Despite a 21-point lead at the half, TCU football fell short by one point against the UCF Knights, 35-34. The Frogs’ defensive unit collapsed and could not stop RJ Harvey’s 180-rushing yard night.

TCU started strong with two touchdowns on the board in the first quarter, caught by wide receivers Eric Mcalister and Savion Williams. 

To begin the second quarter, UCF quarterback KJ Jefferson put the Knights on the board early with a 29-yard pass to Harvey. Williams answered with a 16-yard pass from quarterback Josh Hoover. 

Within the first two minutes of the second half, Hoover completed a 50-yard touchdown to wide receiver Jack Bech. Shortly after, the Knights returned the favor, although missing another extra point.

The Frogs’ defensive line struggled to keep Harvey from rushing in for a 27-yard touchdown. TCU’s defense failed to stop a successful two-point conversion to bring UCF within four, 31-28.

“Once the momentum swings like that, it’s hard to get that back,” linebacker Johnny Hodges said. 

Within the last minute of play, the Knights’ receiver Kobe Hudson received a 20-yard pass from Jefferson to tie up the game. With UCF up by one, TCU had 36 seconds to answer.

A failed 58-yard field goal attempt from kicker Kyle Lemmermann cemented the Frogs’ first loss of the season. 

“We didn’t finish the game out, and I’m disappointed,” head coach Sonny Dykes said.

Dykes said the team needs to establish a run game. 

“I don’t think time was the issue,” Dykes said regarding the last minute of play. “This doesn’t define who we are and who we are going to be.”

Hoover mentioned how he gave encouraging words to the team in the locker room and that, despite the result, his confidence is not shaken.

Looking to bounce back from the heartbreaker, the Frogs will head to Dallas to play the SMU Mustangs on Saturday, Sept. 21, at 4 p.m. CDT. The game will be streamed on the CW network.