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GoFrogs: Offensive Explosion Leads TCU to 45-23 Victory over Cincinnati

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Offensive Explosion Leads TCU to 45-23 Victory over Cincinnati - TCU Athletics

Jeremy Payne ran for 174 yards and TCU endured a lengthy first quarter weather delay en route to its eighth victory of the season.
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Offensive Explosion Leads TCU to 45-23 Victory over Cincinnati​

Horned Frogs put up 544 yards in regular season finale

Box Score

FORT WORTH – Jeremy Payne ran for 174 yards and TCU endured a lengthy first quarter weather delay en route to its eighth victory of the season.

Payne also added 44 receiving yards, bringing his all-purpose number up to 218.

Quarterback Josh Hoover was uber efficient, passing for 306 yards on a 19-22 night with four touchdowns. His top target was Eric McAlister, who had eight receptions on eight targets for 101 yards.

The Horned Frogs played defense by committee, with five recording four or more tackles. Jordan Lester led the way for the group with six.

TCU (8-4, 5-4 Big 12) was rolling early, forcing a fourth-down stop in plus territory that led to a score to take an early lead. However, after another defensive stop, the game entered a 90-minute-plus lightning delay, the second game of the season plagued by such a delay.

Right after the delay, the Frogs did not waste much time by marching right down the field to take an early 14-0 lead for the second straight week.

A flurry of chunk plays for the Bearcats allowed them to stay within striking distance throughout the first half, but a late touchdown for TCU extended the lead back up to 14 going into the locker room.

The Horned Frogs didn't waste much time, scoring just over four minutes into the second half to push the advantage up to 21. Cincinnati was not able to do much from there to close the gap and TCU salted away the victory.

NOTING THE FROGS
TCU scored 21 first-quarter points, their most in any first quarter since the 24 scored against Iowa State on November 26, 2022 ... The 31 first-half points were also the most since the Frogs scored as many against BYU on October 14, 2023 ... The 544 yards of total offense was a season high, surpassing the 542 yards tallied in the season opener at North Carolina ... Eric McAlister finished the day with 101 receiving yards, moving him into second place on the single-season charts with 1,121 yards on the year ... Jeremy Payne's 218 yards from scrimmage (174 rush; 44 rec) were the most by a TCU running back since Robert Merrill tallied 231 at Houston on October 25, 2003.

UP NEXT
TCU will learn its bowl destination on Sunday, December 7.

Postgame Notes - vs. Cincinnati​

TEAM NOTES
  • Cincinnati won the toss and elected to receive. TCU is 3-0 this season on games where they have lost the opening coin toss (Abilene Christian, SMU, Colorado).
  • The Frogs scored on their opening drive for the second time in as many games and for the fourth time this season.
  • For the second time this season, TCU had a home game interrupted by lightning. The delay began at 3:01 p.m. and play resumed at 4:34.
  • TCU scored for the 419th consecutive game, the second longest streak in NCAA history - trailing only Florida (471).
  • TCU scored 21 first-quarter points, their most in any first quarter since the 24 scored against Iowa State on November 26, 2022.
  • The 31 first-half points were also the most since the Frogs scored as many against BYU on October 14, 2023.
  • The 544 yards of total offense was a season high, surpassing the 542 yards tallied in the season opener at North Carolina.
  • With the victory, TCU picks up its eighth win of the season. Coupled with a nine-win season in 2024, it's the first time TCU has posted consecutive eight-plus win seasons since 2014-2015.
  • Under Sonny Dykes, the Frogs moved to 19-5 at home, 29-5 when scoring more than 30 points, 29-4 when leading at halftime, and 10-2 when racking up more than 500 yards of offense.
PLAYER NOTES
QB Josh Hoover
  • Threw for 216 yards and three touchdowns on 12-of-14 passing in the first half alone
  • Finished with more touchdown passes than incompletions, going for 306 yards on 19-of-22 passing and four touchdowns
  • His 263.2 rating on the day was also a career-high, surpassing the 231.5 mark he set earlier this season against Abilene Christian
WR Eric McAlister
  • Finished the day with 101 receiving yards, moving him into second place on the single-season charts with 1,121 yards on the year
  • Eclipsed 100-yards for the sixth time this season, tying Josh Doctson's 2015 mark for the most in a single season in TCU history.
RB Jeremy Payne
  • Recorded a touch on seven of the game's first 13 plays including a career-long 44-yard reception
  • Tallied his second career 100-yard game with his first occurring last week at Houston
  • Payne's career day include 174 yards on 26 carries, the most by a Frog since Kendre Miller rushed for 185 at Texas Tech during the 2021 season.
  • His 218 yards from scrimmage (174 rush; 44 rec) were the most by a TCU running back since Robert Merrill tallied 231 at Houston on October 25, 2003.
 

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