No. 23 Houston Falls Short 17-14 to TCU : TCU Horned Frogs at Houston Cougars Live Game Updates, Box Score
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After a well-rested bye week, the no. 25 Houston Cougars begin their final stretch of the season as they take on the TCU Horned Frogs in the last home game of the year at TDECU Stadium.
Houston looks for a big win to stay alive in the Big 12 conference race as they honor the seniors on their special day.
The Cougars are 8-2 heading into this matchup after a 30-27 win over UCF on Nov. 7 prior to their bye week. UH aims for consecutive wins over an injury-plagued TCU team. Houston and TCU have faced other for the past two seasons, and the Cougars lead the all-time series 14-13. UH won the last matchup 30-19 on the road in Fort Worth last October.
Coogs vs Horned Frogs
This has been a remarkable turnaround for Houston in its’ second season under head coach Willie Fritz. The Cougars were 4-8 last year, but are already 8-2 with two games left, matching their win total of the past two seasons combined. Houston has clinched a bowl game and is ranked in all the polls for the first time since 2022. This includes being no. 23 in the CFP poll after a bye week.
The reason for this has been a new look offense led by junior transfer quarterback Connor Weigman, junior wide receiver Amare Thomas, senior tight end Tanner Koziol and senior running back Dean Connors.
Meanwhile TCU sits at 6-4, coming in with a two game losing streak. Head coach Sonny Dykes is dealing with a huge injury to star safety Bud Clark, as well as running back Kevorian Barnes. Additionally, wide receiver receiver Ed Small is also out while offensive lineman Cade Bennett and running back Trent Battle are listed as questionable.
Will the Cougars send their home crowd happy for the last time this season and stay in the hunt, or will TCU get a huge bounce back win against a Texas rival? The two teams kickoff in Houston at 3:00 p.m. on FOX we will be right here with live game updates as the action unfolds.
Follow along for live game updates as the game progresses.
TCU wins the coin toss and will receive.
1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
TCU | 14 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
Houston | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
First Quarter
Redshirt junior quarterback Josh Hoover finds senior wide receiver Eric McAlister for a 33-yard touchdown on the opening drive. That sequence included three first down pickups from sophomore running back Jeremy Payne.
TCU 7, Houston 0
Houston faced an early fourth and one from their own 40-yard line but junior quarterback Conner Weigman got it done on the sneak. However, the drive stalled on the following set of downs.
Change of possession
This time Houston is ready as the Horned Frogs get stuffed for a tackle for loss on their first play and go three-and-out.
Change of possession
Houston gets good starting field position at their own 46-yard-line but are unable to capitalize as they go three-and-out.
Change of possession
TCU starts on their own 17-yard-line and Hoover hangs in the pocket to deliver a 26-yard strike to Curtis Chase. Former Cougar wide receiver Joseph Manjack IV picks up back-to-back first downs before junior wideout Jordan Dwyer makes an incredible catch in the back of the end zone on the 17-yard score.
TCU 14, Houston 0
Senior running back Dean Connors makes a 29-yard leaping grab down the sideline, but Houston once again stalled out in opponent territory.
Second Quarter
TCU starts with the ball but after picking up a first down, Hoover throws an interception to sophomore cornerback Will James at the Houston 38-yard-line.
Houston gets bailed out on the delay of game call against the Horned Frogs defense on fourth-and-one. Another penalty on TCU on fourth-and-three at the TCU 30-yard-line gave Houston more life. The Cougars cash in with a familar connection. Weigman finds junior wide reciever Amare Thomas for a 15-yard touchdown.
TCU 14, Houston 7
After a first down, Hoover takes another deep shot to McAlister, but throws his second interception of the game. Senior defensive back Wrook Brown makes a great catch at the Houston seven-yard line.
Houston catches the Horned Frogs off guard with a run on third-and-seven and Connors goes 54 yards down the sideline all the way to the Cougars 37-yard line. This was a season long rush. It was a disapointing ending to the drive as Weigman threw an interception in the end zone to Julius Simms.
After a 28-yard rush and 22-yard screen pass, the Horned Frogs turned the ball over for the third time on a crucial fumble by sophomore wide receiver Jordyn Bailey. It was forced by James and recovered by senior defensive end Carlos Allen Jr.
Third Quarter
Houston opens up with an uninspiring three-and-out that included a holding penalty.
Change of Possession
After a pass interference call against the Cougars, TCU stalls on their first drive of the second half.
Change of Possession
Houston continues to struggle on offense. Not much to speak of on this drive.
Change of Possession
McAlister reeled in another catch, this one 37 yards out. However, Hoover threw his third interception of the game, his second to James. Houston takes over at the 29-yard line.
The Cougars offense finally came alive. After a first down, Thomas went 23 yards on a short pass, followed up by a 28 yard scramble run by Weigman. Houston punched it in for the touchdown on an eight-yard reception from Connors.
TCU 14, Houston 14
The Cougars defense got their first sack of the game as the crowd is clearly back in this one. It was a 14-yard loss on third down on the sack by sophomore linebacker Corey Platt Jr.
Change of Possession
Houston can't string back-to-back productive possessions and punts.
Change of Possession
TCU faced a third-and-two but tight end DJ Rogers dropped an easy pass.
Change of Possession
Fourth Quarter
Houston comes up short again with another three-and-out.
Change of Possession
TCU gets excellent starting field position at the Houston 29, thanks to a 53-yard punt return from Dwyer. The Horned Frogs cash in with three points, on a 30-yard field goal by Nate McCashland.
TCU 17, Houston 14
Houston looked to be in good position to answer with a first-and-10 at the TCU 32-yard line, but only went backwards and had to settle for a 49-yard field goal. The attempt by Ethan Sanchez was no good.
TCU went right down the field and picked up multiple first downs while draining most of the clock. However, the Horned Frogs were not able to convert 3rd and three. Houston then got a stop on fourth-and-one.
Change of Possession
Houston once again were in great position after a 38-yard rush from Weigman to the TCU 26-yard line. In heartbreaking fashion for the Cougars, Sanchez missed a 38-yard field goal to seal the win for the Cougars.
Final: TCU 17, Houston 14
Maanav Gupta is a staff writer for Houston Cougars on SI. He graduated from the University of Houston in the summer of 2025 with his bachelor’s in journalism and a minor in Spanish. Gupta spent three years at the student newspaper, The Daily Cougar, and also covered the 2025 Final Four and National Championship as Houston beat writer for College Basketball Review. He also has his own YouTube channel, Maanav’s Sports Talk, where he has interviewed professional athletes and broadcasters like Jim Nantz, Jose Altuve, J.J. Watt, Rich Eisen, and Alperen Sengun. Gupta was also a contributor to the Houston athletic program as a student. You can find Gupta on X, Instagram and TikTok @MGSportsTalk.