abcnews
In a Saturday night showdown in Waco, Texas, TCU quarterback Jaden Craig threw for 294 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Horned Frogs to a 17-6 victory over instate Big 12 rival Baylor. The win marked TCU's highest-scoring output against a Power Four opponent this season and snapped Baylor's four-game winning streak.
Craig, who completed 21 of 36 passes, connected with Ed Small on a 25-yard touchdown in the first quarter to give TCU the lead for good. Early in the second half, he found Jordan Dwyer for a 67-yard catch-and-run, then hit Ka'Morreun Pimpton for an 8-yard score on the next play, extending the lead to 14-6.
"That touchdown at start of the second half I thought was huge just to create a little separation," TCU coach Sonny Dykes said.
Dwyer finished with six catches for 150 yards, while Small added seven receptions for 91 yards. TCU's defense held Baylor to a season-low 310 total yards and intercepted quarterback DJ Lagway once. Lagway completed just 22 of 53 passes for 256 yards. Defensive end Koron Hayward recorded three of TCU's four sacks.
Baylor had entered the game allowing no more than 19 points in any contest this season, but its offense struggled to find rhythm. The Bears managed three field goal attempts in the first half, all on drives of at least 12 plays, but Rhett Armstrong missed a 47-yarder before converting from 39 and 32 yards for their only points.
"It's frustrating, it's disappointing, it's embarrassing," Baylor coach Dave Aranda said. "Frustrating is probably the strongest thing. Embarrassing is right there, a close second."
The loss drops Baylor to 4-2 overall and 2-1 in Big 12 play, while TCU improves to 3-3 and 1-2. The Horned Frogs had lost their previous three games against Power Four opponents by one-score margins, scoring a total of 33 points in those defeats.
"I feel like now we've got confidence. We know what we can do," TCU safety Jamel Johnson said. "We've just got to continue to take it day by day and put it together."
TCU's win was a much-needed one after starting 0-2 in the Big 12 for the first time since 2013. "When you don't win football games, there's a lot of hate," Dykes said. "And I've got to give our players credit for not listening to all the hate, just keeping their head down, and just believing in each other and relying on each other, and caring about each other. And I think the team got closer through it."
Baylor's four-game winning streak had eased pressure on Aranda, who is now 40-39 overall in his seventh season. The Bears' final six games include a closing stretch at No. 8 BYU and No. 20 Houston, with a home finale against No. 10 Texas Tech in between.
TCU will host West Virginia (4-3, 1-3) next Saturday, while Baylor travels to Kansas (2-4, 0-3).
Key Analysis
TCU's victory not only ended Baylor's winning streak but also showcased the Horned Frogs' potential to compete in the Big 12. Craig's efficient passing and the defense's ability to contain a high-scoring Baylor offense were pivotal. The Bears' offensive struggles, particularly in the red zone, proved costly. With the win, TCU gains momentum as it looks to climb the conference standings, while Baylor faces a challenging schedule ahead.
Originally reported by abcnews.