Carroll Pick-Six, Craig's Late Go-Ahead Score Seal TCU's 22-16 Win Over Kansas

Turning Point in the Third Quarter

The TCU Horned Frogs secured a 22-16 victory over the visiting Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth. The game’s pivotal moment arrived in the third quarter when Max Carroll returned an interception 60 yards for a touchdown.

That play, which included a successful extra point kick by Kyle Lemmermann, erased Kansas’s early lead and put TCU in a position to control the rest of the contest. Before that defensive gem, Kansas had built a 13-0 cushion, but TCU’s offense re-emerged to strike back with force.

Kansas Builds Early Lead

The Jayhawks opened the scoring when Martin Connington kicked a 34-yard field goal in the first quarter. Kansas extended their advantage in the second quarter with a 42-yard field goal from Connington. The lead grew to 13-0 after Cole Ballard connected with Cam Pickett on a 29-yard pass for a touchdown, followed by another Connington kick.

Ballard was efficient through the air, completing 20 of 35 passes for 285 yards and one touchdown, though he also threw one interception. Nahzae Cox was a primary target, catching five passes for 145 yards, while Keaton Kubecka rushed for 58 yards on three carries.

TCU Offense Responds

TCU’s comeback was powered by a strong third quarter. After Carroll’s pick-six, Ace Theus added a 28-yard rushing touchdown to give TCU a 14-13 lead. In the fourth quarter, Kansas pulled ahead 16-14 on another Connington field goal, this time from 27 yards out.

However, Jaden Craig sealed the win with a 17-yard rushing touchdown. The team opted for a two-point conversion, which Craig completed with a pass to Jordan Dwyer, making the final score 22-16. Craig was a dual-threat performer, rushing for 87 yards on 15 carries and throwing for 141 yards on 13 of 29 completions.

Kari Ashley contributed 50 receiving yards on three catches.

Final Records and Attendance

With the win, TCU improves its record to 4-4, while Kansas falls to 3-5. The game drew an attendance of 32,549 fans. The Horned Frogs demonstrated resilience after falling behind by 13 points, using a critical defensive stop and timely offensive execution to claim the victory at home.

Sources

ESPN