Clash of QB Kings
Baylor Quarterback Sawyer Robertson entered the game vs. TCU as the nation’s leading passer, averaging 343 yards per game with 19 touchdowns and just four interceptions. The TCU defense put him in a torture chamber in Amon G. Carter Stadium, allowing Robertson to complete just 48% of passes while intercepting him three times times, including the game-sealing pick by Namdi Obiazor on Baylor’s would-be game-winning drive. TCU sacked Robertson twice and officially hurried him seven times. This edition
of the Revivalry was billed as a battle between college football’s two most prolific passers and although Robertson had more yards than TCU’s Josh Hoover, the Horned Frogs’ QB won the duel. Hoover completed 71% of his passes, logging three touchdowns to zero interceptions, though his brutal fumble for a scoop-and-score very well could have cost TCU the game. Josh Hoover has consistently been stellar in Amon G. Carter Stadium this season and he delivered another rivalry trophy into TCU’s hands.
Defense Wins the Day
The TCU Defense has quietly had a rather strong season thus far and that was on loud display vs. Baylor on Saturday, a game the Frogs surely lose without the defensive heroics. TCU forced four Bears turnovers, three Robertson interceptions and a Bryson Washington fumble. The TCU offense was only able to convert one of those into points, scoring a touchdown following that fumble recovery. After getting sliced apart on the ground vs. Baylor in Waco last season, this time TCU held star runner Bryson Washington to 23 yards with the Bears as as team only able to muster 3.3 yards per carry A few standouts and shoutouts from the winning performance:
- Devean Deal was only credited with 2 total tackles, 0.5 sacks and 0.5 tackles for loss, he was an absolute menace all day for the Horned Frogs defense, adding a pair of tipped passes for incompletions and four QB Hurries, making life miserable for Robertson.
- Kaleb Elarms-Orr delivered a career-best 16 tackles, doubling his previous high of eight tackles in a single game
- Namdi Obiazor & Jamel Johnson were everywhere: heat-seeking missiles in the running game to slam doors shut at the line of scrimmage and killer in coverage as each picked up an interception
- Entire Secondary – this was a game the much-maligned back end of the TCU defense could have become charred toast, with Baylor deploying dynamic weapons all over the field. Although Baylor was able to get a few big plays, those playmakers were held in check. In particular, Michael Trigg had performed as the nation’s top Tight End through six games, but today in Fort Worth he could only manage to reel in three of his 13 targets as the Frogs continuously shut him down in key moments.
Ran The Damn Ball
TCU entered the day dead last in the Big 12 and No. 110 nationally in rush yards per game at 116.7, frustratingly becoming one-dimensional on offense even when the running game appeared to be finding success. On Saturday, the Horned Frogs pounded the rock, repeatedly smashing through the Baylor defensive line. Kevorian Barnes cleared the century mark on the ground for the second time this season, fed 25 carries and taking them for 106 and two touchdowns. Trent Battle added the explosive play on the ground, a 65-yard blast up the middle for a touchdown as the offensive line cleared a hole as wide as I-35. If the Horned Frogs are dedicated to successfully running the ball, giving room for Hoover and the passing game to breathe, this TCU offense has all the pieces to take on all the challengers ahead on the schedule. This has been the missing piece for quite some time, so was a beautiful sight to see in the monsoon conditions in Amon G. Carter on Saturday.
F**kery in the Final Minutes
One would think a 21-point advantage with 3:17 remaining would be about as safe a lead as you can have, but not in the hands of these Horned Frogs. After ending consecutive Baylor possessions by intercepting Robertson, TCU had the opportunity to skate the game away and waltz into the locker room with a decisive victory over its in-state rival. LOL, no it can never be so simple. Instead of continuing to feed those running backs that had been so productive all game, TCU opens this drive with a Josh Hoover run directly into the waiting arms of a Bear defensive lineman, seemingly looking to retain his crown as college football’s king fumbler, dropping the ball for a quick scoop-and-score for the Bears, consuming just 11 seconds of game clock. Hey, shake it off, nbd, still a 13 point lead with just over 3 minutes to play; this one’s still in the bag, right? TCU opens its next drive with an 15-yard unnecessary roughness penalty on Coltin Deery that ultimately leads to a three-and-out. But hey, Ethan Craw pins the punt inside the 10 and the Bears will need to go 95 yards to even have a sniff at a prayer of a comeback. Welp, Baylor does just that, using just 1:19 of game clock to cut the Frogs’ advantage to just six. Ok ok, that’s cute the margin won’t be as big, but now all TCU has to do is recover an onside kick and the game is over. Are you kidding me?? The kick skips through Manjack’s ungloved hands, bounces off his chest and rests loose on the grass before a Bear pounces on it. Now we are sweating, hearts pounding, bile creeping into the esophagus. The possibility of disaster after this six hour marathon of a game that should’ve easily been salted away far earlier is now very real; Baylor just needs 48 yards and an extra point to deliver a devastating blow to the Horned Frogs. Thankfully Namdi Obiazor still plays for the Horned Frogs, intercepting Robertson near the visitors sideline to fully and mercifully put an end to the contest in TCU’s favor. TCU has messed around and found out late in games in both of its losses this season as somehow the final few minutes of these games create a mental hurdle that leads to the worst decision-making imaginable. The Horned Frogs were lucky to escape given the series of unfortunate events it took to even be in that desperate position requiring the game-winning turnover to save their bacon.
What Rivalry?
There is no denying TCU and Baylor have played some classics over the years, but the simple numbers suggest the battle of in-state foes is entirely one-sided in the modern era. Baylor has defeated TCU just five times since the series was renewed in earnest in 2006, winning those five by an average of just 3.4 points. TCU meanwhile has now won 9 of the last 11 in the series, including a 5-1 record versus Dave Aranda as the Baylor head coach. Currently housed in TCU’s possession in Fort Worth are all three rivalry trophies with its Texas foes, the Iron Skillet, the West Texas Championship Saddle, and the Bluebonnet Battle Shield, having won the most recent contests vs. SMU, Texas Tech, and Baylor respectively. This is tongue-in-cheek of course. Despite the Horned Frogs’ dominance in the series, most seasons there is no team TCU fans would rather defeat than the Bears. It is great to see the Frogs back in the win column after that one-year blip.
