Kansas entered the fourth quarter with a slim 16-14 lead, but their advantage evaporated in the final minutes at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Jaden Craig carried the ball 17 yards for a touchdown, followed by a two-point conversion pass to Jordan Dwyer, securing a 22-16 victory for the TCU Horned Frogs.
The decisive run capped a dramatic comeback for the home team, who overcame a 13-0 deficit after the second quarter. The game was played on Saturday, October 31, 2026, in front of a crowd of 32,549 fans.
Early Kansas Advantage
The Jayhawks established control early through consistent field goal kicking. Martin Connington connected on a 34-yard field goal in the first quarter, giving Kansas a 3-0 lead. Connington extended that advantage to 6-0 with a 42-yard kick in the second quarter. Kansas then struck for the biggest lead of the game when Cole Ballard threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Cam Pickett, with Martin Connington adding the extra point. The Jayhawks led 13-0 at halftime, relying on a balanced offensive effort that included 285 passing yards from Ballard.
TCU's Third-Quarter Surge
TCU responded aggressively in the third period. Max Carroll returned an interception 60 yards for a touchdown, with Kyle Lemmermann kicking the extra point, narrowing the gap to 13-7. The momentum shifted decisively when Ace Theus broke free for a 28-yard rushing touchdown, also with a successful kick by Lemmermann. This sequence put TCU ahead 14-13 for the first time in the game. The Horned Frogs' defense forced a critical turnover, while their offense found rhythm in the passing game, with Jaden Craig completing 13 of 29 passes for 141 yards.
Final Stretch and Records
Kansas regained the lead in the fourth quarter when Martin Connington kicked a 27-yard field goal, making the score 16-14. However, TCU's offensive execution in the closing minutes proved decisive. Craig’s performance was multifaceted, as he also rushed for 87 yards on 15 carries, including the game-winning touchdown. Kari Ashley contributed 50 receiving yards on three catches for TCU. For Kansas, Nahzae Cox led the receiving corps with 145 yards on five catches, and Keaton Kubecka rushed for 58 yards on three carries. Cole Ballard finished with one touchdown and one interception. The final score of 22-16 improved TCU’s record to 4-4, while Kansas fell to 3-5.
Sources
ESPN
