Around the Region College Football Recap, Week 8: TCU remains undefeated with huge comeback win while Texas Tech and Baylor handle business at home

BAYLOR BEARS (4-3, 2-2 Big 12)

This Week: Won 35-23 vs Kansas

Next Week: at Texas Tech

Baylor entered Saturday afternoon’s matchup with Kansas in need of a change in momentum after two consecutive tough losses, and they’d get one almost immediately with a hot start. The Bears’ defense got a quick stop on Kansas’ opening drive, setting up a lightning-quick drive downfield capped off by a 17-yard touchdown pass from Blake Shapen to Monaray Baldwin. Baylor would recover a fumble on Kansas’ next drive, this time capitalizing with a 14-yard touchdown run by Richard Reese to make it 14-0 in the early going. Kansas kicked a field goal to pull within 11 before the end of the first quarter, but Baylor had clearly set the tone they were looking for out of the gates. The Bears finished off their third consecutive touchdown drive early in the second quarter, this time scoring on a designed quarterback run by backup Kyron Drones. Freshman running back Jordan Nabors’ only first-half carry would go for ten yards and Baylor’s fourth touchdown of the afternoon, sending the Bears into the break up 28-3 despite two interceptions by Blake Shapen in the opening half. 

Needing a spark to begin the second half, Kansas forced a Baylor fumble and immediately punched in a score to make it 28-10 in the third quarter. After another Baylor drive stalled, the Jayhawks drove 95 yards for a score early in the fourth, suddenly making the game competitive at 28-16 with 14 minutes to play. Baylor had a chance to stem the tide and push the lead back to three scores on their next drive but turned the ball over on downs deep in Jayhawks’ territory after Blake Shapen’s fourth-down run fell short. Kansas’ second consecutive 90+ yard drive would bring them within five moments later after Jason Bean’s four-yard touchdown run, and the nervousness became palpable at McLane Stadium at the 6:37 mark of the final quarter. Baylor would eventually punch in the game-sealing score with just over three minutes to go, a two-yard run by Richard Reese to continue the freshman’s career afternoon (186 yards, 2 TD). All told, the 35-23 win was exactly what the Bears needed as they try to get their season back on track – but head coach Dave Aranda will be looking for plenty of improvement after Baylor’s lackluster second half. 

TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS (4-3, 2-2 Big 12)

This Week: Won 48-10 vs West Virginia

Next Week: vs Baylor

The Texas Tech Red Raiders finally had the chance to regroup with a bye last week, a well-earned week off following five straight Saturdays against ranked opponents. The Red Raiders hoped the bye would leave them feeling refreshed with West Virginia coming to town, and they certainly looked it in the early going. Tech pushed the ball downfield with ease after receiving the opening kickoff, punching in a 19-yard touchdown by running back Tahj Brooks for a 7-0 lead less than two minutes into the game. Brooks would punch in his second touchdown of the game less than five minutes later, this time a one-yard run on a pitch play to the outside to make it 14-0 Red Raiders in the first quarter. West Virginia would eventually answer in the final moments of the quarter, making it 14-3 after Casey Legg’s 38-yard field goal. Tech added another field goal early in the second quarter to extend their lead to 17-3, but both defenses held serve the rest of the way until halftime. 

The Red Raiders came out firing on offense in the third quarter, similarly to how they started the game, this time with a 55-yard Behren Morton touchdown pass to Xavier White to extend their lead to 24-3. Tech would score again on their next drive, this time a strike from Morton to Loic Fouonji from 12 yards out to make it 31-3. West Virginia’s offense finally found some footing on its next drive, a 6-play 75-yard trip downfield to make it 31-10 – but Texas Tech would once again extend the lead moments into the fourth quarter with a SaRodrick Thompson 13-yard rushing touchdown. Donovan Smith took over at quarterback with the Red Raiders up 41-10, and he poured in a touchdown pass of his own with just under three minutes to play to make it 48-10. The blowout win was an impressive showing for Texas Tech coming out of the bye, a display of the growth the team has experienced under first-year head coach Joey McGuire against a tough schedule. 

#8 TCU HORNED FROGS (7-0, 4-0 Big 12)

This Week: Won 38-28 vs Kansas State

Next Week: at West Virginia

The TCU Horned Frogs welcomed Kansas State into Fort Worth for the most anticipated matchup on the Big 12 schedule Saturday, a war between the two teams at the top of the conference standings. Amon G. Carter Stadium came prepared with a crowd donning all black and logos painted black on the field, creating an intimidating environment for the Saturday night showdown. The Frogs got the fireworks started early, as TCU quarterback Max Duggan found Derius Davis for a 65-yard touchdown to take a 7-0 lead. The Kansas State offense lost star quarterback Adrian Martinez on their first offensive play, giving way to backup Will Howard instead. The Wildcats’ offense responded in kind anyway, going 74 yards in just four plays to tie the game with more than nine minutes still to play in the first quarter. TCU added a field goal on their next drive for a 10-7 Frogs lead, but Will Howard led another K-State touchdown drive that gave the Wildcats a 14-10 lead early in the second quarter. TCU was forced to punt for the first time on their next possession, and Kansas State quickly took advantage of the opportunity by extending their lead to 21-10 in just four plays. Deuce Vaughn added to the Wildcats’ lead with a huge 47-yard run after another stop of TCU, extending the lead to 28-10 and pushing TCU up against the ropes early. The Frogs would respond with a touchdown before halftime, as Max Duggan found tight end Jared Wiley from four yards out to make it 28-17 at the break. 

The Horned Frogs struck first after the break, as Kendre Miller continued his big night on the ground with a two-yard touchdown that gave him 119 yards rushing and pulled TCU within four. Kansas State’s backup quarterback Will Howard appeared hurt on the Wildcats’ next third-quarter drive, and insult would add to injury when kicker Chris Tennant missed a 44-yard field goal. TCU took advantage, as Max Duggan connected with Quentin Johnston on a 55-yard score to finally take the lead at 31-28. Kansas State’s third-string quarterback Jake Rubley threw an interception on his first pass of the game to set the Frogs up again in enemy territory moments later, but Kansas State’s defense came up with a huge fourth-down stop to get the ball back. TCU wouldn’t be denied on their next drive, as Kendre Miller punched in his second score of the night to make it 38-28 and complete a run of 28 unanswered by the Frogs. Kansas State would turn back to hobbled backup quarterback Will Howard on the next drive, but yet another missed field goal gave the ball back to TCU with less than nine minutes to play. After a few stops for each defense, Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson’s interception of Will Howard with four minutes to play all but sealed the win for the Horned Frogs. TCU’s 18-point comeback win takes them to 7-0 and earns them first place alone atop the Big 12, and the College Football Playoff hype will continue to grow in Fort Worth if they continue to win. 

BEST OF THE REST AROUND TEXAS

(All games to be played Saturday, unless specified otherwise)

FOOTBALL BOWL SUBDIVISION

Cincinnati 29, SMU 27

Rice 42, Louisiana Tech 41 (OT)

UTSA 31, North Texas 27

UTEP 24, FAU 21

Southern Miss 20, Texas State 14

FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP SUBDIVISION

Stephen F Austin 41, Southern Utah 38

Texas A&M Commerce 31, Houston Christian 3

Incarnate Word 70, Faulkner 0

Tarleton State 24, Southwest Baptist 10

Sam Houston at Utah Tech, 8:00 p.m. CT