Game recap: TCU downs KU Jayhawks in a shootout (and GameDay highlights in Lawrence)

Pete Grathoff

Kansas shrugged off a missed 31-yard field-goal attempt in the fourth quarter and tied Saturday’s game against TCU in Lawrence on a superb pitch-and-catch.

After Jacob Borcila’s kick was wide left, the Jayhawks forced a three-and-out, and quarterback Jason Bean went to work again. KU moved the ball 61 yards in a mere four plays for a game-tying touchdown.

Bean connected with Quentin Skinner on a 29-yard touchdown pass, and what a catch it was by Skinner.

The teams traded blows all through the second half, and TCU came right back, scoring a touchdown after a 68-yard drive that took 2 minutes, 36 seconds. Horned Frogs quarterback Max Duggan threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Quentin Johnston.

That made it a 38-31 game with 1:36 to play and this was another amazing catch.

KU drove to the TCU 34-yard line as it hoped to respond, but the Jayhawks turned the ball over on downs, although it looked like the Horned Frogs got away with a hold on the game’s final pass.

That gave the Horned Frogs a 38-31 victory.

Six sixes

After scoring a combined 13 points in the first half, Kansas and TCU put six touchdowns on the board in the third quarter.

With the score tied at 17, KU quarterback Jason Bean was intercepted and the Horned Frogs took over at the Jayhawks’ 26-yard line. TCU took advantage with Duggan finding the end zone on a 3-yard run.

The Jayhawks responded immediately, driving 72 yards in 2 minutes, 5 seconds. Bean threw a perfect 38-yard touchdown pass to Quentin Skinner as KU tied the game.

This time it was TCU’s turn to respond quickly, as they capped a 50-yard drive with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Duggan to Taye Barber. That gave TCU a 31-24 lead after three quarters.

Back-and-forth

Kansas wiped out a 10-point deficit and took its first lead midway through the third quarter.

The Jayhawks’ Kenny Logan forced a fumble and recovered the ball as KU took over at the TCU 40. Five plays later, Bean connected with a wide-open Luke Grimm on an 8-yard touchdown pass.

Down 17-10, TCU responded immediately.

Horned Frogs quarterback Max Duggan threw a short pass completion to Derius Davis, who took it down the sideline for a 51-yard touchdown with 6:29 left in the third quarter.

Mr. Bean

Bean took over at quarterback for the Jayhawks to start the third quarter, and he made an instant impact.

With starter Jalon Daniels out because of an injury, Bean moved KU 75 yards in four plays for a touchdown that tied the game at 10-10.

Bean’s 12-yard touchdown pass to Mason Fairchild capped the drive.

The biggest play of that drive was a 52-yard completion to Tanaka Scott. He shed a tackler at the KU 35-yard line and took it to the TCU 18.

Jalon Daniels injured

The Jayhawks scored their first points with 36 seconds to go before halftime.

Jacob Borcila made a 40-yard field goal to cut TCU’s lead 10-3. However, the sellout crowd at Memorial Stadium was a bit muted.

It was because of the play before the field goal.

On a third down, KU quarterback Jalon Daniels was hit by TCU linebacker Jamoi Hodge on the sideline. Daniels stayed down for a few minutes and headed to the locker room before the period ended. He didn’t return to the game.

99-yard drive

The Kansas Jayhawks had the first big chunk play of Saturday’s game at Memorial Stadium in Lawrence.

Midway through the second quarter, KU quarterback Jalon Daniels connected with Mason Fairchild on a 48-yard pass that moved the ball to the TCU 27.

The Jayhawks seemed poised to score as they moved the ball to the 3, but Daniels fumbled and the Horned Frogs recovered at the 1-yard line.

TCU wasn’t thinking about simply getting the ball out of the shadow of the goal posts. Quarterback Max Duggan completed a 53-yard pass to Quentin Johnston that moved the ball to the Kansas 46-yard line.

Five plays later, Kendre Miller scored on a 1-yard run to cap the 99-yard drive that took just 2 minutes, 36 seconds. That gave TCU a 10-0 lead.

First quarter

A week ago, TCU put up 27 points in the first quarter of its game against Oklahoma. The Kansas defense was much more stout.

The Horned Frogs took the opening kickoff and drove for a field goal. After KU punted, TCU again moved into Jayhawks territory. That’s when KU’s defense stood tall.

TCU had a third-and-1 play at the KU 38-yard line, but couldn’t get the first down as runs by Emari Demercado and Miller were stopped for no gain on consecutive rushes.

At the end of the first quarter, TCU led 3-0.

Game picks

Kansas alum/actor Rob Riggle was the celebrity guest picker for ESPN’s “College GameDay” on Saturday in Lawrence, and he wore his heart on his sleeve.

Riggle, sporting a Kansas hoodie, noted his KU allegiance when making a pick for the Kansas State-Iowa State game as he went the Cyclones. As for KU’s game against TCU on Saturday, you can guess who he chose.

“It’s a new era here at Kansas, I hope,” Riggle said. “I love what they’re doing with this program, I love the energy we want this so badly at Kansas. So it’s time: Kansas Jayhawks baby!”

Pat McAfree also went with the Jayhawks, saying: “Give me the Jayhawks by a thousand!”

McAfree and Self

Kansas men’s basketball coach Bill Self joined ESPN’s “College GameDay” and he talked with McAfree.

McAfree fawned over Self in the segment and, well, it was all a bit odd.

Here is a snippet of their chat.

Later, McAfree removed his jacket and put it on Self’s shoulders for some reason. Self sagely noted McAfree did that so Self would praise how McAfree looked.

It was a strange bit of TV, although Self later announced the winner of the best sign contest.

Leipold interview

Kansas football coach Lance Leipold was interviewed on ESPN’s “College GameDay” a few hours before the Jayhawks faced TCU.

Leipold was asked about KU selling out for three straight games. What does that mean to him?

“First of all, thank you for being here because it means to much to us,” Leipold said. “Our guys have worked so hard for so long and we’ve got such a loyal fan base that’s just been waiting and dreaming for something and been patient and we’re glad that we’re at this point right now.”

Here is the interview.

Best in the Big 12?

Who is the best team in the Big 12?

That was the question Reese Davis asked the panel on ESPN’s “College GameDay” on Saturday morning before Kansas faced TCU in Lawrence.

David Pollack toyed with the crowd by talking about the Jayhawks, then heard boos when he mentioned Kansas State. Finally, Pollack made his pick: Texas.

That drew jeers again.

Desmond Howard said it would be the winner of the game in Lawrence: TCU. Guess what? KU fans didn’t like that.

“Listen, Kansas has a chance to come out today and prove me wrong,” Howard said.

Kirk Herbstreit picked Oklahoma State. Pat McAfree wound up the crowd when he picked Kansas.

“He’s trying to get free beer,” Howard joked.

Baby Mangino!

Former KU coach Mark Mangino wasn’t at the pregame frenzy, but he was in spirit.

For starters, Baby Mangino made was on hand.

And there was this sign with Mangino’s famous message: “Keep Sawing Wood.”

Signs, signs, everywhere signs

The crowd at ESPN’s “College GameDay” on the University of Kansas campus may have set a record for most signs. There were signs from the front of the mass of people to the very back.

Davis noted that whoever is adjudged to have the best sign Saturday will win season tickets to KU football for life.

Then Davis joked: “Thing is, there was a time when judges gave you that as community service.”

One of the best signs: “Kansas is back before Texas.”

Here are some others, including one from a TCU fan.

Fans were ready

Jayhawks supporters were fired up from the start of ESPN’s coverage. The network shared this clip.

On the line

It’s still early October, but a KU win on Saturday would be its sixth of the season. That would make the Jayhawks bowl eligible for the first time since the 2008 Insight Bowl.

TV, streaming information

The Kansas-TCU game will air on FS1. It can also be streamed on the Fox Sports app. Today’s game is KU’s third straight home sellout.

Big makeover planned

It’s been a big week for KU in more ways than one.

School officials announced Friday that an architect has been selected for a large-scale update to David Booth Memorial Stadium, related football facilities and the area around the venue that opened in 1921.

KC Star beat writer Gary Bedore wrote a couple of detailed stories on this topic Friday. Here are the links to those stories, in case you missed them:

Leipold: ‘Not going anywhere’

Earlier in the week, KU coach Lance Leipold sought to shoot down speculation that he could be a legitimate candidate for head-coaching jobs that have opened up this season at Nebraska, Wisconsin and elsewhere.

The 58-year-old coach, in his second year at KU after being hired away from Buffalo, said his sole focus this past week has been on the game at hand.

“We’re extremely happy here. We have no plans of going anywhere ...” Leipold said.

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