TCU rallies to beat Stanford
Horned Frogs trailed 21-3, came back to win with go-ahead FG
SAN ANTONIO — Kenny Hill passed for two touchdowns, ran for another and even caught one as No. 15 TCU rallied from a big early deficit to beat 13th-ranked Stanford 39-37 in the Alamo Bowl on Thursday night.
Cole Bunce’s 33-yard field goal with just over 3 minutes to play won it for the Horned Frogs (11-3), who trailed 21-3 before storming back behind big plays from Hill and a 76-yard punt return from Desmon White. TCU rallied from 31 down to beat Oregon in the 2015 Alamo Bowl.
Stanford (9-5) running back Bryce Love, a Heisman Trophy finalist, rushed for 145 yards and had a 69-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. K.J. Costello had three touchdown passes to J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, the last one giving Stanford a 37-36 lead.
Hill then drove TCU to Bunce’s game winner. The Horned Frogs defense sealed it with an interception by Innis Gaines with 2:01 left.
Hill finished with 314 yards passing, a team-high 60 yards rushing and caught a 27-yard TD pass from White in his final game.
Love finished the season with 2,118 yards rushing, the school’s single-season record.
THE TAKEAWAY
TCU: The Horned Frogs defended Love about as well as anyone this season despite the long touchdown run. Most important, they didn’t let him take over the game in the second half, which let Hill and the offense rally. When the running game wasn’t working, the TCU defense could get after Costello, who struggled under pressure after his quick start.
Stanford: The Cardinal were doomed by the big play just when they had a chance to put the game away. After pinning TCU deep, Hill connected with Jalen Reagor on a 93-yard touchdown pass early in the fourth quarter. White, who earlier had a costly fumble, then gave TCU its first lead with his punt return touchdown.