See Midnite Madness photos from the TCU-Baylor game: here
By Tom C. "Midnite" Burke
The roller-coaster ride that is TCU Horned Frogs football this season keeps producing chills, thrills and frights.
On Saturday, October 18, the Frogs weathered rain, three lightening delays and a frantic comeback by Baylor in the fourth quarter to defeat the arch-rival Bears 42-36 in TCU’s Amon G. Carter Stadium, in Fort Worth, Texas, before an announced Homecoming crowd of 43,868 and a national ESPN2 television audience.
It was a must-win for TCU and their head coach, Sonny Dykes, following the previous week’s stunning 41-28 Big 12 upset loss to a mediocre Kansas State team in Manhattan, Kansas, and a 27-24 Big 12 loss to Arizona State on September 26.
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| Tom C. "Midnite" Burke |
After not being ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 after its loss to Kansas State, TCU is 34th this week.
The Frogs are 40th in the Coaches Top 25. They were 39th in last week’s ranking.
In a ranking of all 136 college football teams by The Athletic, the Frogs are 32nd, up from 38th in the previous week’s ranking.
In a ranking of all 136 college football teams by USA Today, TCU is 33rd, up from 39th in the previous week’s ranking.
TCU and Baylor have played each other 121 times.
TCU holds a 60-54-7 advantage in the rivalry's history, which is called “The Bluebonnet Battle” and features a trophy that goes to the game-winner.
Previously, the TCU-Baylor series was referred to as "The Revivalry," in reference to the two schools' religious affiliations.
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 Kansas-Kansas State, which have played each other 122 times.
Since beginning Big 12 play in 2012, TCU is 10-4 versus Baylor, with a 5-2 mark in both Fort Worth and Waco.
The Horned Frogs have won five of the past six games against the Bears and nine-of-11 in the series.
Dykes improved to 3-1 against BU.
“We’re 11-3 in our last 14 ballgames, so this football team knows how to win,” Dykes said. “I’m proud of them for doing that. Obviously, a lot of things that have to get corrected, but I’m proud of this group, and if they hadn’t won many games, then we probably would’ve found a way to lose this one.
“We are the winningest team in the Big 12 the last three-and-a-half years, just so everybody knows that. Our players know how to win. They’ve done this before. It wasn’t pretty. I don’t really care. We won the football game. That was our objective.
"Interesting ballgame, to say the least. The ending obviously wasn't what we wanted."
TCU’s next game is against Big 12 Conference foe West Virginia, on Saturday, October 25, in Morgantown, West Virginia. Kickoff in Milan-Pulsar Stadium is scheduled for 5 pm (Central). ESPN+ will televise the game.
The game against TCU also was a must-win game for Baylor and their head coach, Dave Aranda, as Baylor is striving to remain relevant in the changing landscape of collegiate athletics, knowing that being located in Waco is a huge strike against the school if, and when, the next conference realignment takes place.
With the loss to the Frogs, the hot seat Aranda occupies in Waco becomes even hotter.
Baylor’s overall record fell to 4-3. The Bears are 2-2 in the Big 12.
Aranda now is 1-5 against TCU and 35-33 in his tenure at Baylor, which started in 2020.
Since the start of the 2022 season, the Bears are 21-24.
“They’re hurt right now. They wanted to win this game,” Aranda said of his team. “We have the ability to win games like this. Probably ‘frustrated’ is the best way to say it.
“Everyone wants to win. Everyone’s hungry for a win. When you win a little, you want to win a lot. That’s where everybody’s at. There’s talent on this team. There’s a really strong care factor on this team, but we’ve got to put it together.
“Still a lot to play for. We find ourselves in some adversity, and we need to fight.”
Baylor’s next game is against Big 12 foe Cincinnati, on Saturday, October 25, in Cincinnati, Ohio. Kickoff in Nippert Stadium is scheduled for 3 pm (Central).
Gloomy, Adverse Weather
Downpours and weather delays adversely affected the TCU-Baylor game.
Besides gloomy skies and heavy rains at times, the game was delayed by lightning three times in the fourth quarter.
The delays totaled two hours and 16 minutes. The game kicked off at 11:02 am (Central) and ended at 4:52 pm (Central).
That’s five hours and 50 minutes!
The game unexpectedly was so long that concession stands ran out of food and drink and closed before the end of the game.
What’s a good weather delay without being able to enjoy a soft pretzel and a cold beer, while trying not to get zapped by lightning?
This was TCU's first game to have an in-game lightning delay since a game against the University of Texas in 2013.
The game was first stopped with 13:46 left in the fourth quarter. TCU was leading, 35-21.
The game restarted at 2:43 pm, but lasted only long enough for both teams to punt.
A second lightning delay suspended the game until about 3 pm. With just under seven minutes remaining in the game, TCU still led, 35-21.
The game was set to resume at 3:29 pm, but the game’s third weather delay pushed the restart to 4:17 pm.
On the first play after the restart, TCU running back Kevorian Barnes ran 14 yards for a touchdown. The Frogs extended their lead to what seemed to be a comfortable 21-point margin at 42-21, with only 3:08 remaining in the game.
However, the Bears stormed back to tease their fans and give TCU fans quite a fright.
A fumble by TCU quarterback Josh Hoover was scooped up and returned 24 yards for a touchdown by BU linebacker Keaton Thomas. A two-point conversion after the touchdown made the score 42-29.
With 30 seconds remaining in the game, Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson connected with Bears wide receiver Kole Wilson on a 35-yard touchdown pass.
Suddenly, trailing only 42-36, Baylor was in position to pull off a stunning win.
Everyone in the stadium knew an onside kick was coming from Baylor, but still the Bears were able to recover the bouncing football.
Twenty-seven seconds remained in the game.
Chills went up and down the spines of the rain-soaked TCU fans still in attendance.
Was this really happening?
Was lightning about to strike for the fourth time, in the form of another Baylor touchdown and an improbable, sickening win for the Bears?
On Baylor’s second play after recovering the onside kick, Robertson threw a pass that was intercepted by TCU linebacker Namdi Obiazor, preserving the victory for the Horned Frogs.
At the game’s end, a handful of fans, plus the TCU band, cheerleaders, showgirls and wranglers, were on hand to see the Frogs joyously lift the gaudy Bluebonnet Battle trophy in victory.
TCU now has within its possession three trophies for football victories over rivals:
- The Iron Skillet, for its 35-24 victory over SMU on September 20
- The Bluebonnet Battle Trophy, for its October 18th victory over Baylor
- The Saddle Trophy, for its 35-34 victory over Texas Tech in Fort Worth last season, on October 26 (TCU does not play Tech during the 2025 regular season).
Big 12 Conference Football Games
Here are results of other recent football games involving Big 12 teams:
- Saturday, October 18:
- Arizona 28 (4-3, 1-3) at Houston 31 (6-1, 3-1)
- West Virginia 13 (2-5, 0-4) at UCF 45 (4-3, 1-3)
- Texas Tech 22 (6-1, 3-1) at Arizona State 26 (5-2, 3-1)
- Utah 21 (5-2, 2-2) at BYU 24
- Cincinnati 49 (6-1, 4-0) at Oklahoma State 17 (1-6, 0-4)
- Kansas (4-3, 2-2) (bye)
- Kansas State (3-4, 2-2) (bye)
- Colorado (3-4, 1-3) (bye)
- Iowa State (5-2, 2-2) (bye)
In the latest Associated Press Top 25, BYU is 11th, Texas Tech is 14th, Cincinnati is 21st, Arizona State is 24th, Utah is 27th and Houston is 29th.
In the latest Coaches Top 25, BYU is 10th, Texas Tech is 15th, Cincinnati is 21st, Arizona State is 25th, Utah is 28th, Houston is 30th and Iowa State is 33rd.
BYU and Cincinnati lead the Big 12 Conference; both are undefeated in conference games, at 4-0.
Houston, Texas Tech and Arizona State are 3-1
Six teams, including TCU and Baylor, are at 2-2.
Here are some of the remaining big Big 12 Conference games this season:
- Cincinnati plays at Utah on November 1
- BYU plays at Texas Tech on November 8
- TCU plays at BYU on November 15
- BYU plays at Cincinnati on November 22
- TCU plays at Houston on November 22
- TCU hosts Cincinnati on November 29
Miscellaneous College Football News
Only six unbeaten college football teams remain among the nation’s Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) teams:
- No. 1 Ohio State
- No. 3 Indiana
- No. 4 Texas A&M
- No. 12 Georgia Tech
- No. 15 BYU
- Unranked Navy
The University of Florida has fired head coach Billy Napier, even though Florida defeated Mississippi State, 23-21, on Saturday, October 18.
Florida is 3-4 overall, 2-2 in the SEC.
Napier, who was 22-23 during his Florida tenure of just over three years, had a buyout of roughly $20 million.
Florida is looking for new head football coach for the fourth time in past 12 years.
Colorado State has fired head coach Jay Norvell during his fourth season. The first Black head football coach in Colorado State’s history, Norvell had a 2-5 record this season and an overall 18-26 recorded during his tenure with the Rams. He had a $1.5 million buyout.
Through eight weeks of the 2025 college football season, nine head coaching vacancies have been created, with six of them among the Power Four Conference schools.
Who’s the next head coach to hit the unemployment line? Take your pick among Wisconsin head coach Luke Fickell, Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze, Florida State head coach Mike Norvell, and others.
Adios, Tortillas
Texas Tech was one of the nation’s unbeaten teams until it fell, 26-22, to Arizona State on Saturday, October 18.
But even worse for Texas Tech fans than their beloved Red Raiders no longer being undefeated is that the Texas Tech administration has banned the tradition of Tech zealots tossing tortillas at kickoffs of home football games after a recent change in Big 12 policy stiffened the penalties and fines for objects thrown onto the field.
If it is any consolation for Tech fans, the Big 12 Conference fined Arizona State $50,000 and issued a public reprimand after Sun Devils fans stormed the field after ASU's upset victory over Tech.
Texas Tech Athletic Director Kirby Hocutt said the change in stadium policy for the Red Raiders was prompted to prevent tortilla tossing from impacting the team’s chances of winning games.
Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark recently altered the conference’s game-management policy to allow one warning before levying a 15-yard personal foul penalty and a $100,000 fine for second and subsequent offenses by fans throwing objects onto the playing surface. Previously, the policy allowed for two warnings before penalties were assessed.
Tortilla tossing at Jones AT&T Stadium is a decades-old tradition, believed to date back to the 1990s. Texas Tech fans throw tortillas in the air at the opening kickoff, and for years, tortillas often have been thrown after subsequent kickoffs.
Now, if only the Texas Tech administration would ban the other obnoxious behaviors and actions often displayed by Red Raiders fans at football games and other Tech athletic events, which contribute to Lubbock being one of the most despised locations for opposing teams’ fans.
TCU’s Run Game Returns
TCU's offensive attack was effective against Baylor. The Frogs scored six touchdowns and amassed 427 total yards.
However, the Horned Frogs were held scoreless in the first quarter for the third consecutive game.
TCU didn’t score until the 10:59 mark of the second quarter. TCU scored on its first offensive possession of the second half for the third time this season and first since the Abilene Christian game.
The Frogs' offensive line paved the way for TCU to accumulate 231 passing yards and 196 rushing yards. The Frogs ran for the most yards since their season-opener at North Carolina.
“We said coming into the game that whichever team ran the ball the best was gonna win the game,” Dykes said. “We ran it great. Kevorian had over 100 yards, Trent had 75. I think we did a really good job up front.”
TCU has scored in 414 consecutive games, the second-longest streak in NCAA history, trailing only Florida (467 games).
Running back Kevorian Barnes rushed 25 times for 106 yards against Baylor. He averaged 4.2 yards per run. He scored two rushing touchdowns and had a long run of 14 yards.
Running back Trent Battle ran four times for 75 yards and one touchdown, a 65-yarder in the fourth quarter.
TCU quarterback Josh Hoover completed 22-of-32 passes for 231 yards. He threw three touchdown passes. This was Hoover's third consecutive game and fifth game of the season with three or more touchdown passes.
In three career games against Baylor, Hoover has completed 71-of-94 passes for 976 yards. He has thrown seven touchdown passes. The Bears have never sacked him.
Wide receiver Jordan Dwyer returned punts and caught passes against Baylor. He had seven receptions for 111 yards. He had one touchdown reception. He had a long catch of 41 yards.
Tight end Ka'Morreun Pimpton caught a three-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter. It was Pimpton's first catch and touchdown as a Horned Frog. Pimpton, who is from Fort Worth, is a transfer from LSU.
TCU wide receiver Eric McAlister caught seven passes for 62 yards. He had a long reception of 27 yards. McAlister now has 12 receptions of 20 or more yards this season, which is the second-most in the nation.
Horned Frogs tight end DJ Rogers caught four passes for 30 yards and one touchdown. Rogers scored TCU's first points against Baylor when he caught an eight-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter.
Defense Seals Victory
TCU’s defense allowed a first-quarter touchdown for just the second time this season, the only other being by the University of North Carolina in the season-opener.
TCU’s defensive effort in the 42-36 win over Baylor was highlighted by four takeaways – three interceptions and a forced fumble and recovery.
The most notable defensive play, of course, was Obiazor’s interception late in the fourth quarter that sealed TCU’s victory. Obiazor also had 11 tackles in the game.
“I thought our defense was outstanding most of the game,” Dykes said. “Again, the ending wasn’t great, but I thought, you know, we played really, really good defense. We played smart, we had a couple penalties that hurt us.
“At the end of the game they made a play. We needed somebody to step up and make a play. I’ve seen enough football games in my life to know, again, when the avalanche starts, sometimes that you can’t stop it and ... we got it stopped on defense, and I’m really proud of those guys.”
TCU linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr led TCU's defenders with 16 tackles. He also was credited with a pass break-up and a quarterback-hurry.
Elarms-Orr is the first Horned Frog to have more than 15 tackles in a game since Garret Wallow, in a game against Oklahoma in 2019. The 16 tackles are tied for the most by any Big 12 defender this season.
Elarms-Orr was named the Big 12 Conference's Co-Defensive Player of the Week.
For the season, Elarms-Orr has 64 tackles. He is averaging 9.1 tackles per game. He has three sacks.
TCU safety Jamel Johnson intercepted a pass against Baylor. He has four interceptions for the season and an interception in TCU's last three home games. In the Frogs' win over the Bears, Johnson also had seven tackles and a pass break-up.
Johnson's play thus far this season has earned him second-team midseason Associated Press (AP) All-America honors.
Cornerback Vernon Glover intercepted a pass and had six tackles and two pass break-ups.
Safety Bud Clark recorded his first sack of the season. He also had a tackle-for-loss.
Defensive end Devean Deal had 0.5 tackles-for-loss, 0.5 sacks and four quarterback hits.
TCU defensive end Paul Oyewale had a tackle-for-loss and his first career forced fumble and fumble recovery.
TCU defensive end Zach Chapman had three tackles, 0.5 tacks-for-loss and 0.5 sacks.
Coming into the game with TCU, Baylor boasted one of the best offenses in the Big 12. The Bears led the conference in passing yards per game and were second in total offense.
Baylor was held to 318 passing yards, which was below its season average.
Robertson completed only 25-of-52 passes. He threw two touchdown passes, but he suffered the three interceptions and he was sacked twice.
The last time TCU held a quarterback under a 50 percent completion rate in a game was against Kansas in 2024.
Baylor wide receiver Ashtyn Hawkins caught seven passes for 95 yards.
Wide receiver Josh Cameron caught eight passes for 86 yards.
Baylor’s mid-season Associated Press All-American tight end Michael Trigg was limited to three catches for 56 yards.
Wide receivers Jaden Porter and Kobe Prentice had the two touchdown receptions.
Baylor had 121 rushing yards.
Running back Michael Turner had 68 rushing yards on 13 carries.
Noted Baylor running back Bryson Washington could only muster 23 rushing yards on 11 carries.
Additional TCU-Baylor Game Insight
- TCU-Baylor game box score: here
- TCU-Baylor game highlights: here
- TCU post-game press conference: here
- Baylor post-game press conference: here
Frogs Traveling to West Virginia
TCU’s next game is against Big 12 Conference foe West Virginia, on Saturday, October 25, in Morgantown, West Virginia. Kickoff in Mountaineer Field at Milan Puskar Stadium is scheduled for 5 pm (Central). ESPN+ will televise the game.
TCU is a 15-point favorite. This is the largest road-favorite TCU has been since the Frogs were 20-point favorites at Kansas in 2020.
The over/under for total points scored in the game is 57 points.
Midnite Madness prediction: TCU 38, West Virginia 20
The Mountaineers have lost four straight games, all by at least 14 points.
West Virginia is 2-5 overall, 0-4 in the Big 12, as follows:
- Defeated Robert Morris, in Morgantown, 45-3
- Lost to Ohio, in Athens, Ohio, 17-10
- Defeated Pitt, in Morgantown, 31-24 (OT)
- Lost to Kansas, in Lawrence, Kansas, 41-10
- Lost to Utah, in Morgantown, 48-14
- Lost to BYU, 38-24, in Provo, Utah
- Lost to UCF, in Orlando, Florida, 45-13
TCU and West Virginia will be facing each other for the 14th time. The Mountaineers hold an 8-5 series lead. All but one meeting has come since the schools began Big 12 play together in 2012. That was a 31-14 Mountaineers' win in the 1984 Bluebonnet Bowl, at the Astrodome, in Houston, Texas.
The Horned Frogs have lost three of their past four games at West Virginia, with the lone win coming during TCU’s 2022 College Football Playoff season.
West Virginia has won five of the past six games and six of the past eight games against TCU.
The last time the teams met was in 2023. West Virginia defeated the Horned Frogs, 24-21, in Fort Worth.
Dykes is 1-1 as TCU’s head coach against West Virginia.
After parting ways with Neal Brown last season, West Virginia tabbed a familiar face to rejuvenate its football program as the Mountaineers head coach. Rich Rodriguez returned to West Virginia University as its 36th head football coach on December 12, 2024, almost 20 years after he left the program to become head coach at the University of Michigan.
Rodriguez returned to West Virginia from Jacksonville State, where he was head football coach.
Brown coached the Mountaineers for six years, compiling an overall record of 37-35. This season, Brown is at the University of Texas, as an assistant to head football coach Steve Sarkisian.
Brown is noted as the last opposing head coach to beat former TCU head football coach Gary Patterson in Fort Worth.
West Virginia beat TCU 29-17 on October 23, during the 2021 season. It was Patterson's final home game as head coach of TCU. Patterson resigned just over a week later, after the Frogs lost, 31-12, to Kansas State, in Manhattan, Kansas, on October 30.
West Virginia Offensive Overview
The Mountaineers offense is averaging:
- 21 points per game
- 354.3 total yards per game
- 195.6 rushing yards per game
- 158.7 passing yards per game
The Mountaineers have scored 19 touchdowns: 15 on the ground, four through the air.
West Virginia has thrown six interceptions, allowed 19 sacks and lost six fumbles.
Starting quarterback Nico Marchiol (#8), who is a redshirt-junior, injured a foot in a loss to Utah on September 27. He has missed the past two games. He’s not expected to play against TCU or for the remainder of the season.
Since Marchiol’s injury, West Virginia is averaging only 107 passing yards the past two games. The Mountaineers have used redshirt-freshman Khalil Wilkins (#14) and freshman Scotty Fox, Jr. (#15) at quarterback.
Wilkins has completed 15-of-31 passes for 176 yards. He has thrown one touchdown pass and two interceptions.
Fox has completed 11-of-25 passes for 165 yards. He has thrown one touchdown pass and two interceptions.
Redshirt-sophomore wide receiver Cam Vaughn (#4), who is a transfer from Jacksonville State, is West Virginia’s leading receiver. He has caught 21 passes for 334 yards. He is averaging 15.90 yards per catch and 47.71 receiving yards per game. He has caught three touchdown passes.
Junior wide receiver Rodney Gallagher III (#24) has 15 receptions for 137 yards. He is averaging 9.13 yards per catch. He has not caught a touchdown pass.
Senior tight end Grayson Barnes (#80), who is a transfer from Northern Illinois, has caught 13 passes for 132 yards. He is averaging 10.15 yards per catch. He has caught one touchdown pass.
Wilkins (#14) has been the Mountaineers’ leading rusher. He has rushed 54 times for 243 yards. He is averaging 4.5 yards per rush and 48.60 rushing yards per game. He has two rushing touchdowns. He has a long run of 22 yards.
Redshirt-senior quarterback Jaylen Henderson (#13), who is a transfer from Texas A&M and Fresno State, has run 29 times for 146 yards. He is averaging five yards per rush. He has one touchdown and a long run of 32 yards.
Redshirt-freshman running back Diore Hubbard (#20) has three rushing touchdowns.
Fox (#15), sophomore running back Cyncir Bowers (#23) and Marchiol each have one rushing touchdown.
Junior running back Jahiem White (#1) and redshirt-senior running back Tye Edwards (#2) are out for the season because of injuries.
White was averaging 5.5 yards per run. He had three rushing touchdowns.
Edwards, who is a transfer from Northern Iowa and who also has played at UTSA and the Georgia Military Academy, was averaging 5.3 yards per rush. He had three rushing touchdowns.
West Virginia Defensive Overview
West Virginia’s defense is allowing:
- 30.86 points per game
- 416.4 total yards per game
- 247.1 passing yards per game
- 169.3 rushing yards per game
The Mountaineers have intercepted eight passes. They have recorded 13 sacks, forced 12 fumbles and recovered four fumbles.
West Virginia has one of the worst defenses in the country.
The Mountaineers rank 14th out of 16 teams in the Big 12 and 115th in the country in scoring defense.
West Virginia ranks 14th in the Big 12 in passing yards allowed, but the Mountaineers are fourth in the conference in interceptions and fifth in forced fumbles.
Senior safety Fred Perry (#5), who is a transfer from Jacksonville State, has 45 tackles, including 4.5 tackles-for-loss. He has two sacks, two pass breakups, one quarterback-hurry, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
Redshirt-senior safety Darrian Lewis (#24), who is a transfer from Akron, has made 42 tackles. He has intercepted two passes and he has one quarterback-hurry.
Redshirt-senior linebacker Reid Carrico (#35), who is a transfer from Ohio State, has 32 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one breakup, four quarterback-hurries and one fumble recovery.
Redshirt-senior linebacker Chase Wilson (#30), who is a transfer from Colorado State, has made 31 tackles. He has four tackles-for-loss, two interceptions and three sacks.
Redshirt-senior defensive lineman, Edward Vesterinen (#96) has three tackles-for-loss and two sacks.
Redshirt-senior defensive lineman Hammond Russell IV (99) has 2.5 tackles-for-loss and two sacks.
Junior linebacker Ben Cutter (#15), sophomore defensive back Nick Taylor (#19), who is a transfer from Appalachian State, senior cornerback Jason Chambers (#23), who is a transfer from Jacksonville State, and redshirt-senior safety Jordan Walker (#4), who is a transfer from the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga who also has played at Lafayette, each has an interception.
West Virginia’s punter is senior Oliver Straw (#41). Has punted 40 times for an average of 43.38 yards per punt. He had not had a punt blocked. He has a long punt of 61 yards.
The Mountaineers' field-goal kicker is redshirt-senior Kade Hensley (#25), who is a transfer from Coastal Carolina. He has made five-of-seven field goal attempts. He has a long field goal of 45 yards. He has not had a field-goal attempt blocked.
TCU’s Dykes talks about the upcoming game against West Virginia: here
West Virginia’s Rodriguez talks about the upcoming game against TCU: here
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