Oct 18, 2026 2:51 AM
Updated Oct 18, 2026 4:59 AM
TCU got its first Big 12 win of the season in rivalry fashion, as the Horned Frogs found their offensive spark and leaned on another potent defensive effort to beat Baylor 17-6 in Waco.
In one of Texas' most iconic rivalries, TCU toppled Baylor 17-6 at McLane Stadium in Waco during the primetime window on Saturday night.
TCU came out of its bye week ready to prove it still had much left to play for this season and for arguably the first time this year, the Horned Frogs were able to live up to expectations.
After many concerns stemming from its offense, the Horned Frogs struck first on the road.
TCU quarterback Jaden Craig capped off a nine-play, 57-yard drive with a touchdown strike to Ed Small to put the Frogs up 7-0 midway through the first quarter.
Starting fast had not been an issue, with the Horned Frogs taking the lead or scoring early in nearly every matchup this season.
But sustaining that success had been the struggle, as opponents would close the gap or TCU itself would run out of gas down the stretch.
Baylor was able to do the former before the end of the first half after the Bears converted a pair of field goals to shrink the gap from one possession to one point at 7-6.
With yet another narrow margin, TCU did something it had not accomplished against a Power 4 foe this year.
The Horned Frogs came out of the locker room with a newfound fire and stretched the lead back out to one score in under a minute.
Craig commanded a three-play, 75-yard series, which was highlighted by a 67-yard dime to top target Jordan Dywer, that lasted merely 44 seconds and ended in a touchdown to tight end Ka'Morreun Pimpton.
The score not only let the Horned Frogs breathe in the tight contest, it bucked a season-long trend that had been spelling doom for TCU up to this point.
In each of its previous five matchups, TCU had scored two touchdowns in only two of those games, which came against Grambling State and Arkansas State.
Already leading 14-6, the Horned Frogs added on a field goal from Nate McCashland later in the third quarter to extend the lead to 17-6.
That would prove to be the final scoring from either team, as the defense for TCU was finally able to turn its output into meaningful success.
The Horned Frogs clamped down on DJ Lagway and the Bears and stifled each and every one of their second half opportunities to claim the season-changing 17-6 win in Waco.
In fact, Lagway was held without a touchdown throughout the entire night just a week after dropping 55 points on Arizona State.
TCU improved to 4-3 and earned its first Big 12 victory of the season. The Horned Frogs will head back to Fort Worth and host West Virginia next Saturday at 11 a.m.
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