TCU Recap & Takeaways: Three Turnovers Sink Horned Frogs in Brutal 24-20 Homecoming Loss

Jaden Craig threw for 372 yards, but three turnovers and a squandered fourth-quarter lead spoiled TCU's homecoming against West Virginia.

The TCU Horned Frogs fell 24-20 to West Virginia on Saturday, October 24, at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, surrendering a fourth-quarter lead before Jaden Craig's final-minute fumble ended their comeback attempt.

Craig completed 33 of 47 passes for 372 yards, a touchdown and an interception, but lost two fumbles. Kari Ashley caught six passes for 118 yards, while Jordan Dwyer added 10 catches for 113.

TCU outgained West Virginia 484 yards to 265 ... and still fell to 3-4 overall and 1-3 in the Big 12.

West Virginia struck first with Jack Cassidy's 54-yard field goal.

TCU's response?

Sixteen plays. Ninety-one yards. More than nine minutes.

Craig marched the Horned Frogs downfield before finding Ka'Morreun Pimpton for a six-yard touchdown.

7-3 TCU.

The offense looked comfortable, the chains kept moving, and West Virginia couldn't get off the field.

1. That's how you start! - TCU's 91-yard touchdown drive consumed more than nine minutes. More than half a quarter ... gone.

2. Craig's legs matter - The quarterback converted key situations on the ground and kept the opening possession alive.

3. Trouble brewing? - West Virginia settled for three on its opening drive, but reached TCU's seven-yard line before the quarter ended.

Michael Hawkins Jr. capped a 75-yard West Virginia drive with a two-yard touchdown run.

10–7 Mountaineers.

Then came the mistakes.

Craig fumbled at the West Virginia 27. Kylin Jackson bailed TCU out with an interception on the ensuing possession, setting up Nate McCashland's 39-yard field goal.

10-10.

McCashland later missed from 43 yards, and Craig threw an interception at the West Virginia 16 with just over a minute remaining.

All those opportunities ... and a tie at halftime.

1. Craig, come on! - His fumble and interception ended two promising possessions. Those mistakes would loom large.

2. Jackson delivers - The defensive back's interception gave TCU an immediate chance to make up for Craig's fumble.

3. Points left behind - A missed field goal and two turnovers kept a productive half from producing a halftime lead.

READ MORE: No. 13 TCU Faces No. 17 Kansas In Top-25 Volleyball Showdown

McCashland opened the half with a 37-yard field goal.

13–10 Horned Frogs.

That lead lasted less than two minutes.

Hawkins broke free for a 36-yard touchdown run to put West Virginia back ahead, 17–13.

Craig answered with a 38-yard completion to Dwyer ... then absorbed a 13-yard sack that helped kill the drive.

Good grief.

The defense forced a three-and-out, and this time TCU capitalized. Jon Denman's 21-yard run set up Craig's two-yard touchdown keeper.

20-17 Horned Frogs.

1. Hawkins is a PROBLEM - His 36-yard touchdown was the biggest play of West Virginia's third-quarter surge.

2. Somebody protect Craig! - The quarterback took two sacks in the quarter, including a 13-yard loss that helped turn a promising drive into a punt.

3. Finally, an answer - Craig's keeper put TCU back in front. The Horned Frogs had regained control ... briefly.

READ MORE: TCU Emerges as Intriguing Option for 2028 Offensive Tackle Jayden Taylor

TCU needed a stop.

Instead ... Koron Hayward's unnecessary roughness penalty erased the benefit of a third-down sack and extended West Virginia's drive.

Fourteen plays, 75 yards, and Hawkins found former Horned Frog Cam Cook for the 13-yard go-ahead touchdown.

24-20 Mountaineers.

Of course it was Cook.

TCU drove to the West Virginia 20 before Craig's fourth-and-2 pass fell incomplete.

One final chance remained.

Craig marched the Horned Frogs from their own 10 to the West Virginia 14, with less than a minute left.

Then ... disaster.

A sack. Another Craig fumble. Ben Cutter's recovery with 34 seconds remaining.

Ballgame.

1. Fifteen yards of disaster - Hayward's penalty extended the touchdown drive. A defensive stop was right there.

2. Of COURSE it's Cam Cook! - The former Horned Frog caught the go-ahead touchdown against his old team.

3. Finish the drive - Craig had TCU 14 yards from a potential game-winner before losing his second fumble.

Craig threw for 372 yards. Ashley and Dwyer combined for 231 receiving yards. TCU finished with 484 yards of offense.

Twenty points. Three turnovers. Another loss.

Next up? Kansas.

The Jayhawks visit Amon G. Carter Stadium on Saturday, October 31, with kickoff scheduled for 2:30 p.m. CT on FS1.

At 3-4, Sonny Dykes and the Horned Frogs are running out of room for afternoons like this.

TCU has the talent to move the football. Saturday proved that much.

Now comes the tougher assignment — learning how to finish before another winnable game slips away.