WACO, Texas — TCU gave the Horned Frogs faithful a heart attack, surely.
The Horned Frogs completed their fifth second-half comeback of the season, as kicker Griffin Kell nailed a 42-yard game-winning field goal as time expired. TCU defeated Baylor 29-28.
With the win, TCU remains alive in the College Football Playoff conversation.
TCU senior Sterling Silliman was watching the game from a Fort Worth sports bar and said everyone was nervous in the final few minutes of the game.
"Before the kick, it was definitely scary," Silliman said. "I think we were all terrified.
Senior Nick Hekkert said he felt the same way.
"I was sitting at the bar, taking my last sip of my mimosa right before the kick," Hekkert said. "I see we have one play left. Third down and short. We decided to run the ball with like 17 seconds left. Like, what are we doing? We have no timeouts left. Then the kick went in. After that it was pandemonium. Just screaming and running around."
One week removed from a dominant defensive performance against Texas, TCU struggled to stop the Baylor Bears offense throughout the game.
Baylor moved the ball at ease on its first three drives, resulting in 14 points to start the game. Baylor missed a 46-yard field goal after knocking on the door of the red zone on its second drive. The Bears rushing offense was the catalyst of their success, totaling for 125 yards on 19 carries in the opening three drives.
TCU responded with a seven-play, 72-yard drive capped off by a seven-yard touchdown run courtesy of quarterback Max Duggan after going three-and-out on the opening drive.
TCU's offense has also been predicated on generating big plays all season. Down 14-7, Duggan hit Taye Barber for a crucial 77-yard pass to the Baylor 13-yard line. Kendre Miller scored five plays later to tie the game, 14-14. Miller leads the nation scoring a touchdown in 12 consecutive games.
Baylor and TCU went into the break tied, 14-14.
The Horned Frogs took their first lead of the game mid-way through the 3rd quarter on a 26-yard touchdown pass from Duggan to Gunnar Henderson, but they missed the extra point.
Baylor regained the lead early in the fourth quarter, taking a 21-20 lead after TCU's missed extra point. The Bears added another punch on the ground with nine minutes left to take an eight-point lead.
Trailing late is not an unfamiliar spot for the Horned Frogs. TCU marched down the field on an 11-play, 90-yard drive to score a touchdown, but failed the two-point conversion to tie the game.
TCU stopped Baylor for a three-and-out and used all three of their timeouts, setting up the Horned Frogs for one last drive with 1:34 on the clock.
With the clock winding down, TCU ran the ball on third down and no timeouts, forcing the field goal team to run out and kick the game-winning field goal.
Senior Noah Columbo, who watched Saturday's game, said he's noticed a difference in the team this season compared to the previous three years.
"The first couple of seasons were kind of slow for us," Columbo said. "Then we bring in Sunny Dykes and honestly, just the minute we announced, the whole atmosphere changed. It's cool to watch everyone buy in this year."
Baylor finished the game with 232 rushing yards on 46 carries and three rushing touchdowns. TCU had 441 total yards in the game: 327 passing and 114 rushing.
TCU improves to 11-0 on the season. They have already locked their spot in the Big 12 Championship game. Kansas State, Texas and Oklahoma State are fighting for that coveted second spot in the title game.
Senior Kyle Cimino said even though it was a dramatic win, he's now trying to not celebrate for too long.
"It's challenging being at the top like this," Cimino said. "You try not to think too far ahead. I stay hopeful."
UP NEXT
The Horned Frogs wrap up their regular season against Iowa State on Nov. 26.
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