It will be TCU's Homecoming game.  This will be the 121st meeting between the two programs. TCU has played Baylor more than any other opponent. It is also in the Top 15 of most-played rivalry games in FBS and is the second-longest-running rivalry in the Big 12, only behind the Kansas-Kansas State rivalry, which has been played 122 times. TCU holds a 59-54-7 advantage in its rivalry with Baylor, which is now called “The Bluebonnet Battle” and features a trophy that goes to the game-winner. Since beginning Big 12 play in 2012, TCU is 9-4 versus Baylor. TCU has won eight of its last 10 games against the Bears. Last season, in McLane Stadium, in Waco, Texas, on November 2, Baylor defeated TCU 37-34. TCU tied the game at 34-34 with under 2 minutes to play, but fell to the Bears when Isaiah Hankins made a 33-yard field goal as time expired. The loss broke the Frogs’ four-game winning streak over Baylor.