By Tom C. "Midnite Burke
Welcome back, Kevorian Barnes.
You, too, Eric McAlister.
And, also you, Josh Hoover.
Glad the three of you got to enjoy and contribute to TCU’s come-from-behind, 35-21 Big 12 Conference-victory over Colorado on Saturday, October 4, in Amon G. Carter Stadium, on the TCU campus, in Fort Worth, Texas.
The announced crowd for the Horned Frogs' Big 12 home-opener was 43,160 and included Dallas Wings (WNBA) guard Paige Bueckers and Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark.
The game also was part of a Las Ranas (Hispanic Heritage Day) celebration at TCU.
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| Tom C. "Midnite Burke |
Senior wide receiver McAlister returned to action after missing most of TCU’s bitter 27-24 Big 12 Conference-loss to Arizona State in Tempe, Arizona, on Friday, September 26.
Hoover returned to form after having committed three turnovers in the upset loss to Arizona State, including two in the disastrous fourth quarter in which Arizona State took the lead and Hoover failed to lead a Horned Frogs comeback for the win.
Against Deion Sanders’ Buffaloes, Hoover gallantly led TCU back from a 14-0 second-quarter deficit to a 14-point victory.
TCU failed to score in the first quarter of the game, snapping a 10-game streak of doing so.
This is the first time this century that TCU has won a game by 14 or more points after trailing by 14 or more points.
Hoover erased the 14-point deficit in the second quarter with a one-yard quarterback keeper for a touchdown and a 23-yard touchdown pass to McAlister.
Hoover’s touchdown run was set up by a 13-yard run by Barnes to the Colorado one-yard line.
In the fourth quarter, Hoover got the Frogs a 21-14 lead with a 10-yard touchdown pass to sophomore tight end Lafayette Kaiuway.
After Colorado responded with a tying touchdown, Hoover re-captured the lead for the Frogs at 28-21 with an 18-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Joseph Manjack IV.
The Manjack touchdown provided the game-winning points for the Frogs, but with 19 seconds left in the game, Hoover put an exclamation point on TCU’s first Big 12 victory of the year when he improvised on a fourth-down play deep within Colorado territory and tossed a 21-yard touchdown pass to McAlister.
“(McAlister) had the injury last week that, quite frankly, I did not think he would play this week on Monday or Tuesday,” TCU head coach Sonny Dykes said after the win. “Thought there was a chance. Same thing with Kevorian Barnes. I didn’t think either one of them were likely to play.”
“They’re two guys that want to win, want to help their team, want to do anything they can to help us win, and just love those guys, love their effort. Eric’s a big-play receiver; it’s just what he does. He makes big plays in critical situations. We needed Kevorian, and we needed Eric, and those guys stepped up in critical situations, and did what big-time players do.”
With the victory, TCU improved to 4-1 overall, 1-1 in the Big 12.
The Frogs avoided their first 0–2 conference start since 2013.
The Frogs improved to 2-1 against Colorado.
TCU was a 13.5-point favorite against Colorado. With the 14-point win, the Horned Frogs improved to 3-2 against the spread this season.
TCU is ranked 34th in the Associated Press Week 7 Top 25.
The Frogs are ranked 36th in the Coaches Week 7 Top 25.
With the loss to TCU, the Buffaloes fell to 2-4, 0-3 in the Big 12.
“We gotta’ do a better job,” Sanders said. “I’m racking my brain trying to figure this out. It’s no disrespect to TCU, their quarterback made plays, but I felt like we were the better team.”
These are not prime times for University of Colorado football coach Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders.
After starting the 2024 season 8-2, Colorado is 3-6 in its past nine games. Colorado is 15-16 overall under Sanders, who is in his third year of 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.
TCU's next game is against Kansas State, in Manhattan, Kansas, on Saturday, October 11. Kickoff is scheduled for 2:30 pm (Central). FOX Sports will broadcast the game.
Big 12 Game Results
Here are results of other recent games involving Big 12 teams:
- Friday, September 26:
- West Virginia 24 (2-4, 0-3) at BYU 38
- Saturday, October 4:
- Kansas State 34 (2-4, 1-2) at Baylor 35 (4-2, 2-1)
- Iowa State 30 (5-1, 2-1) at Cincinnati 38 (4-1, 2-0)
- Oklahoma State 13 (1-4, 0-2) at Arizona 41 (4-1, 1-1)
- Texas Tech 35 (5-0, 2-0) at Houston 11 (4-1, 1-1)
- Kansas 27 (4-2, 2-1) at UCF 20 (3-2, 0-2)
- Utah (4-1, 1-1): bye
- Arizona State (4-1, 2-0): bye
With 2-0 conference records, Texas Tech, BYU, Arizona State and Cincinnati lead the Big 12.
Hoover Powers TCU’s Offense
In the Colorado game, TCU’s offense did not turn the ball over, for the first time all season.
The Frogs scored for the 412th consecutive game, which is the second longest streak in NCAA history, trailing only Florida’s 466 consecutive games.
Hoover accounted for all five of TCU’s touchdowns against Colorado.
The junior quarterback completed 23-of-33 passes for 275 yards. He threw the four touchdown passes and had the rushing touchdown. He was sacked twice.
This was the seventh time in his career that Hoover has thrown four or more touchdowns in a game, the most by any active Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) quarterback.
For his performance against Colorado, Hoover was named the Big 12 Conference's co-Offensive Player of the Week.
In addition to his two touchdown catches, McAlister had two other catches in the game, for 65 receiving yards.
Barnes, who is a transfer from the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), was TCU’s leading rusher against Colorado. He had 48 yards on 16 carries, for an average of three yards per rush.
In addition to his touchdown catch, Manjack, who is a transfer from the University of Houston, had four other receptions. He led TCU’s receivers with five receptions, which totaled 65 yards.
Manjack recorded a reception for the 32nd consecutive game of his career, dating back to his time at Houston. It's the sixth-longest active streak in the nation.
Kaiuway’s only reception in the Colorado game was his fourth-quarter touchdown reception. It was his first career touchdown catch and his second career reception.
McAlister, Manjack and Kaiuway were three 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.
TCU Running Game Struggles Again
Against Colorado, TCU’s offensive line, which includes co-captain Colton Deery, continued to struggle to open holes and running lanes for TCU’s running backs.
Despite Colorado having one of the worst run defenses in the country, the Frogs could only grind out 94 net rushing yards on 35 carries, for an average of just 2.7 yards per carry.
TCU produced 258 rushing yards in its season-opener against North Carolina. The Frogs failed to rush for more than 150 yards in games against Abilene Christian and SMU. TCU now has been held under 100 rushing yards in back-to-back games (Arizona State and Colorado).
Colorado's fast, physical defense held TCU senior running back Trent Battle to 16 rushing yards on six carries.
TCU redshirt-freshman running back Nate Palmer was held to three rushing yards on three carries.
Addressing the offensive line’s struggles, Dykes said, “We’re going to create some competition. We’re definitely going to play the best guys. We don’t care about playing a true freshman or replacing a guy with a younger player if they are better and ready to play.
“As a coach, you owe it to the players and to the program to play the best people regardless of who they are or their circumstances. We don’t worry too much about hurting somebody’s feelings. We’re going to play the best people that we think give us the best chance to go out there and play at a high level.”
TCU starting offensive tackle Ryan Hughes, a redshirt-freshman, suffered a knee injury during the first half of the Colorado game. He will have surgery and miss the rest of the season.,
Hughes had started every game this season at left tackle. Junior Quinton Harris is expected to start in Hughes’ spot, backed up by freshman Witten Van Hoy and redshirt-freshman Wesley Harvey.
TCU Defense Feasts on Turnovers
TCU’s defense 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.
The Horned Frogs rank 15th in the Big 12 in third-down-conversion defense. Opponents are converting 44.3 percent of their chances on third down. Only Oklahoma State’s defense has been worse on third down this season.
So, thank goodness for turnovers!
The Horned Frogs are forcing 2.5 turnovers per game against Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponents, which is No. 2 nationally, behind Texas Tech.
On the strength of three interceptions, a fumble recovery and several timely plays, including two sacks, the Frogs' defense limited Colorado to three touchdowns.
TCU recorded three interceptions for the first time in a game since against SMU on September 25, 2021.
This 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.
Coming into the game, Colorado’s offensive line had not given up a sack.
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.
Senior TCU linebacker Namdi Obiazor had an interception, 10 tackles, including a tackle for a loss and a sack, a forced fumble and a pass breakup. The interception was Obiazor's first of this season and second of his career. It was his fifth game of double-digit tackles.
For his performance against the Buffaloes, Obiazor was named the Big 12 Conference's co-Defensive Player of the Week. He was the only Big 12 defender with double-digit tackles, a forced fumble and an interception in Week Six.
TCU senior safety Bud Clark had an interception, five tackles, one quarterback-hurry and two pass breakups. The interception was his second of the season and 13th of his career.
TCU junior safety Jamel Johnson had an interception, 10 tackles and a pass breakup. The interception was his third of the season.
Colorado senior quarterback Kaidon Salter accounted for all three of the Buffaloes’ touchdowns.
Salter completed 18-of-29 passes for 217 yards and two touchdowns. He also had a rushing touchdown. He threw the three interceptions and was sacked twice.
Colorado’s leading receiver was junior wide receiver Omarion Miller. He caught six passes for 89 yards and two touchdowns.
The Buffaloes leading rusher was Dallan Hayden. He rushed nine times for 61 yards.
The Horned Frogs’ bounce-back win over Colorado was important for the football program overall, but especially for Dykes and Hoover, who took intense heat for the upset loss to Arizona State.
The win over the Buffaloes should give the Frogs some momentum as they head into the rugged, season-defining part of their 2025 schedule:
- At Kansas State, in Manhattan, Kansas (October 11)
- At home against arch-rival Baylor, in front of a Homecoming crowd (October 18)
- At West Virginia (October 25), in Morgantown, West Virginia;
- Bye (November 1)
- At home versus Iowa State (November 8)
- At BYU, in Provo, Utah, (November 15)
- At Houston, in Houston Texas (November 22)
- At home versus Cincinnati in the final regular-season game (November 29)
TCU must avoid another conference loss if the Frogs want to contend for a berth in the Big 12 Conference Championship Game and a possible spot in the College Football Championship Playoff.
Otherwise, the Horned Frogs and their fans may be experiencing another disappointing season that ends with a run-of-the-mill bowl game in this new high-stakes college football environment.
- TCU-Colorado game box score: here
- TCU-Colorado game highlights: here
- TCU post-game press conference: here
- Colorado post-game press conference: here
TCU Travels to Kansas State
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. It will be the Frogs' third consecutive game on the national television station.
TCU is 1.5-point favorite. The over/under is 57.5 points.
The Midnite Madness prediction: TCU 28, Kansas State 27
K-State leads the series between the two teams, 10-8.
Dykes is 1-2 against Kansas State.
The Wildcats have won three of the past four games.
TCU is 3-6 all-time at Kansas State and has lost the past three road games against the Wildcats. The Horned Frogs’ last win in Manhattan came in 2017.
The last
time the two teams met was on October 21, 2023, in Manhattan, Kansas. The
Wildcats mauled the Frogs, 41-3. K-State had 587 total yards of offense, including 343 rushing yards.
In 2022, TCU won the regular-season match-up between the two teams, 38-28.
The 13th-ranked Wildcats got revenge in the 2022 Big 12 Conference Championship Game, defeating the third-ranked Horned Frogs 31-28 in overtime.
K-State went on to play in the Sugar Bowl, losing to Alabama, 45-20.
TCU earned the third seed in the College Football Playoff. The Frogs defeated Michigan, 51-45, in the Fiesta Bowl, then lost to Georgia in the National Championship Game.
On Saturday, October 30, 2021, in Manhattan, Kansas State defeated TCU, 31-12, in an historic game for the TCU football program. It was the final game of Gary Patterson's head coaching reign at TCU.
On Sunday, October 31, Patterson essentially resigned after being informed by then-TCU Athletic Director Jeremiah Donati and then-TCU Chancellor Victor Boschini that he would not be retained as TCU’s head football coach after the 2021 season.
Patterson, of course, is TCU's winningest head football coach, with a record of 181-79. He recently was inducted into the TCU Block T Hall of Fame.
Kansas State’s head coach is Chris Klieman, who in 2019 succeeded the retiring Bill Snyder, a K-State coaching legend.
Klieman, who led North Dakota State to four Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) championships in his five years as head coach of the Bisons, has a record of 50-32 at Kansas State.
The Wildcats come into the game with TCU with a 2-4 overall record. They are 1-2 in the Big 12.
All four of K-State’s losses have been by one-score:
- Kansas State opened the season with a 24-21 loss to Iowa State in the 2025 Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland, on August 23
- The Wildcats defeated North Dakota, 38-35, on August 30, in Manhattan, Kansas
- K-State lost to Army, 24-21, in Manhattan on September 6
- On September 12, in Tucson, the Cats lost to Big 12 Conference foe Arizona, 23-17
- On September 27, in Manhattan, Kansas State defeated UCF, 34-20
- On Saturday, October 4, in Waco, the Wildcats lost to Baylor, 35-34
Against Baylor, Kansas State led 31-17 going into the fourth quarter.
Baylor took the lead on a Connor Hawkins 53-yard field goal with 31 seconds left in the game.
With five seconds left in the game, Baylor’s Caden Jenkins blocked a 56-yard field goal attempt by K-State’s Luis Rodriguez, to preserve the win for the Bears.
Kansas State's Offense
Kansas State’s offense is averaging:
- 27.5 points per game
- 370.5 total yards per game
- 5.9 yards per play
- 143.3 rushing yards per game and 4.8 yards per rush
- 227.2 passing yards per game
The Wildcats have scored 19 offensive touchdowns: nine rushing and 10 through the air. They have thrown three interceptions and allowed four sacks.
Junior quarterback Avery Johnson (#2) leads Kansas State’s offense. He has completed 124-of- 197 passes for 1363 yards. He has thrown 10 touchdown passes and two interceptions. He has a long pass completion of 65 yards.
A dual-threat quarterback, Avery is the team’s leading rusher. He has run 47 times for 209 yards and three touchdowns. He is averaging 4.4 yards per rush, 34.83 and 34.83 rushing yards per game. He has a long run of 31 yards.
Johnson took over the Wildcats’ offense last season, after former K-State quarterback Will Howard transferred to Ohio State. Howard led the Buckeyes to the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship.
Junior running back Dylan Edwards (#3), who is a transfer from the University of Colorado, has rushed 34 times for 205 yards and two touchdowns. He is averaging six yards per rush and 51.25 rushing yards per game. He has a long run of 75 yards.
Sophomore running back Joe Jackson (#4), has run 48 times for 203 yards and one touchdown. He is averaging 4.20 yards per rush and 33.83 rushing yards per game. He has a long run of 17 yards.
Redshirt-freshman running back Devon Rice (#23) has two rushing touchdowns.
Junior wide receiver Jayce Brown (#1) leads Kansas State’s receiving corps.
Brown has caught 29 passes for 390 yards and three touchdowns. He is averaging 13.45 yards per catch and 65 receiving yards per game. He has a long reception of 48 yards.
Brown is a threat in the Wildcats’ rushing attack. He has 104 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown.
Junior wide receiver Jaron Tibbs (#12), who is a transfer from Purdue University, has caught 27 passes for 309 yards and two touchdowns. He is averaging 11.44 yards per catch and 51.5 receiving yards per game. He has a long reception of 32 yards.
Junior tight end Garrett Oakley (#86) has 21 receptions, for 200 yards. He has caught two touchdown passes. He is averaging 9.52 yards per catch and 33.3 receiving yards per game. He has a long reception of 35 yards.
Senior wide receiver Jerand Bradley (#5), who is a transfer from Boston College, sophomore running back Joe Jackson (#4) and sophomore tight end Will Anciaux (#80) each has one receiving touchdown.
Kansas State's Defense
Colorado’s defense is allowing:
- 376 total yards per game
- 167.7 rushing yards per game
- 208.3 passing yards per game
- 26.83 points per game, which ranks 93rd among FBS teams
The Wildcats have allowed 18 touchdowns: 11 on the ground and seven through the air.
Kansas State's defense has intercepted four passes and recorded 13 sacks.
Junior linebacker Austin Romaine (#45) leads the Cats’ defense. He has made 45 tackles, including 4.5 for loss. He also has been credited with two pass-breakups, four quarterback-hurries and one fumble recovery.
Senior linebacker Desmond Purnell (#32) has made 32 tackles. He has 1.5 tackles-for-loss, one pass-breakup and three quarterback-hurries.
Senior safety VJ Payne (#7) has made 31 tackles, including 2.5 for loss. He has one pass-breakup and has forced one fumble.
Sophomore cornerback Zashon Rich (#25) has made 28 tackles, including three tackles-for-loss and one sack. He has been credited with six pass-breakups.
Junior defensive end Tobi Osunsanmi (#44) has six tackles-for-loss, four sacks, two quarterback-hurries and one fumble recovery.
Junior safety Qua Moss (#6), who is a transfer from the University of West Georgia, has four tackles-for-loss, one sack and two interceptions. He also has forced a fumble.
Senior defensive end Cody Stufflebean (#47) has three tackles-for-loss, three sacks and four quarterback-hurries. He also has forced a fumble.
Senior safety Gunner Maldonado (#3), who is a transfer from the University of Arizona, junior safety Daniel Cobbs (#4), who is from Fort Worth and attended Fossil Ridge High School, each has one interception.
Kansas State’s punter is sophomore Simon McClannan (#8). He has punted 23 times for an average of 44.30 yards per punt. He has a long punt of 65 yards. He has not had a punt blocked.
Sophomore kicker Luis Rodriguez (#43), who is a transfer from the College of the Canyons Community College, is the Wildcats’ field-goal kicker. He has made eight-of-nine field-goal attempts. He has a long field goal of 51 yards. He has had one field goal blocked.
Dykes, Klieman Discuss Upcoming Game
TCU’s Dykes talks about the game against Kansas State: here
Kansas State’s Klieman talks about the game against TCU: here
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