The Horned Frogs Lead West Virginia 20-7 at the Half

TCU's defense imposed their will on a struggling West Virginia offense in the first half.

Oct 18, 2025; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; TCU Horned Frogs cornerback Vernon Glover (26) reacts after a pass defense against the Baylor Bears during the second half of a game at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images | Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

On a cold evening in Morgantown, the TCU Horned Frogs looked to head into the bye week with another conference win, this time over the West Virginia Mountaineers. While West Virginia hasn't necessarily been a formidable opponent this year, the Morgantown faithful have a tendency to have better performances at home.

Last week, TCU kept their Big 12 title game hopes alive with a 42-36 win over the Baylor Bears. The Mountaineers on the other hand had a less-than-ideal game against UCF as they lost 45-13 in Orlando, Florida.

TCU's defense shined in the first half with three stops on fourth down, resulting in the Frogs having solid field position on each drive. With a late field goal, TCU took a 20-7 lead into halftime.

First Quarter

Oct 18, 2025; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; TCU Horned Frogs running back Trent Battle (6) carries the ball Baylor Bears during the first half of a game at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images | Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

The Frogs dominated the first quarter by going up 10-0 against the Mountaineers in less than 11 minutes of gametime. Nate McCashland nailed a 35-yard field goal on TCU's opening drive, and TCU later found the endzone with just over four minutes to play in the first quarter. It was Trent Battle with a 1-yard rushing touchdown to put the Frogs up 10-0.

Standout wide receiver for the Frogs, Eric McAlister, totaled three receptions in the first quarter for 45 receiving yards. With a TCU offense that was struggling to find big plays, the senior helped the Frogs sustain drives early in the game. For Andy Avalos's defense, the first quarter couldn't have been better.

2nd Quarter

Sep 20, 2025; Fort Worth, Texas, USA; TCU Horned Frogs wide receiver Eric McAlister (1) celebrates in front of SMU Mustangs safety Abdul Muhammad (27) after McAlister scores a touchdown during the second half at Amon G. Carter Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images | Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

The Mountaineers opened the second quarter by getting on the scoreboard as quarterback Scotty Fox found Grayson Barnes for a 17-yard passing touchdown. It was the first drive that the Mountaineers had been able to sustain for more than four total plays.

TCU would then respond with a touchdown of their own as Josh Hoover found McAlister once again for a 4-yard passing touchdown, giving the Frogs a 17-7 lead. Chunk plays from Major Everhart and Jordan Dwyer allowed the TCU offense to make their way down into the West Virginia red zone.

After the Mountaineers crossed midfield on the following drive, TCU's defense stepped up for the Frogs with another fourth down stop. After the turnover on downs, Battle immediately made his presence felt with a 46-yard rush all the way down to the West Virginia 12-yard line. While TCU had multiple opportunities to score late in the second quarter, Coach Sonny Dykes elected to settle for the field goal to take a 20-7 lead.

Halftime Score: TCU 20, West Virginia 7

TCU		West Virginia
182	Total Yards	132
114	Passing Yards	95
68	Rushing Yards	33
4-35	Penalties	4-36
15:42	Time of Possession	13:19