TCU Gets No Coaches Poll Respect Despite Dramatic Kansas Comeback

FORT WORTH - TCU football finally found a way to win a close game Saturday, but the Horned Frogs' dramatic comeback against Kansas wasn't nearly enough to impress college football's coaches.

TCU remained unranked and received zero votes in Sunday's updated US LBM Coaches Poll despite overcoming a 13-point halftime deficit to defeat Kansas 22-16 at Amon G. Carter Stadium.

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The Horned Frogs improved to 4-4 overall and 2-3 in Big 12 play, but their absence from the rankings illustrates just how much ground Sonny Dykes' program still needs to make up.

And the road doesn't get any easier.

TCU travels to face No. 22 Arizona on Friday, November 6, in what could become one of the Horned Frogs' biggest opportunities to change the direction of their season.

Saturday's victory was encouraging, but hardly convincing.

The Horned Frogs failed to score in the first half before defensive back Max Carroll returned an interception 60 yards for a touchdown, igniting a comeback that culminated in quarterback Jaden Craig's 17-yard game-winning touchdown run with 1:09 remaining.

Craig finished with 141 passing yards on just 13 completions in 29 attempts, although his 87 rushing yards helped rescue an offense that struggled throughout the afternoon.

TCU managed only 286 total yards compared with Kansas' 451, raising questions about whether the Horned Frogs can sustain their offensive production against better competition.

Those concerns help explain why voters haven't been impressed.

While TCU remains outside the national rankings, several Big 12 programs continue to receive considerable recognition.

Utah climbed to No. 4 after defeating Cincinnati 49-25, while BYU moved to No. 8 following its 27-20 victory over Arizona State.

Texas Tech rose to No. 13 after beating Arizona 34-26, and Houston occupies the No. 18 position.

Arizona remained ranked at No. 22 despite its loss in Lubbock, giving TCU an immediate opportunity to defeat a nationally ranked opponent.

The contrast between the programs is significant.

Arizona sits at 6-2, while TCU has split its first eight games and struggled to consistently finish close contests.

However, Saturday's comeback against Kansas demonstrated something the Horned Frogs had been missing.

The ability to deliver when the game was on the line.

"We're going to have to play better offensively, but I was really proud of the offense for driving down at the end of the game," Dykes said afterward.

The first College Football Playoff rankings arrive Tuesday, November 3, but TCU's immediate priority isn't national playoff positioning.

It's returning to bowl eligibility and rebuilding the consistency needed to compete with the Big 12's better teams.

A victory at Arizona would give the Horned Frogs their first winning record since September and provide a much stronger argument for national recognition.

For now, the message from Sunday's Coaches Poll is unmistakable.

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One comeback victory over Kansas doesn't erase four losses.

TCU needs to prove it can beat somebody better.