TCU-Grambling 2026 Football Game Photos

 Photos by Tom C. "Midnite" Burke

 

(photos above and below) TCU hosted Grambling State in a non-conference football game on Saturday, September 12, in Amon G. Carter Stadium on the TCU campus. The Horned Frogs won their 2026 home-opener, 63-7, to even their record at 1-1. TCU is 2-0 all-time versus Grambling. The victory over the Tigers was just the relief the Horned Frogs needed after opening their season on August 29 with a lethargic 15-10 upset loss to the University of North Carolina in the 2026 Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland. In the 21st century, TCU is 24-3 in home-openers.

TCU head football coach Sonny Dykes began TCU's 2026 home season by welcoming and "instructing" the game's referees, prior to the TCU-Grambling game in Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas.

(photos above and below) Here come the Grambling State Tigers!

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

TCU's captains are (from left to right) Hudson Hooper (#37), Ansel Din-Mbuh (#92), Ben Taylor-Whitfield (#58) and Jaden Craig (#1). Honorary captains for the game were legendary Horned Frogs Victor Payne (1999-2001) and Larry Brown (1989-1990).

TCU has had a lot of offensive success in home-openers, scoring at least 30 points in its last 19 openers in The Carter. Offensively, TCU was aggressive against Grambling behind the play-calling of new offensive coordinator Gordon Sammis (photo below) and new quarterback and captain Jaden Craig (#1, photo above and below). TCU took control of the game by scoring a touchdown on its first drive. The Frogs led 28-7 at halftime. TCU scored two touchdowns in the third period and three fourth-quarter touchdowns to post its highest point total (63) since scoring 63 points against Jackson State in 2017. TCU had 679 total yards against Grambling; 391 yards gained through the air, and 285 rushing yards.

(photos above and below) TCU fifth-year quarterback and captain Jaden Craig (#1), who is a transfer from Harvard, accounted for 444 total yards of offense. He completed 24 passes for 391 yards, a career high, and ran eight times for a career high 53 yards, including a career-high 31-yard gallop. He threw four touchdown passes, which tied a career high. Craig became the fifth TCU quarterback to throw for 350 yards and four touchdowns on fewer than 35 attempts. He joined Max Duggan, Kenny Hill, Trevone Boykin and Brandon Hassell.

In the Frogs' win over Grambling State, seven different TCU receivers caught passes, including (left to right) Ed Small (#18), Jacobe Hayes (#80) and Ka'Morreun Pimpton (#88).

(photos above and below) Against Grambling, TCU wide receiver Kari Ashley (#81) caught seven passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns, including this 29-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter.

TCU offensive coordinator Gordon Sammis congratulates TCU tight end Kari Ashley (#81) on his 29-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter. The Frogs increased their lead to 35-7 over the Tigers.

TCU wide receiver Ed Small (#18) caught five passes for 101 yards against Grambling. At the end of the second quarter, he had a reception of 57 yards (photo above), which is the longest of his career. Small also had 20 yards in punt returns. Earlier in the game, Small was briefly injured after being tackled after a reception (photo below).

(photos above and below) TCU wide receiver Jeremy Scott (#6), who is a transfer from South Alabama, had five receptions for 87 yards and one touchdown, his first as a Horned Frog.

TCU tight end Ka'Morreun Pimpton (#88), who is a transfer from LSU, caught two passes for 37 yards and one touchdown (photos above and below).

TCU Junior running back Jeremy Payne (#26) led all ball carriers with 79 yards on nine rushes. He averaged 8.8 yards per carry and had a long run of 32 yards.

On this run, TCU junior running back Jeremy Payne had the end zone in sight but as he was tackled from behind, he fumbled the football. The ball rolled into and out of the end zone, which resulted in a touchback and Grambling taking over the football at its 20-yard line.

Horned Frogs sophomore running back Jon Denman (#2) ran six times for 41 yards against the Tigers.

Against Grambling, TCU sophomore running back Jon Denman (#2) scored a second-quarter touchdown on a one-yard plunge. It was Denman's second touchdown in as many games this season.

(photos above and below) TCU junior running back Joe Pitchford (#24) had a one-yard touchdown run in the second quarter against Grambling. He ran four times for 25 yards.

 

TCU fifth-year wide receiver Major Everhart (#3) led off the scoring in TCU's blowout win over Grambling with an eight-yard touchdown run with less than three minutes gone in the game. It was the second touchdown of his TCU career.  

After his eight-yard touchdown run in the first quarter, TCU fifth-year wide receiver Major Everhart (#3) received congratulations from senior tight end Ka'Morreun Pimpton (#88).

TCU sixth-year running back Landon Walker (#27), who is a transfer from the Colorado School of Mines, ran three times for 32 yards against Grambling, including defensive lineman Dinellson Exume (#11).

TCU senior offensive lineman and captain Ben Taylor Whitfield (#56) gets to his feet with a little help from fifth-year offensive lineman Noah McKinney (#58), who is a transfer from Oklahoma State.

TCU freshman wide receiver Ace Theus (#4), of Duncanville, Texas, excelled as a returned against Grambling. He had 118 total return yards; 73 yards on punt returns and 45 yards on kickoff returns. 

In the first quarter of the game against Grambling, TCU senior cornerback Teon Parks (#21), a transfer from Illinois State, downed at the Grambling one-yard line a punt by TCU junior punter John Hoyet Chance, who is a transfer from Louisiana Tech. Parks also had a pass breakup and an interception, which he returned 67 yards for a touchdown in the fourth quarter. It was TCU’s first pick-six pick since Bud Clark returned an interception for a touchdown in TCU’s 48-14 win over North Carolina in Chapel Hill in 2025.

(photos above and below) TCU's defense, under the direction of defensive coordinator Andy Avalos, had its second consecutive successful outing. Through two games, the Frogs' defense has allowed two touchdowns and 20 points. TCU held Grambling to 210 yards; 190 passing yards and 20 rushing yards. This was the first time TCU held an opponent to under 25 rushing yards since Purdue had only 23 rushing yards in a 34-13 loss to the Frogs in West Lafayette, Indiana, in 2019. TCU defenders allowed Grambling only seven first downs, recorded two sacks and multiple tackles for loss, and intercepted two passes, one of which was returned for a touchdown. Thirteen Frogs recorded multiple tackles.

(photos above and below) Against Grambling, TCU senior cornerback Vernon Glover, Jr. (#1), had the third interception of his career. He also had a tackle for loss.

TCU senior linebacker and captain Hudson Hooper (#37) rushes Grambling State redshirt-junior quarterback Reginald Johnson, who is a transfer from the University of Massachusetts. Hooper had four tackles, including a tackle for loss, against Grambling. Hooper began his career at TCU as a walk-on.

TCU senior defensive tackle and captain Ansel Din-Mbuh (#92, photo above), who is a transfer from Washington State, had a tackle for loss and a sack. He also blocked a field goal attempt of 20 yards by Grambling’s Diego Alfaro in the first quarter. It was TCU’s first blocked field goal since Caleb Fox and LaMareon James blocked field goals in a 35-34 loss to UCF in Fort Worth on September 14, 2024. Fifth-year edge rusher Paul Oyewale (#97, photos above and below) had three tackles for help the TCU defense stymie Grambling redshirt-sophomore running back Byron Eaton, Jr. (#10) and the Tigers' offense.

TCU senior defensive tackle and captain Ansel Din-Mbuh, who is a transfer from Washington State, pressures Grambling State junior-redshirt quarterback Reginald Johnson (#1), who is a transfer from the University of Massachusetts.

TCU senior defensive tackle and captain Ansel Din-Mbuh (#92), who is a transfer from Washington State, and TCU fifth-year edge rusher Paul Oyewale (#97) celebrate a sack of Grambling State redshirt-junior quarterback Reginald Johnson (#1), who is a transfer from the University of Massachusetts.

TCU senior linebacker Max Carroll (#3) had four tackles, one pass breakup and one quarterback-hurry against Grambling. Sophomore edge rusher John Schobel (#14, photos above and below) had three tackles, and a tackle for loss.

TCU junior safety Kaden McFadden (#18), who got the start with starting safety Jamel Johnson missing the game because of injury, led TCU defenders against Grambling's offense, including redshirt-sophomore  running back Byron Eaton, Jr. (#10). McFadden had six tackles, a career high. 

TCU senior edge rusher Koron Hayward (#16), who is a transfer from Western Kentucky, had two tackles against Grambling, including 1.5 tackles for loss and a half of a sack.

TCU senior line backer Max Carroll (#3) and senior safety John Lester (#22) react to junior safety Kaden McFadden (#18) nearly intercepting a pass against Grambling State in TCU's 63-7 victory over the Tigers.

(photos above and below) Offensively, Grambling State redshirt-sophomore running back Byron Eaton, Jr. (#10) had only two rushing yards against TCU, but he caught two passes for 59 yards, including a long reception of 52 yards. He caught a seven-yard touchdown pass (photo below) in front of TCU edge rusher John Schobel (#14) in the second quarter for Grambling's only touchdown of the game.

Freshman running back Jamarion Parker (#9) was Grambling's leading rusher in the Tigers' loss to the Horned Frogs. Parker carried the football five times for nine yards. 

(photos above and below) Grambling sophomore running back D'Shaun Ford (#23), who is a transfer from Louisiana-Monroe, was limited by the TCU defense to four yards on four rushes.

(photos above and below) Grambling redshirt-sophomore wide receiver Jordan Bride (#2) was the Tigers' leading receiver against TCU. He caught four passes for 79 yards, including a long reception of 62 yards.

(photos above and below) Against TCU, Grambling redshirt-junior quarterback Reginald Johnson (#1), who is a transfer from the University of Massachusetts, completed 14-of-20 passes for 190 yards and one touchdown. He had a long completion of 62 yards. He was sacked twice.

Grambling's defense didn't have much success against TCU's offense. However, the Tigers did sack fifth-year quarterback Jaden Craig (#1), who is a transfer from Harvard, once. Grambling redshirt-sophomore defensive lineman Jayden Scott (#91) registered the sack of Craig. 

In its win over Grambling, TCU had only five penalties for 60 yards. In their season-opening loss to North Carolina, the Horned Frogs were penalized 11 times for 89 yards. The Horned Frogs will seek to keep the momentum going when they play Arkansas State on Saturday, September 19, in Amon G. Carter Stadium, in Fort Worth, Texas. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 pm (Central). The game will be televised by ESPNU.