How Kansas State beat TCU 31-28 in overtime to win Big 12 championship

Star-Telegram sports editor Dave Ammenheuser’s analysis and commentary of the Big 12 championship. Kansas State stopped TCU in overtime, then kicked a game-winning field goal 31-28.

The loss is the first of the season for the Horned Frogs (12-1), while Kansas State (10-3) wins the championship.

Will the loss cost the Horned Frogs a spot in the College Football Playoffs? The CFP final four will be announced on ESPN on Sunday morning.

Overtime

KSU 1st OT starts at KSU 25. Deuce Vaughn runs for 9, then for 2. First-and-10 at the TCU 14, then another run. Ty Zentner boots a 31-yard field goal to win the game 31-28.

TCU 1st OT: Starts at KSU 25. Kendre Miller runs for 15 yards on first down to the KSU 10, then four more. Second-goal-at-6; Duggan runs to the 1. Third-and-goal at 1. Kendre Miller stopped short; Fourth-and-1. Miller stopped inside 1. No points KSU just needs a field goal to win.

Kansas State wins toss, decides to play defense first.

Fourth quarter notes

TCU 13th possession begins at TCU 6 with 38 seconds left: TCU kneels to go into overtime. Tied 28-28. Overtime up next.

KSU 13th possession begins at KSU 34: Kansas State moves into TCU territory, before punting to the TCU 6. 38 seconds left.

TCU 12th possession begins at TCU 20, 4:47 left: Max Duggan personally drives Horned Frogs into the end zone with most of the yardage on an 80-yard drive, including an 8-yard touchdown run. Then, he connects with Jared Wiley for the two-point conversion to tie the game 28-28 with 1:51 left in the game.

KSU 12th possession begins at KSU 21: Wildcats pick up a first down,but then stall. Punt ball to TCU.

TCU 11th possession begins at TCU 25: The Horned Frogs drive into KSU territory, settling on a Griffin Kell 42-yard field goal with 7:34 left. Kansas State leads 28-20.

KSU 11th possession begins at KSU 20: The Wildcats immediately respond with an 80-yard drive, highlighted by Deuce Vaughn’s 44-yard touchdown run. Extra point gives Wildcats a 28-17 lead with 11:27 to play.

TCU 10th possession continues at KSU 8: On first play of the fourth quarter, Max Duggan pass is intercepted in the end zone by Juluis Brents. (Duggan was under pressure, throws only his fourth interception of season).

Third quarter notes

TCU 10th possession starts at TCU 20: On first down, Max Duggan connects with Quentin Johnston on 51 yards. Drive to KSU 8 as time expires in the quarter.

KSU 10th pssession starts at KSU 30: Wildcats use more than 6 minutes of time and move into TCU territory, but a big sack by Dee Winters allows forces a punt into end zone. 2:26 left in quarter.

TSU 9th possession starts at KSU 33: Three-and-out again, including a 9-yard sack on Max Duggan on third down. TCU punts ball away. Punt is muffed by KSU and recovered by TCU’s Trent Battle at the KSU 30. Three plays later, Kendre Miller has a 6-yard touchdown run. Extra point pulls TCU within 21-17 with 9:09 left in quarter.

KSU 9th possession starts at KSU 38: Wildcats strike quickly, using a 4-play, 62-yard drive capped by a Wlll Howard 25-yard pass to RJ Garcia. Kick gives Wildcats a 21-10 lead with 12:19 left.

TCU 8th possession starts at TCU 13: Max Duggan fumbles ball, which rolls into the end zone. It’s covered by TCU by Brandon Coleman. Safety for Kansas State. However, upon review, call is overturned. Punt to KSU 38 with 13:54 left in quarter. Still 14-10.

Notable halftime statistics

TCU’s Max Duggan started 6 of 7, but went 5 of 13 rest of the half. Thus, he’s 11 of 20 for 148 yards.

Kansas State’s Will Howard is 9 of 16 for 90 yards.

Kendre Miller is leading TCU rusher with 45 yards on 7 carries. Malik Knowles leads the Wilcats with 48 yards, 40 of them on one carry.

Quentin Johnston leads all receivers with 88 yards. However, he fumbled on his last possession stopping a potential TCU scorind drive.

TCU has a 228-191 edge in yardage, but had 92 of those on their touchdown drive on their first possession of the game.

Second quarter notes

KSU 8th possession starts at KSU 31: Two plays and half ends. Kansas State leads 14-10. at halftime.

TCU 7th possession starts at TCU 20: Horned Frogs drive to KSU 24 where Griffin Kell kicks 42-yard field goal with 29 seconds left in the half to cut KSU lead to 14-10.

KSU 7th possession starts at KSU 31: Three-and-out (saved by video review overturning long completion), punt to TCU 20 with 2:09 left in the half.

TCU 6th possession starts at TSU 38. Max Duggan completes 31 yard pass to Quentin Johnston, but the receiver fumbles the ball and KSU’s Austin Moore at the KSU 31 with 3:49 left in the half.

KSU 6th possession starts at KSU 24: Wildcats drive to TCU 37, choose to go on 4th-and-1, but Vaughn run loses a yard. Ball turns over to TCU with 4:00 left.

TCU 5th possession starts at TCU 21: Unsettled offense picks up first down on first play,but then three plays that garner just 4 yards. Horned Frogs punt ball to KSU 24.

KSU 5th possession starts at KSU 41: Three plays and the Wildcats are in the end zone, capped by a 1-yard Will Howard touchdown run. The other two plays were huge: Malik Knowles 40-yard run; Howard to Deuce Vaughn 18-yard pass to the 1. Extra point gives Kansas State 14-7 lead with 10:16 left in the half.

TCU 4th possession starts at TCU 17: Another 3-and-out. Horned Frogs punt.

KSU 4th possession starts at KSU 33: Drive stops at 50. Punt to the TCU 7. 12:28 left in quarter.

TCU 3rd possession resumes at TCU 34. Horned Frogs go 3-and out. Pun t ball away.

First quarter notes

TCU 3rd possession starts at KS 34: Clock expires on the quarter with the TCU at the TCU 34 and second-and-10.

KSU 3rd possession starts at TCU 37: Wildcats take advantage of missed field goal, drive into TSU territory and tie the game on a fourth-down 6-yard touchdown pass from Will Howard to Ben Sinnott. Extra point ties game 7-7 with 15 seconds left in the quarter.

TCU 2nd possession starts at TCU 39: With 3:56 left in the quarter, drive begins. Horned Frogs drive to KSU 37, but Griffin Kell’s 55-yard field goal misses wide left.

KSU 2nd possession starts at KSU 20: Three-and-out and Wildcats are punting to TCU 39.

TCU 1st possession starts at TCU 8: Horned Frogs drive the field, going 92 yards on 13 plays. Big 53-yard pass play from Max Duggan to Quentin Johnston started the drive; Duggan 1-yard touchdown pass to Tae Barber ended it. Griffin Kell boots the point. Horned Frogs lead 7-0 with 5:00 left in the quarter.

KSU 1st possession starts at KSU 28. Wildcats pick up first down, move ball to the KSU 43. Punt to TCU 1, returned to the TCU 8, 11:57 left in the quarter.

Coin toss

TCU on the toss, elected to defer. The Horned Frogs are kicking off.

Betting line moving

TCU has been a betting favorite for a week. Just before game time, Kansas State moved to a 1-point favorite. No respect for No. 3 TCU and its unbeaten regular-season record.

National anthem

Sung by Ashanti

Pregame reads

Max Duggan deserves to be finalist for Heisman

Are 2022 Horned Frogs the best in program history?

Why TCU will win or lose against Kansas State

TCU deserve playoff spot even with a loss today

Star-Telegram coverage of Horned Frogs

How to watch, listen

When: Dec. 3, 2022 at 11 a.m.

Where: AT&T Stadium

TV: ABC

Radio: WBAP Radio with Riff Ram, Varsity and Tune-In apps

Line: TCU opens as -2.5 point favorite.

Last meeting: TCU defeated Kansas State 38-28 on Oct. 22, 2022.