# 2021 TCU Horned Frogs football team

The 2021 TCU Horned Frogs football team represented Texas Christian University during the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The Horned Frogs played their home games at the Amon G. Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas, and competed in the Big 12 Conference. The team was coached by 21st-year head coach Gary Patterson until he left the program after eight games. He was replaced by special assistant coach Jerry Kill on an interim basis.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 4 | 7:00 p.m. | Duquesne* | Amon G. Carter StadiumFort Worth, TX | ESPN+ | W 45–3 | 35,377 |
| September 11 | 2:30 p.m. | California* | Amon G. Carter StadiumFort Worth, TX | ESPNU | W 34–32 | 38,631 |
| September 25 | 11:00 a.m. | SMU* | Amon G. Carter StadiumFort Worth, TX (Battle For The Iron Skillet) | FS1 | L 34–42 | 46,672 |
| October 2 | 11:00 a.m. | Texas | Amon G. Carter StadiumFort Worth, TX (rivalry) | ABC | L 27–32 | 43,337 |
| October 9 | 6:00 p.m. | at Texas Tech | Jones AT&T StadiumLubbock, TX (rivalry) | ESPN | W 52–31 | 55,821 |
| October 16 | 6:30 p.m. | at No. 4 Oklahoma | Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial StadiumNorman, OK | ABC | L 31–52 | 84,391 |
| October 23 | 6:30 p.m. | West Virginia | Amon G. Carter StadiumFort Worth, TX | ESPNU | L 17–29 | 37,288 |
| October 30 | 2:30 p.m. | at Kansas State | Bill Snyder Family Football StadiumManhattan, KS | ESPNU | L 12–31 | 44,339 |
| November 6 | 2:30 p.m. | No. 12 Baylor | Amon G. Carter StadiumFort Worth, TX (rivalry) | FOX | W 30–28 | 40,338 |
| November 13 | 7:00 p.m. | at No. 10 Oklahoma State | Boone Pickens StadiumStillwater, OK | FOX | L 17–63 | 54,549 |
| November 20 | 3:00 p.m. | Kansas | Amon G. Carter StadiumFort Worth, TX | ESPN+ | W 31–28 | 35,061 |
| November 26 | 2:30 p.m. | at Iowa State | Jack Trice StadiumAmes, IA | FS1 | L 14–48 | 57,775 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings after November 2 released prior to gameAll times are in Central time |||||||

## Game summaries
### Vs. Duquesne

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Duquesne | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| TCU | 21 | 14 | 3 | 7 | 45 |
at Amon G. Carter Stadium • Fort Worth, TX
* Date: Saturday, September 4, 2021
* Game time: 7:00 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: sunny • Temperature: 94°F
* Game attendance: 35,377
* Referee: Scott Campbell
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Chuckie Kempf, Ryan Leaf
* Pregame line: TCU -42
| Statistics | DUQ | TCU |
| First downs | 6 | 26 |
| Total yards | 137 | 431 |
| Rushes/yards | 29/61 | 38/178 |
| Passing yards | 76 | 253 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 3–12–1 | 18–24–1 |
| Time of possession | 29:19 | 30:41 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Duquesne | Passing | Darius Perrantes | 3–9, 76 yards |
| Duquesne | Rushing | Garrett Owens | 14 carries, 35 yards |
| Duquesne | Receiving | Cyrus Holder | 2 receptions, 64 yards |
| TCU | Passing | Max Duggan | 14–19, 207 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| TCU | Rushing | Kendre Miller | 8 carries, 54 yards, 1 TD |
| TCU | Receiving | Derius Davis | 2 receptions, 57 yards |

### Vs. California

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Golden Bears | 6 | 13 | 0 | 13 | 32 |
| Horned Frogs | 0 | 14 | 7 | 13 | 34 |
at Amon G. Carter Stadium • Fort Worth, TX
* Date: September 11, 2021
* Game time: 1:30 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Temperature: 90 °F (32 °C) • Weather: Sunny
* Game attendance: 38,631
* Referee: Michael Vandervelde
* TV announcers (ESPNU): Kevin Brown, Hutson Mason
Game information :
First Quarter
Second Quarter
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter
Top Passers
Top Rushers
Top Receivers :

### Vs. SMU

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Mustangs | 14 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 42 |
| Horned Frogs | 14 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 34 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| TCU –9.5 | 65.5 |
| Statistics | SMU | TCU |
| First downs | 29 | 20 |
| Total yards | 595 | 446 |
| Rushing yards | 350 | 170 |
| Passing yards | 245 | 276 |
| Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 33:52 | 26:08 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| SMU | Passing | Tanner Mordecai | 17/28, 245 yards, 4 TD, 3 INT |
| SMU | Rushing | Ulysses Bentley IV | 20 rushes, 153 yards, TD |
| SMU | Receiving | Danny Gray | 4 receptions, 130 yards, TD |
| TCU | Passing | Max Duggan | 16/28, 276 yards, 3 TD |
| TCU | Rushing | Zach Evans | 15 rushes, 113 yards |
| TCU | Receiving | Taye Barber | 5 receptions, 114 yards, TD |

### Vs. Texas

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Texas | 13 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 32 |
| TCU | 14 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 27 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| +4.0 | 65 |
| Statistics | Texas | TCU |
| First downs | 25 | 23 |
| Total yards | 414 | 351 |
| Rushing yards | 272 | 169 |
| Passing yards | 142 | 182 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 3 |
| Time of possession | 32:41 | 27:10 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Texas | Passing | Casey Thompson | 12–22, 142 yards, 1 TDs, 1 INT |
| Texas | Rushing | Bijan Robinson | 35 carries, 216 yards, 2 TDs |
| Texas | Receiving | Jordan Whittington | 3 receptions, 79 yards, 1 TDs |
| TCU | Passing | Max Duggan | 20–28, 182 yards, 1 TDs, 0 INT |
| TCU | Rushing | Zach Evans | 15 carries, 113 yards, 1 TDs |
| TCU | Receiving | Taye Barber | 3 receptions, 37 yards, 0 TDs |

### At Texas Tech

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Horned Frogs | 14 | 21 | 10 | 7 | 52 |
| Red Raiders | 7 | 3 | 14 | 7 | 31 |
at Jones AT&T Stadium, Lubbock, Texas
* Date: October 9
* Game time: 6:00 p.m.
* Game weather: Temperature: 94 °F (34 °C) • Weather: Sunny • Wind: SW 18 MPH
* Game attendance: 55,821
* Referee: Brandon Cruse
* TV announcers (ESPN): Mark Jones (play-by-play), Robert Griffin III (analyst) and Quint Kessenich (sideline)
Game information :
First quarter
TCU – Quincy Brown 4-yard pass from Max Duggan (Griffin Kell kick), 11:46. Horned Frogs 7–0. Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 3:14.
TCU – Kendre Miller 33-yard run (Griffin Kell kick), 6:29. Horned Frogs 14–0. Drive: 8 plays, 79 yards, 4:06.
TTU – SaRodorick Thompson 4-yard run (Jonathan Garibay kick), 2:26. Horned Frogs 14–7. Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 4:03.
Second quarter
TCU – Zach Evans 7-yard run (Griffin Kell kick), 14:55. Horned Frogs 21–7. Drive: 6 plays, 75 yards, 2:31.
TCU – Tre-Vius Hodges-Tomlinson 29-yard interception return (Griffin Kell kick), 14:46. Horned Frogs 28–7.
TTU – Jonathan Garibay 38-yard field goal, 8:12. Horned Frogs 28–10. Drive: 15 plays, 55 yards, 6:34.
TCU – Zach Evans 1-yard run (Griffin Kell kick), 1:35. Horned Frogs 35–10. Drive: 14 plays, 75 yards, 6:37.
Third quarter
TCU – Griffin Kell 48-yard field goal, 10:05. Horned Frogs 38–10. Drive: 7 plays, 33 yards, 3:01.
TTU – SaRodorick Thompson 1-yard run (Jonathan Garibay kick), 7:31. Horned Frogs 38–17. Drive: 4 plays, 75 yards, 1:34.
TCU – Kendre Miller 75-yard run (Griffin Kell kick), 7:18. Horned Frogs 45–17. Drive: 1 play, 75 yards, 0:13.
TTU – Xavier White 4-yard run (Jonathan Garibay kick), 5:58. Horned Frogs 45–24. Drive: 3 plays, 75 yards, 1:20.
Fourth quarter
TTU – SaRodorick Thompson 6-yard run (Jonathan Garibay kick), 5:00. Horned Frogs 45–31. Drive: 13 plays, 68 yards, 3:46.
TCU – Kendre Miller 45-yard run (Griffin Kell kick), 4:51. Horned Frogs 52–31. Drive: 1 play, 45 yards, 0:09.
Top passers
TCU – Max Duggan – 8/10, 104 yards, TD
TTU – Henry Colombi – 23/41, 344 yards, INT
Top rushers
TCU – Kendre Miller – 12 rushes, 185 yards, 3 TD
TTU – SaRodorick Thompson – 18 rushes, 118 yards, 3 TD
Top receivers
TCU – Blair Conwright – 3 receptions, 46 yards
TTU – Kaylon Geiger – 6 receptions, 99 yards :

### At No. 4 Oklahoma

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| TCU | 7 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 31 |
| No. 4 Oklahoma | 14 | 10 | 21 | 7 | 52 |
at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium • Norman, OK
* Date: Saturday, October 16, 2021
* Game time: 6:30 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: • Sunny Temperature: 65
* Game attendance: 84,391
* Referee: Kevin Mar
* TV announcers (ABC): Chris Fowler (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analyst) and Holly Rowe (sideline)
* Pregame line: - 13 1/2
| Statistics | TCU | OKLA |
| First downs | 21 | 25 |
| Total yards | 519 | 525 |
| Rushes/yards | 37-183 | 35-230 |
| Passing yards | 336 | 295 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 20-36 | 18-23 |
| Time of possession | 29:13 | 30:47 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| TCU | Passing | Max Duggan | 20/32, 336 yards, 4 TD's |
| TCU | Rushing | Emari Demercado | 7 carries, 57 yards |
| TCU | Receiving | Quentin Johnston | 7 receptions, 185 yards, 3 TD's |
| Oklahoma | Passing | Caleb Williams | 18/23, 295 yards, 4 TD's |
| Oklahoma | Rushing | Kennedy Brooks | 20 carries, 153 yards, 1 TD |
| Oklahoma | Receiving | Jadon Haselwood | 6 receptions, 56 yards, 3 TD's |

### Vs. West Virginia

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| West Virginia | 10 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 29 |
| TCU | 7 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
at Amon G. Carter Stadium • Fort Worth, TX
* Date: Saturday, October 23, 2021
* Game time: 6:30 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: sunny • Temperature: 85°F • Wind: SE 16mph
* Game attendance: 37,288
* Referee: David Alvarez
* TV announcers (ESPNU): Brian Custer and Kelly Stouffer
* Pregame line:
| Statistics | WVU | TCU |
| First downs | 24 | 19 |
| Total yards | 487 | 393 |
| Rushes/yards | 41/229 | 34/149 |
| Passing yards | 258 | 244 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 22–29–0 | 16–26–2 |
| Time of possession | 35:30 | 24:30 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| West Virginia | Passing | Jarret Doege | 21–28, 257 yards |
| West Virginia | Rushing | Leddie Brown | 24 carries, 111 yards, 3 TD |
| West Virginia | Receiving | Sean Ryan | 4 receptions, 81 yards |
| TCU | Passing | Max Duggan | 16–26, 244 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT |
| TCU | Rushing | Zach Evans | 18 carries, 62 yards |
| TCU | Receiving | Quentin Johnston | 5 receptions, 113 yards |

### At Kansas State

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| TCU | 0 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 12 |
| • Kansas State | 7 | 14 | 10 | 0 | 31 |
| Pregame line | Over/under |
| +3 | 59.5 |
| Statistics | TCU | Kansas State |
| First downs | 17 | 16 |
| Total yards | 340 | 388 |
| Rushing yards | 156 | 146 |
| Passing yards | 184 | 242 |
| Turnovers | 2 | 1 |
| Time of possession | 30:44 | 29:16 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| TCU | Passing | Chandler Morris | 9/14, 111 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT |
| TCU | Rushing | Kendre Miller | 14 for 102 yards, 0 TD, 61 long |
| TCU | Receiving | Derius Davis | 4 for 78 yards, 0 TD, 30 long |
| Kansas State | Passing | Skylar Thompson | 13/21 for 242 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT |
| Kansas State | Rushing | Deuce Vaughn | 20 for 109 yards, 2 TFD, 42 long |
| Kansas State | Receiving | Daniel Imatorbhebhe | 2 for 90 yards, 1 TD, 73 long |
Wildcat Felix Anudike-Uzomah set a new school and Big 12 record six sacks while also tying the NCAA single-game record. TCU had two opportunities to score inside the 5 yard line, but the Kansas State defense held—the first time for the year that the Horned Frogs did not score while in the red zone.
Kansas State took the lead in the first quarter and held it for the entire game. TCU managed to pull within 7-3 in the second quarter, but Kansas State made it 14-3 on the next series with a 42-yard run by Deuce Vaughn.
TCU managed a safety and also produced some quality plays, including Kendre Miller on a 61-yard carry to the 2-yard line—but TCU could not complete the final two yards in four plays for a score. Their only score by the offense was a field goal. TCU did hold Kansas State scoreless in the third quarter.
On Sunday after the game, TCU fired head coach Gary Patterson and will have Jerry Kill take over on an interim basis.

### Vs. No. 12 Baylor

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| No. 12 Baylor | 7 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 28 |
| TCU | 7 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 30 |
at Amon G. Carter Stadium • Fort Worth, TX
* Date: Saturday, November 6, 2021
* Game time: 2:30 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: sunny • Temperature: 67°F
* Game attendance: 40,338
* Referee: Tuta Salaam
* TV announcers (FOX): Tim Brando (play-by-play) and Spencer Tillman (analyst)
* Pregame line: Baylor -7.5
| Statistics | BU | TCU |
| First downs | 17 | 27 |
| Total yards | 393 | 562 |
| Rushes/yards | 36/179 | 35/94 |
| Passing yards | 214 | 468 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 14–20–2 | 30–42–0 |
| Time of possession | 29:36 | 30:24 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Baylor | Passing | Gerry Bohanon | 14–20, 214 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT |
| Baylor | Rushing | Abram Smith | 18 carries, 125 yards |
| Baylor | Receiving | Tyquan Thornton | 5 receptions, 121 yards, 2 TD |
| TCU | Passing | Chandler Morris | 29–41, 461 yards, 2 TD |
| TCU | Rushing | Chandler Morris | 11 carries, 70 yards, 1 TD |
| TCU | Receiving | Quentin Johnston | 5 receptions, 142 yards, 1 TD |

### At No. 10 Oklahoma State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| TCU | 3 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 17 |
| No. 10 Oklahoma State | 7 | 21 | 14 | 21 | 63 |
at Boone Pickens Stadium • Stillwater, OK
* Date: Saturday, November 13, 2021
* Game time: 7:00 p.m. CST
* Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 51 °F (11 °C)
* Game attendance: 54,549
* Referee: Derek Anderson
* TV announcers (FOX): Tim Brando and Spencer Tillman
* Pregame line: Oklahoma state – 11 1/2
| Statistics | TCU | OKST |
| First downs | 12 | 37 |
| Total yards | 273 | 682 |
| Rushes/yards | 32/108 | 63/447 |
| Passing yards | 165 | 235 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 12–21 | 17–25 |
| Time of possession | 24:42 | 33:02 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| TCU | Passing | Chandler Morris | 11/20, 103 yards |
| TCU | Rushing | Emari Demercado | 14 carries, 90 yards, 1 TD |
| TCU | Receiving | Taye Barber | 3 receptions, 74 yards |
| Oklahoma State | Passing | Spencer Sanders | 17/25, 235 yards, 1 TD |
| Oklahoma State | Rushing | Dominic Richardson | 12 carries, 134 yards, 2 TD's |
| Oklahoma State | Receiving | Brennan Presley | 6 receptions, 61 yards |

### Vs. Kansas

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Kansas | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 28 |
| TCU | 7 | 0 | 14 | 10 | 31 |
at Amon G. Carter Stadium • Fort Worth, TX
* Date: Saturday, November 20, 2021
* Game time: 3:00 pm CDT
* Game weather: Sunny • Temperature: 73 °F (23 °C)
* Game attendance: 35,061
* Referee: Kevin Hassell
* TV announcers (ESPN+): Courtney Lyle, Ryan Leaf
* Pregame line: TCU –20
| Statistics | KU | TCU |
| First downs | 21 | 19 |
| Total yards | 379 | 492 |
| Rush yards | 124 | 326 |
| Passing yards | 255 | 166 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 2 |
| Time of possession | 29:49 | 30:11 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| Kansas | Passing | Jalon Daniels | 22/30 255 yards 2 TD 1 INT |
| Kansas | Rushing | Devin Neal | 14 carries 59 yards 1 TD |
| Kansas | Receiving | Kwamie Lassiter II | 8 receptions 101 yards |
| TCU | Passing | Max Duggan | 10/16 166 yards 1 INT |
| TCU | Rushing | Kendre Miller | 12 carries 112 yards 1 TD |
| TCU | Receiving | Derius Davis | 6 receptions 103 yards |

### At Iowa State

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| TCU | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Iowa State | 3 | 14 | 10 | 21 | 48 |
at Jack Trice Stadium • Ames, Iowa
* Date: Friday, November 25, 2021
* Game time: 3:30 p.m. CDT
* Game weather: Clear• Temperature: 30°F
* Game attendance: 57,775
* Referee: Scott Campbell
* TV announcers (FS1): Chris Vosters (pxp), Devin Gardner (analyst)
| Statistics | TCU | ISU |
| First downs | 18 | 22 |
| Total yards | 348 | 541 |
| Rushes/yards | 39/132 | 23/279 |
| Passing yards | 216 | 262 |
| Passing: Comp–Att–Int | 15–26–1 | 21–30–0 |
| Turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Time of possession | 34:35 | 25:25 |
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| TCU | Passing | Max Duggan | 15-26, 216 YDS, 2 TD, 1 INT |
| TCU | Rushing | Emari Demercado | 15 CAR, 65 YDS |
| TCU | Receiving | Derius Davis | 4 REC, 63 YDS |
| Iowa State | Passing | Brock Purdy | 21-30, 262 YDS, 2 TD |
| Iowa State | Rushing | Breece Hall | 18 CAR, 242 YDS, 3 TD |
| Iowa State | Receiving | Xavier Hutchinson | 7 REC, 107 YDS |

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Final |
| AP | RV | RV | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Coaches | RV | RV | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| CFP | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | Not released | | | | | | | Not released |

## Coaching staff

| Coach | Title | Year at TCU | Previous job |
| Gary Patterson | Head coach | 23rd (fired mid season) | New Mexico (DC/S) |
| Doug Meacham | OC/WR/TE | 5th | St. Louis BattleHawks (OC) |
| Chad Glasgow | DC/LB | 20th | Texas Tech (DC) |
| Bryan Applewhite | RB | 2nd | Colorado State (RB) |
| Jarrett Anderson | OL | 24th | Tyler Junior College (RB/WR) |
| Zarnell Fitch | DL | 8th | Lincoln High School (HC) |
| Paul Gonzales | S | 10th | Pacific University (DB) |
| Kenny Hill | QB | 3rd | None |
| Malcolm Kelly | WR | 3rd | Houston (offensive analyst) |
| Jeremy Modkins | CB | 15th | None |
| Dan Sharp | DL | 30th | Tulsa (TE/ST) |
| Jerry Kill | Special assistant (Interim Head Coach) | 2nd | Virginia Tech (HC) |