TCU Football Stunner: Horned Frogs’ Last-Minute TD Upsets Arizona, Reignites Big 12 Race

FORT WORTH, Texas — TCU football fans have their eyes on Saturday’s Big 12 opener at UCF, where head coach Sonny Dykes’ Horned Frogs (2-1) look to extend a two-game winning streak and reassert themselves in the conference race. Quarterback Jaden Craig jump-started the offense last week, torching Arkansas State for 337 yards and three touchdowns, while receiver Ed Small posted a career-best 164 yards to highlight a 31-7 rout that boosted TCU’s national yards-per-game average to 462. Dykes still stresses improvement after an opening-day loss to North Carolina in Dublin. “We’re nowhere near where we’re going to be,” the fourth-year coach said, pointing to red-zone efficiency (79 %) and third-down defense (40 %) as priority fixes. The matchup in Orlando pits TCU’s balanced attack against a UCF squad that racked up 304 rushing yards behind breakout back Duke Watson, but will again be without injured starting quarterback Alonza Barnett III (hamstring). Freshman Keyone Jenkins accounted for three touchdowns in relief and gets the call again for the Knights (2-1). Key storylines to watch 1. Road tone-setter: With back-to-back trips to UCF and Baylor, TCU can vault into early Big 12 contention before November showdowns with Kansas State and Texas. 2. Craig’s command: The sophomore’s 71 % completion rate has quelled preseason worries after Josh Hoover’s transfer. Another efficient outing could cement Craig as one of the league’s emerging passers. 3. Frogs’ front seven: Defensive ends Paul Oyewale and Ben Qiao lead a unit averaging 4.0 sacks; pressuring the inexperienced Jenkins is critical against UCF’s tempo offense. Kickoff & viewing info • Date/Time: Saturday, Sept. 26, 2:30 p.m. CT • Venue: FBC Mortgage Stadium, Orlando • TV: ESPN2 | Streaming: ESPN App • Opening line: TCU -4.5; O/U 61.5 Injury report • TCU: LG Noah McKinney (ankle) questionable; CB Channing Canada (shoulder) probable. • UCF: QB Alonza Barnett III (hamstring) out; RT Trey Allen (knee) doubtful. Why it matters A win keeps TCU on pace with preseason favorite Texas atop the revamped 16-team Big 12 and strengthens the Horned Frogs’ path back to a New Year’s Six discussion. A loss, however, would echo last season’s mid-year slide and hand UCF an early marquee victory in its second year in the league. Bottom line If Craig replicates last week’s rhythm and the defense contains Watson between the tackles, TCU should return to Fort Worth 3-1—and very much alive in the Big 12 hunt.