Big plays, big stops vault TCU over Michigan, into national championship game

BY STEVEN JOHNSON · JAN. 1, 2023

GLENDALE, Ariz. — The TCU Horned Frogs will play for a national championship.

In one of the wildest games in college football history, No. 3 TCU upset No. 2 Michigan 51-45 in the semifinals of the College Football Playoff. It was the highest scoring Fiesta Bowl game, and one of the most significant wins in program history. The Horned Frogs will be playing for their first national championship since 1938.

“Couldn’t be more proud of these guys sitting up here and the rest of our team,” coach Sonny Dykes said postgame. “What a hell of a football game. “

The Horned Frogs will face Georgia on Jan. 9 at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. As the score tells you, it was yet another TCU game that featured drama you would think you’d only see in the movies.

Four touchdowns were scored in four minutes in the third quarter. TCU scored two defensive touchdowns and still rushed for more than 260 yards despite losing standout running back Kendre Miller to a first-half injury. The Horned Frogs gave up points, but TCU’s defense came up clutch when it mattered.

With a 51-45 lead, the Horned Frogs needed one last stand. Michigan got the ball back with 52 seconds and no timeouts. With about 75 yards to go for the game-winning score, TCU didn’t allow a first down.

On fourth down Michigan quarterback J.J. McCarthy fumbled the snap, leading to a wild, sloppy final play that resulted in a loss of a yard.

The Horned Frogs are the first Big 12 team to win a playoff game.

“Having an opportunity to play for a national championship means so much to the guys in the locker room,” Max Duggan said. “It means so much to our coaching staff, our fans, our university.”

Johnston is WR1

If there was any doubt that Quentin Johnston should be the first receiver selected in the 2023 NFL Draft then it is surely gone after he lit up one of the best defenses in the country. Johnston was a big-play machine and made one of the most crucial plays in the game.

The Wolverines had the momentum after they cut TCU’s lead to 41-38 at the start of the fourth quarter, but it was gone in a second. Max Duggan hit Johnston on a simple drag route and watched the star do what he’s done all season: Johnson made a defender miss and then outraced the Michigan defense for a 76yard touchdown. He finished the run with his arms outstretched, gliding into the end zone.

His touchdown was one of three chunk plays that went for 30 yards or more. He did it against the best corner pair TCU has seen all season with All Big Ten corner D.J. Turner and five-star freshman Will Johnson shadowing him most of the game. Johnston was voted Offensive MVP of the Fiesta Bowl with six receptions for 163 yards.

He was motivated to make up for a fumble in the Horned Frogs loss to Kansas State in the Big 12 championship.

“I felt like I could’ve made bigger plays to help us win that game. The fumble wasn’t my best highlight,” Johnston said. “I kind of dwelled on it for a minute, but as soon as I

DEC. 31, 2022 MICHIGAN

W51–45 SCORE

13–1 RECORD

OPPOSITE: TCU linebacker Dee Winters (13) celebrates with teammates after running an interception in for a touchdown at the Vrbo Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., on Dec. 31, 2022. AMANDA MCCOY / FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM

RIGHT: TCU linebacker Dee Winters celebrates a play during the first half. AMANDA MCCOY / FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM

OPPOSITE: TCU running back Kendre Miller (33) stiff arms Michigan defensive back Rod Moore (19). AMANDA MCCOY / FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM