FORT WORTH – Mike Gundy couldn’t stop the count. His Oklahoma State Cowboys held a 14-point lead to end the first half and the second quarter, but it was Sonny Dykes’ Horned Frogs that came through late. TCU (6-0) remained perfect in Dykes’ first season in Fort Worth with a 43-40 win in double-overtime. 

A touchdown pass from Max Duggan to Jared Wiley tied the game at 30 with 1:57 left in the fourth quarter. It was the first time the Horned Frogs were level with Oklahoma State since the 10:25 mark in the first quarter when the Cowboys started the scoring on the first of two first-quarter touchdown runs by Spencer Sanders. The two teams traded touchdowns in the first overtime period before Oklahoma State settled for a field goal in the first possession of the second overtime. TCU didn’t settle, as Duggan led another touchdown drive that was capped off by a two-yard run by Kendre Miller to seal the win. 

THREE THINGS 

Inside track to Big 12 championship game: The Big 12 felt like a four-team race entering Week 7 with TCU and Oklahoma State joining Kansas State and Texas as possible finalists for the Big 12 championship game in December. The double-overtime win for TCU gives the Horned Frogs the inside track at one of the two spots in December. TCU is now 3-0 in conference play with a home game against Kansas State schedule for Week 8. The Horned Frogs must still travel to Texas and Baylor, as well. But the comeback win over Oklahoma State provides the Horned Frogs with some wiggle room in case of an eventual loss. A tiebreaker over Oklahoma State could prove pivotal for TCU. 

Bull(y) frogs: Dykes and offensive coordinator Garrett Riley get the reputation as pass-first coaches and Duggan is a dark horse Heisman candidate due to his exploits, but don’t forget about the TCU running game. The Horned Frogs bullied Oklahoma State, especially in the second half. They weren’t a physical, tough bunch in the final years under Gary Patterson. The guys in purple developed a reputation as a soft program who couldn’t run the ball and had a hard time stopping the run, which is why programs such as Oklahoma State passed TCU in Patterson’s twilight years. 

TCU is shedding that reputation with each passing week under Dykes. TCU ran the ball 43 times for 224 yards and three scores in the win over Oklahoma State. The group averaged 5.4 yards a rush when the number is adjusted for sacks. Miller led the way with 104 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 22 carries. Emari Demercado added 62 on nine carries. Duggan finished with 57 yards and a touchdown on nine totes. 

And the rush defense stepped up in crunch time. Two early touchdown runs by Sanders skewed the stats, but the Horned Frogs defense still only allowed 141 yards on 41 attempts. The Cowboys only managed 59 rushing yards on 22 attempts in the second half. TCU allowed 222 yards rushing a game last season, and 5.8 yards per rush. That number is down to 135.2 yards per game and 3.7 yards a rush in 2022. Oklahoma State gained 141 rushing yards on 3.4 yards a carry average. 

Quentin Johnston steps into the spotlight: No one ever doubted the talent of the Temple product. He’s clearly an NFL talent who earned four-star status as a recruit for a reason. He was made in a lab to be a star receiver. A former basketball star, Johnston is long, lean, and can out jump any secondary player. He just hasn’t always played up to his potential. That has changed over the last two games. The junior finished the game against Oklahoma State with eight catches for 180 yards and a touchdown. He caught 14 passes for 206 yards and a touchdown a week ago in a win over Kansas. No other TCU receiver record more than 30 yards of receiving in the win over Oklahoma State.