Isaiah Hankins’ last-snap field goal lifts Baylor over TCU

Isaiah Hankins’ last-snap field goal lifts Baylor over TCU

Nov 2, 2024; Waco, Texas, USA; Baylor Bears running back Bryson Washington (30) runs the ball for a 40 yard touchdown as TCU Horned Frogs safety Bud Clark (21) gives chase during the first half at McLane Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Chris Jones-Imagn Images

Isaiah Hankins booted a 33-yard field goal on the game’s final play and Bryson Washington ran for 196 yards and four touchdowns to lift Baylor past TCU 37-34 on Saturday in Big 12 Conference action in Waco, Texas.

Bryson Washington’s 13-yard run on the final drive got the Bears (5-4, 3-3 in Big 12) into chip-shot range after Baylor took over at their own 25-yard line with 1:55 to play. Sawyer Robertson had a 15-yard pass to Michael Trigg to convert a fourth down and nine to keep the winning drive alive and help the Bears win their third straight game.

Robertson passed for 242 yards in the victory as Baylor rushed for 257 yards.

Josh Hoover countered with 333 yards and two touchdowns through the air for TCU (5-4, 3-3 Big 12).

The Horned Frogs drew first blood, moving 95 yards in seven plays to an 8-yard Hoover-to-Jordyn Bailey TD pass at the 6:42 mark of the first quarter. Baylor tied the game when Washington ran eight yards into the end zone with 1:48 to play in the quarter.

Washington rolled away on a 40-yard touchdown run with 8:41 remaining in the first half to put the Bears on top 14-7.

But the rest of the half belonged to TCU, as Kyle Lemmermann booted a 46-yard field goal with 5:18 left before Hoover cashed in an 11-play, 68-yard drive with a 1-yard keeper with 50 seconds to play to push the Horned Frogs in front at 17-14 at the break.

Lemmermann added a 47-yard FG on TCU’s opening drive of the third quarter to expand the lead. But Baylor swung back, tying the game on a Dawson Pendergrass 1-yard rush with 5:09 remaining in the quarter.

The Horned Frogs went back in front on Savion Williams’ 6-yard scoring pass to Jack Bech with 23 seconds to play in the third. That score was quickly countered by Washington’s 35-yard touchdown run 57 seconds into the fourth that knotted the game at 27.

Washington’s fourth TD run — this one from a yard out with 4:54 left at the end of an 81-yard, 13 play march — put the Bears on top. TCU responded with Hoover’s touchdown pass to Bech with 1:55 remaining.

That set the stage for a final Baylor drive and Hankins’ decisive kick.

–Field Level Media