HOUSTON – TCU overcame adversity on the road to post a gritty 17-14 victory over 23rd-ranked Houston.
 
The win marked TCU’s first over a ranked opponent since it defeated No. 2 Michigan in the 2022 College Football Playoff Semifinal.
 
Despite four turnovers, the Frogs never wavered, thanks in large part to a 100-yard rushing night from Jeremy Payne. 
 
In addition, Josh Hoover went 24 for 33 for 293 yards and two scores, with his leading receiver being Houston transfer Joseph Manjack IV, who had nine receptions for 95 yards.
 
Leading the defense once again was Kaleb Elarms-Orr with 15 tackles, including 10 solo, in the win.
 
The Frogs stormed out of the gates in the Space City, outgaining the Cougars by 128 yards to take a 14-0 lead in the first quarter. The 14 tied the second-most points by TCU in the opening stanza this season.
 
Three untimely turnovers halted the Horned Frogs’ attempts at opening up the score even more, and TCU entered the half with a 14-7 lead. 
 
With TCU threatening once again in the third quarter, the Frogs turned the ball over for the fourth time of the game to continue to keep Houston alive in the game. For the second time of the afternoon, the Cougars made TCU pay and marched downfield for a score to tie the game with just over five minutes left in the third quarter.
 
After the two teams exchanged punts, Jordan Dwyer delivered an electric 53-yard punt return to put the Frogs in field goal range. TCU went up 17-14 with 11-minutes and change remaining in the game. The Nate McCashland field goal ended up being a game winner, the first of the sophomore’s career.
 
With the game on the line, the Frogs defense would bend but not break on the Cougars final possession, and a missed UH field goal secured the victory for TCU.
 
NOTING THE FROGS
TCU scored for the 418th consecutive game, the second longest streak in NCAA history – trailing only Florida (471) … Since 2023, TCU is 4-9 in games where the Frogs have multiple interceptions. They threw three on Saturday against Houston … TCU scored a touchdown on the opening drive of the game for the first time since the SMU game. On the other side, the Frogs held the opposing offense scoreless on their opening drive for the first time in two games … Kaleb Elarms-Orr posted 15 tackles on the day, his fifth double-digit tackle game of the season and third 15-plus-tackle game of the year.
 
UP NEXT
TCU returns home for its final regular season game when it faces Cincinnati on Saturday, November 29. Game time and TV information has yet to be announced.