Hawkins' Late Drive Seals 24-20 West Virginia Win Over TCU

Late Surge Decides Close Contender

West Virginia Mountaineers defeated the TCU Horned Frogs 24-20 on Saturday, October 24, 2026, at Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth. The visiting Mountaineers overcame a third-quarter deficit to secure the win, a result that improved their season record to 5-3 while dropping the home Horned Frogs to 3-4.

The contest featured a back-and-forth scoring battle that was ultimately decided by Michael Hawkins Jr., who accounted for three touchdowns in the victory.

Early Exchange and Mid-Game Shifts

The game opened with West Virginia striking first, as Jack Cassidy kicked a 54-yard field goal to give the Mountaineers a 3-0 lead. TCU responded quickly in the first quarter when Jaden Craig found Ka'Morreun Pimpton for a six-yard touchdown pass, answered by a Nate McCashland kick to put the home team ahead 7-3.

The second quarter saw the score tied at 10-10 after Hawkins Jr. rushed for two yards for a touchdown and McCashland connected on a 39-yard field goal.

The momentum shifted in the third quarter. TCU took a 13-10 lead on McCashland's 37-yard field goal. However, Hawkins Jr. restored parity with a 36-yard rushing touchdown, and the Mountaineers then took the lead for good when Craig rushed for two yards to score, bringing the score to 20-17 in West Virginia's favor entering the fourth quarter.

Hawkins Delivers in Final Minutes

The decisive sequence occurred in the fourth quarter, where TCU failed to score. Hawkins Jr. orchestrated the final drive, culminating in a 13-yard touchdown pass to Cam Cook. The play, followed by the Cassidy kick, extended West Virginia's lead to 24-20 with no time remaining on the clock.

The Mountaineers' ability to sustain offensive pressure in the final period proved critical against a TCU defense that had previously kept the game tight.

Statistical Breakdown

Jaden Craig led TCU with 372 passing yards on 33 of 47 attempts, including one touchdown and one interception. Jon Denman carried the ball 15 times for 58 yards, while Kari Ashley led the receiving corps with six catches for 118 yards. For West Virginia, Hawkins Jr. completed seven of 15 passes for 79 yards with one touchdown and one interception.

Cam Cook was the offensive workhorse on the ground, rushing 18 times for 90 yards. Prince Strachan added two receptions for 24 yards. The game drew an attendance of 36,216 fans.

Sources

ESPN