For the second straight week, the TCU Horned Frogs found their rhythm too late. Despite a monster performance from quarterback Josh Hoover, the Frogs fell 41-28 to Kansas State on Saturday afternoon at Bill Snyder Family Stadium in Manhattan, Kansas — undone by turnovers and a relentless Wildcats defense that scored twice.
Hoover put up big numbers, completing 26 of 47 passes for 376 yards and three touchdowns, but also tossed two critical interceptions to K-State safety Des Purnell, including a 25-yard pick-six early in the third quarter that broke the game open. Kansas State (3-4, 2-2 Big 12) capitalized on nearly every mistake, turning defensive chaos into points and momentum.
After Hoover’s first-half backward pass was ruled a fumble and returned for a touchdown by Wesley Fair, TCU found itself trailing 14-7 at halftime. Hoover later tried to rally the offense, engineering a lightning-fast seven-play, 75-yard drive capped by a 2-yard touchdown to Chase Curtis. But each time the Frogs clawed closer, K-State answered back — first with a 17-yard touchdown pass from Avery Johnson to Garrett Oakley, then with a 12-yard strike to Jarend Bradley to extend the lead to 35-14.
Johnson was efficient, finishing 16-of-26 for 198 yards and three touchdowns, all while K-State’s defense kept Hoover under constant pressure. Hoover’s late 85-yard bomb to Eric McAlister provided a highlight, but Purnell’s second interception in TCU territory sealed the game and set up a final Kansas State field goal.
READ MORE: North Texas Crashes Back to Earth: Turnovers Doom Mean Green in 63-36 Blowout vs. South Florida
The Horned Frogs (4-2, 1-2 Big 12) return home next week to face Baylor — and they’ll need to find answers fast before this midseason slump becomes a full-blown spiral.
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