Duggan leads No. 17 TCU past Kansas, 38-31; Daniels injured
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Max Duggan passed for three touchdowns in the second half, including the game-winning 27-yarder to Quinten Johnston with 1:36 left, and No. 17 TCU beat 19th-ranked Kansas, 38-31, on Saturday.
The Horned Frogs (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) are out to their best start since 2017 after winning the matchup of surprise unbeatens.
Duggan was 23 of 33 for 308 yards and outdueled Kansas backup quarterback Jason Bean in a wild second half. Jalon Daniels, who led the Jayhawks to five straight wins for their best start since 2009, suffered an apparent injury to his right (throwing) shoulder late in the first half.
Bean, who started the first 10 games last season, was 16 of 24 for 262 yards and he became the first Kansas quarterback to throw for four touchdowns in a half since Todd Reesling in 2008.
Johnston’s 206 yards on 14 catches were the most by a TCU receiver since 2016.
After combining for just 13 points in the first half, the teams combined for 42 in the third quarter.
What was expected to be an offensive shootout was anything but early. The Horned Frogs settled for a field goal, turned over the ball on downs and punted on their first three possession while the Jayhawks punted twice and failed to convert a fourth-and-5 on their third series.
The Jayhawks (5-1, 2-1 Big 12) appeared headed for the go-ahead touchdown in the middle of the second quarter when Daniels fumbled near the goal line.
The Horned Frogs went 99 yards in six plays, with Kendre Miller’s 1-yard run making it 10-0.
Kansas got its first points on Jacob Borcila’s 40-yard field goal one play after Daniels was hurt.
Bean threw touchdown passes of 12 yards to Tanaka Scott and 8 yards Luke Grimm to put the Jayhawks up 17-10. Duggan found Derius Davis on a 51-yard touchdown pass to tie it, and after Jamoi
Hodge picked off Bean at the Kansas 26, TCU regained the lead on a 3-yard run by Duggan.
Bean’s 38-yard TD pass to Quinton Skinner tied it, but Duggan’s 25-yarder to Taye Barber put the Horned Frogs up again. Bean then hit Skinner with a 29-yard TD pass to tie it 31-all with 4:21 left in the game.
NO. 7 OKLAHOMA STATE 41, TEXAS TECH 31
STILLWATER, Okla. — Spencer Sanders ran for two touchdowns and passed for another and No. 7 Oklahoma State beat Texas Tech.
Sanders passed for 297 yards and ran for 56, and Bryson Green had five catches for a career-high 115 yards for the Cowboys (5-0, 2-0 Big 12).
Texas Tech redshirt freshman Behren Morton got his first career start in place of Donovan Smith. He completed 39 of 62 passes for 379 yards and two touchdowns for the Red Raiders (3-3, 1-2).
Jerand Bradley caught eight passes for 119 yards and a touchdown and Trey Cleveland caught nine passes for 110 yards for a Texas Tech team that was playing its fifth straight ranked opponent and already had claimed wins over Houston and Texas.
Morton completed 24 of 39 passes for 220 yards and both scores in the first half to help the Red Raiders take a 24-20 lead at the break. Tech gained 347 yards on 57 plays in the first two quarters.
Sanders rolled out and scored on a 2-yard touchdown run to trim Texas Tech’s lead to 31-29 in the third. Sanders’ shovel pass to Jaden Bray tied the score with 3:18 left in the third quarter.
On Texas Tech’s next possession, Morton made one of his few mistakes. Oklahoma State linebacker Mason Cobb intercepted him and returned the ball 13 yards to the Tech 19. Tanner Brown’s fourth field goal of the game gave the Cowboys a 34-31 lead with 3 seconds left in the third quarter.