WACO, Texas – Bryson Washington delivered a standout performance with a career-high 196 rushing yards and four touchdowns, while Isaiah Hankins made a crucial 33-yard field goal as time expired, leading Baylor to a thrilling 37-34 win over TCU on Saturday night.
In a dramatic finish, the Bears found themselves facing a fourth-and-10 from the TCU 44-yard line with just 16 seconds left. Quarterback Sawyer Robertson connected with Michael Trigg for a 15-yard gain, then Washington rushed for 13 yards, putting the Bears in position for Hankins’ game-winning kick.
This victory marked Baylor’s third win in a row, making their record 5-4 overall and 3-3 in the Big 12 Conference. The celebration mirrored TCU’s previous success in Waco two years prior when they clinched a last-minute victory with a field goal that contributed to their perfect regular season and trip to the national championship game.
For TCU, who also holds a 5-4 record and is 3-3 in the conference, Josh Hoover threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Jack Bech with just under two minutes remaining, keeping their hopes for a spot in the Big 12 Championship contention alive. Hoover finished the game with 333 yards passing, two touchdown passes to Bech, as well as contributing a rushing touchdown.
Washington’s impressive scoring came on runs of 8, 40, and 35 yards, capped off by a 1-yard plunge that concluded a substantial 13-play, 81-yard drive to pull ahead. Even after TCU equalized again, Robertson guided the team downfield on an 11-play march leading to their victory.
Meanwhile, TCU’s Savion Williams contributed significantly with 92 receiving yards and 57 rushing yards, even throwing a touchdown pass in a commendable effort.
In a special halftime ceremony, Baylor honored its back-to-back Big 12 championship teams from 2013 and 2014. However, there was a conspicuous absence: Art Briles, the former coach dismissed in 2016 over misconduct allegations within the program. Although several players from the championship teams were present, Briles’ legacy remained unaddressed during the festivities, despite his son, Kendal Briles, currently serving as TCU’s offensive coordinator.
Key takeaways from the game included an early missed opportunity for TCU, where Williams dropped a potential 81-yard touchdown catch. This miscue led to a subsequent Baylor touchdown, shifting the game’s momentum significantly. For Baylor, Robertson’s streak of four consecutive games with three or more touchdown passes came to an end; however, he still proved instrumental in securing first downs and facilitating offensive plays.
Looking ahead, TCU will face Oklahoma State at home next Saturday, while Baylor will travel to West Virginia on November 16.
