Instant Classic: Baylor Takes Down Rival TCU on Last-Second Field Goal, Wins 37-34

WACO, Texas – In the 120th meeting between Baylor (5-4, 3-3) and TCU (5-4, 3-3), the Bears walked away victorious with a last-second 37-34 win over the rival Horned Frogs on Saturday night at McLane Stadium.

With the game knotted at 34 apiece and 1:55 remaining on the clock in the fourth quarter, the Bears got the ball with a chance to win the game.

On fourth and nine at the TCU-44-yard line, quarterback Sawyer Robertson (RJr.) found tight end Michael Trigg (RJr.) over the middle to move the sticks. Running back Bryson Washington (RFr.) followed Trigg's clutch catch with a bruising 13-yard rush to make way for the field goal unit.

Kicker Isaiah Hankins (RJr.) nailed the 34-yarder through the uprights to give the Bears the victory as time expired. It's Baylor's first win over TCU since 2019 and the first victory in Waco over the Horned Frogs since 2014.

"Before the kick, I said a quick prayer; I knew Hank got it, and he did his thing," wide receiver Josh Cameron (RJr.) said post-game. "Coming into the game, we knew our record against TCU. The last couple of years left a bad taste in our mouths, and we knew we wanted to come out on top."

Washington carried the Bears on offense with a career-high four touchdowns and 196 rushing yards on the ground on 26 attempts. Robertson threw for 242 yards in the air on 19-of-34 passing.

“Bryson Washington had a great game,” head coach Dave Aranda said. “Offensive line-wise, we were able to be really physical and move the line of scrimmage. I thought Michael Trigg and Josh Cameron had big-time catches.”

After forcing a quick three-and-out to open the game, Baylor's offense crossed midfield but stalled after TCU linebacker Johnny Hodges (Sr.) sacked Robertson on third down to force a punt.

The Horned Frogs then drove 95 yards down the field and finished off the drive with a one-hand, seven-yard touchdown grab by wide receiver Jordyn Bailey (RFr.).

The Bears responded with a scoring drive on the back of their ground game. Washington had five touches on the possession and capped it off with a score from eight yards out.

Baylor out-gained TCU on the ground, 257-to-105, in the contest.

"The offensive line was working hard today, and everything was opening up," Washington said. "I'd see the endzone and think I got to get to it every time."

Both defenses held tough until the start of the second quarter. The Bears caught a lucky break when quarterback Josh Hoover (So.) lobbed a perfect pass downfield to a wide-open Savion Williams (Sr.), who bobbled the ball and dropped it, preventing what could have been a 59-yard touchdown for the Horned Frogs.

Baylor took advantage of the miscue, putting together another scoring drive. This time, Washington found paydirt after rushing into the heart of the TCU defense, making a defender miss and then cutting up the right hash mark for a 40-yard touchdown.

A false start on the extra point moved the play back five yards, and Hankins missed it wide right into the windy south end zone. Baylor led 13-7 with 8:50 remaining in the second quarter.

The Horned Frogs closed out the first half with 10 straight unanswered points to take a 17-13 lead going into the half-time locker room.

TCU forced a Baylor three-and-out to open the third quarter. The Horned Frogs drove down the field but had to settle for another Kyle Lemmermann (Fr.) field goal.

With the momentum shifting toward the TCU sideline, Robertson marched the Bears down the field and converted multiple third downs, including a 40-yard toss to wide receiver Monaray Baldwin (Sr.). Running back Dawson Pendergrass (So.) pounded it in from one yard out to tie the game at 20 apiece with 5:09 remaining in the third quarter.

Pendergrass finished the game with 33 yards on eight carries. He has a rushing touchdown in each of his last two games.

The Horned Frogs regained the lead on the ensuing drive, 27-20. On the possession, TCU benefited from over 30 yards in Baylor penalties, including a defensive holding and a personal foul after a sack.

Amidst the setbacks, the Bears forced a fourth and goal, but Williams faked a run from the 'Wildcat' formation and found a wide-open Jack Bech (Sr.) in the endzone for a six-yard passing touchdown.

The back-and-forth scoring continued as Baylor knotted the game at 27 when Washington found paydirt for the third time in the contest. The Bears got deep into TCU territory after Robertson connected with Cameron for a 27-yard grab.

Cameron was Baylor's leading pass catcher on the night, hauling in four passes for 59 yards.

The Bears followed the score with a stop on defense near midfield. On third down, Hoover connected with running back Jeremy Payne (Fr.) out of the backfield, but linebacker Matt Jones (6Sr.) swarmed to make the tackle and force a Horned Frog punt.

Both teams exchanged scores late in the fourth quarter with another Washington touchdown and a 24-yard passing touchdown from Hoover to Bech. Hoover ended the contest with 333 yards through the air on 25-of-34 passing.