TCU football fell 34-27 to Oklahoma State Saturday to stop any momentum they had gained from last week’s win over Texas and drop the Frogs to 4-4 on the year.
The Frogs allowed 223 rushing yards to the nation’s leading rusher and committed four turnovers Saturday.
“Still, as bad as we played, it was a seven-point ball game on the road,” head coach Gary Patterson said. “When we play well and figure it out, we can beat anyone, and when we don’t, we aren’t going to.”
The sparkle and glitter that had earned first-year quarterback Max Duggan Big 12 Newcomer of the Week last week seemed to have washed away against Oklahoma State. After throwing just one interception in his first seven career games, Duggan was picked off three times by the Cowboys.
Two of the interceptions came on miscommunications with his receivers, while the third came on a ball that should’ve been thrown away.
The young signal-caller finished 21-39 with 258 yards and a touchdown. He added 84 yards and a score with his legs.
Near the end of the game, he missed a few plays with an undisclosed injury.
“The bottom line is I hope he’s okay,” Patterson said. “We have to get back and make sure we are ready to play next week.”
On the other side, running back Chuba Hubbard was unstoppable for Oklahoma State. Hubbard, the nation’s leading rusher, ripped off for 223 yards and two touchdowns, including a 92-yard score.
Hubbard is the first player to rush for 200 or more yards against a Patterson-led defense.
“Hubbard is a very good back,” linebacker Garret Wallow said. “I give credit to Oklahoma State’s offense.”
Patterson emphasized TCU’s need to get off to a quick start against the Cowboys. However, the team fell behind 17-3 early after gaining two combined first downs on their first four drives.
Wallow said after the game that the run had to do with “a couple of guys not doing their job.”
The Frogs saw signs of life midway through the second quarter. A 12-play, 81-yard drive ending in Duggan’s fourth rushing touchdown of the season pulled TCU within a score, 17-10.
TCU wouldn’t be done before the end of the half, though. After being pinned at their own five-yard line, the Frogs marched 95 yards down the field to tie the game at 17 on a 24-yard pass from Duggan to tight end Pro Wells.
The drive was kept alive by a seemingly impossible grab by receiver Jalen Reagor for 37 yards down the right sideline.
Jalen Reagor is an absolute BEAST – as promised here are two PHENOMENAL grabs he made in today’s game vs. Oklahoma State ???
— Ray G (@RayGQue) November 3, 2019
Do not let this season fool you he is the truth. Can’t wait to see him tear it up on Sunday’s very soon! #ReagorWork #Devy pic.twitter.com/bZNKl4ajWb
“I have to be there for my team,” Reagor said. “Whatever I have to do, whatever position I need to play, I will do it to win.”
The score was Wells’ team-leading fifth of the year.
After Oklahoma State went up 24-17, Duggan looked like the lights at Boone Pickens Stadium were too bright for him, as he overthrew his receiver for his second interception of the game.
Three drives later, with another opportunity to tie the game, Duggan suffered from yet another miscommunication with a receiver, hitting the OSU safety in stride for his third pick of the day.
It took the Pokes two plays to take advantage of the turnover. Hubbard popped off again, this time for a 62-yard score to put the Frogs behind by 14 with 9:48 left to play.
The Cowboys rushed for 307 yards in the game. The Frogs had not given up 300 yards rushing since they gave up 329 against Oklahoma on Oct. 20, 2018.
A bright spot for TCU had been a season-high 128 yards from Reagor on seven catches. The junior now has 2,091 receiving yards on his career at TCU.
Wallow finished with 11 tackles, his fourth double-digit effort of the season.
“There is no value in this game. There is no value in losing,” Patterson said. “Once you put value in losing, then you need to quit.”
It doesn’t get any easier for TCU from here, as they return home next weekend for a matchup with No. 12 Baylor. Kickoff against the 8-0 Bears is scheduled for 11 a.m.
