Sonny Dykes and the TCU Horned Frogs just came away with one of the most intriguing bowl wins of the season up to this point in the bowl season. Without starting quarterback Josh Hoover operating the offense, TCU managed to overcome a double digit deficit in the second half to keep the Big 12 unbeaten in bowl games so far this season.
Lincoln Riley and the USC Trojans got the game started off strong as they knocked a field goal through the uprights in the first quarter to take a 3-0 lead, which they carried into the second quarter until the Horned Frogs got on the board with a Jon Denman 5-yard touchdown run to set the score at 7-3.
USC responded with a touchdown of its own as King Miller ran for a 2-yard touchdown, allowing the Trojans to reclaim a 10-7 lead over TCU. The Horned Frogs and Trojans then traded scores and halftime got started with the score at 14-13 in TCU’s favor.
The TCU Horned Frogs handled business against USC, surging past the Trojans in the fourth quarter and overtime
By the time the fourth quarter rolled around, USC built a 24-14 lead and it looked like TCU’s season would end with a disappointing loss for Dyke and the Horned Frogs.
However, TCU managed to put 10 points on the board in a hurry and sent the game to overtime. And in overtime, the Horned Frogs held the Trojans to a field goal while TCU managed to get one of the most impressive and unlikeliest touchdowns to end the game.
I mean, just check out this touchdown score that allowed the Big 12 to remain unbeaten in bowl games so far this bowl season.
my brain is still telling me that he should've been out
— The Underdog Tribune (@UnderdogTribune) December 31, 2025
what a touchdown and what a way to win for TCUpic.twitter.com/Mh34ji8iIk
TCU is ending their season at 9-4, which isn’t bad. It’s something that the Horned Frogs can use to build on for next season and they’re certainly going to be a Big 12 team to keep an eye on next season.
Riley and the Trojans fall to 9-4, which is certainly short of where they want to be as a program. There’s a ton of talent on that roster and they’ll need to find a way to realize that or his seat is going to get real hot real quick.