Craig and a second-half shutout carry TCU past Baylor, 17-6

Jaden Craig threw for 294 yards and two touchdowns, and TCU kept Baylor out of the end zone in a 17-6 rivalry win Saturday night in Waco. The Horned Frogs scored on their first possession of the second half, then let their defense protect the lead through a scoreless fourth quarter.

TCU improved to 3-3 overall and earned its first Big 12 win after opening conference play with two losses. Baylor fell to 4-2 and 2-1 in the league as its four-game winning streak ended.

The passing game gave TCU enough room to finish. Jordan Dwyer caught six passes for 150 yards, while Ed Small had seven receptions for 91 yards and the opening touchdown. Craig completed 21 of 36 passes with one interception.

FOX College Football's highlights show the early touchdown, TCU's quick strike after halftime and the defensive finish:

Three plays change the second half

Baylor trailed only 7-6 at the break. That changed in 44 seconds. Craig found Dwyer for a 67-yard catch-and-run, then connected with Ka'Morreun Pimpton for an eight-yard touchdown on the next snap. The three-play, 75-yard possession gave TCU a 14-6 lead with 14:16 left in the third quarter.

The Horned Frogs followed with a much slower scoring drive. They used 14 plays and 6 minutes, 26 seconds to travel 73 yards before Nate McCashland's 25-yard field goal made it 17-6. Baylor still had more than a quarter to respond, but never scored again.

Koron Hayward recorded three of TCU's four sacks. Jamel Johnson intercepted a pass in the third quarter. Baylor's last two meaningful possessions ended on downs, and TCU finished with the ball after the second stop.

Baylor's long drives yield six points

DJ Lagway completed 22 of 53 passes for 256 yards and an interception. Baylor ran for only 54 yards, finishing with 310 total yards to TCU's 327. The Horned Frogs managed just 33 rushing yards themselves; Craig's connections with Dwyer and Small supplied most of their offense.

Baylor had chances to score before halftime. Three consecutive possessions lasted at least 12 plays and ended with Rhett Armstrong field-goal attempts. He missed from 47 yards before making kicks from 39 and 32. Small's 25-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter kept TCU ahead throughout that stretch.

The Bears converted six of 21 third downs. They moved the chains on four fourth-down tries, but their final two attempts failed as the Horned Frogs completed the shutout after halftime. TCU's official report said it was the team's first Big 12 game without allowing a touchdown since its 2017 meeting with Texas Tech.