Craig's 87 yards and late two-point drive seal TCU's 22-16 victory over Kansas

TCU's Late Surge Decides Game

Jaden Craig's 87 rushing yards and his final-drive touchdown provided the decisive edge in a 22-16 victory for the TCU Horned Frogs over the Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday at Amon G. Carter Stadium. The home team overcame a second-half deficit to secure the win, improving their record to 4-4 while dropping Kansas to 3-5.

The game featured a dramatic shift in momentum, with TCU scoring 14 points in the third quarter to flip the lead from a 13-0 hole.

Kansas Takes Early Lead

The Jayhawks opened the scoring with a 34-yard field goal by Martin Connington in the first quarter. Kansas extended their advantage in the second period with a 42-yard kick by Connington, followed by a 29-yard touchdown pass from Cole Ballard to Cam Pickett. The extra point by Connington gave Kansas a 13-0 lead entering the third quarter.

Ballard finished the game with 285 passing yards on 20 of 35 completions, including one touchdown and one interception. Nahzae Cox led the Jayhawks in receiving with 145 yards on five catches, while Keaton Kubecka rushed for 58 yards on three carries.

TCU's Third-Quarter Breakout

TCU responded immediately in the third quarter. Max Carroll returned an interception 60 yards for a touchdown, with Kyle Lemmermann kicking the extra point to cut the lead to 13-7. TCU then took the lead for good when Ace Theus rushed 28 yards for a touchdown, also followed by a successful kick by Lemmermann.

This 14-point third quarter gave TCU a 14-13 advantage heading into the final period. Craig contributed significantly with 13 completions for 141 yards, while Kari Ashley added 50 receiving yards on three catches.

Decisive Final Drive

Kansas tied the game at 16-14 in the fourth quarter with a 27-yard field goal by Connington. However, TCU answered with the game-winning drive. Craig rushed 17 yards for a touchdown, followed by a two-point conversion pass to Jordan Dwyer.

This play, worth eight points, gave TCU the 22-16 lead. The attendance at the Fort Worth venue was 32,549. Craig finished with 15 carries for 87 yards and one touchdown, capping a performance that led the Horned Frogs to the final score.

Sources

ESPN